State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II

integrated into the scheme and is a building of UNITED KINGDOM importance in its own right as an outstanding example of High by one of its including the leading exponents. Ruins of Fountains Garden landscape, water gardens, abbey ruins, Jacobean mansion and Victorian church are all of exceptional merit and together justify the inclusion Brief description of Studley Royal in the World Heritage List. A striking landscape was created around the ruins UNESCO Criteria: i, ii, iv, v and vi. of the Cistercian and Castle, in . The 18th-century As provided in ICOMOS evaluation landscaping, gardens and canal, the 19th-century plantations and vistas, and the neo-Gothic castle of The Fountains site owes its originality and striking Studley Royal Park, make this an outstanding site. beauty to the fact that a humanised landscape of exceptional value was constituted around the largest medieval ruins of the United Kingdom. In the 1. Introduction definition of this cultural property it is essential that the small Fountains Hall Castle, the landscaping, Year(s) of Inscription 1986 the gardens and canal created by in Agency responsible for site management the 18th century, the plantations and vistas of the 19th century and finally Studley Royal Church, as • Mailing Address(es) an additional element of the site, all be expressly Fountains Abbey Estate Office included. HG4 3DY Committee Decision United Kingdom e-mail: [email protected] Bureau (1986): The Bureau recommended website: www.fountainsabbey.org.uk inscription of this property on condition that the British authorities redraft the proposal in such a way as to include expressly in the definition of this 2. Statement of Significance cultural property the Manor House of Fountains Hall Inscription Criteria C (i) (iv) and various landscape improvements carried out in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, since the medieval ruins of the abbey and their landscaped Justification as provided by the State Party surroundings together form a striking whole. The Studley Royal is one of the few great 18th century redrafted nomination could be entitled 'Studley ‘green gardens’ to survive substantially in its Royal Park including the ruins of Fountains Abbey'. original form and is arguably the most spectacular water garden in . • A Statement of Significance was developed for the management plan. The State Party will The abbey ruins were not added to the estate until discuss and agree to a statement of some 50 years after the gardens were first planned, outstanding universal value which will be but formed a key element in the scheme from the submitted in due course for consideration by first, providing the spectacular culmination to the the World Heritage Committee principal vista. However, although part of the No change required to UNESCO’s official garden layout, the abbey ruins are of outstanding • description of the site importance in their own right, representing one of the few Cistercian houses surviving from the 12th Boundaries and Buffer Zone century and providing an unrivalled picture of a • Status of boundaries of the site: inadequate great religious house in all its parts. • Buffer zone: no buffer zone has been defined The Tudor Studley Royal mansion has been • Although the World Heritage site boundary demolished, but Jacobean Fountains Hall, acquired covers the core area of the designed landscape, at the same time as the abbey ruins, survives intact some significant features lie outside. There is a and is itself an outstanding example of a building of need to review the boundary to ensure that it its period. St Mary’s Church likewise formed no part includes those areas that are essential to retain of the original garden scheme since it dates from the site’s outstanding universal value. There is the 19th century, but it also has been successfully also a need to develop a formal buffer zone State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II

• Harrogate Borough Council, , The is responsible for the overall and the National Trust are in consultation with management of the estate (visitors, adjoining landowners to develop a proposal for conservation of the designed landscape, the creation of a buffer zone (see attached garden buildings, Fountains Hall, maintenance map). The State Party will submit proposals for of the infrastructure). English Heritage is consideration by the World Heritage responsible for the conservation of the abbey Committee in due course ruins, Fountains Abbey Mill, St. Mary’s Church and the monastic artefacts in store at Status of Authenticity/Integrity Helmsley. Both organisations have worked • World Heritage site values have been closely together at Fountains Abbey & Studley maintained Royal since 1983 The National Trust has a planning framework 3. Protection based on a National Strategic Plan covering three years, cascading to regional and Legislative and Administrative Arrangements property levels. The current property strategic • The site is protected from intrusive plan covers the period 2001-2004. The WHS development by several statutory and non- management plan has a six year life span to fit statutory designations, by strict planning control within this framework from Harrogate Borough Council, and by the • Levels of public authority who are primarily inalienable status of National Trust land. The involved with the management of the site: National Trust was given the unique power to national (DCMS; English Nature; The declare its land inalienable (cannot be sold or Environment agency; English Heritage), mortgaged) by Act of Parliament in 1907. A regional, local (North Yorkshire County Council; compulsory purchase is not possible without Harrogate Borough Council) the consent of Parliament. • The current management system is sufficiently • The protection arrangements are considered effective sufficiently effective Actions proposed: Actions taken/proposed: • Re-definition of the World Heritage site • Revision to the boundary and creation of a boundary: (as explained above) buffer zone • National level of action. Timeframe: not known 5. Management Plan 4. Management • Management plan is being implemented (to define the boundaries and buffer zone) Use of site/property • Implementation commenced: December 2001 • Visitor attraction, religious use, rural landscape • Very effective • Responsibility for over-seeing the Management/Administrative Body implementation of the management plan and • Steering group (National Trust and English monitoring its effectiveness: the National Trust Heritage staff) formally set up on 01 January and English Heritage 1999 to supervise the production of the WHS management plan. The group now meets quarterly to review progress on conservation 6. Financial Resources projects and discuss key management issues Financial situation • No site manager but none needed • The estate is treated as a ‘Special Trust in • Both the National Trust and English Heritage Credit’ by the National Trust - all surpluses are involved in the management of the site. The generated on the estate are retained for use at National Trust owns the Fountains Abbey & Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal. This is in Studley Royal estate and How Hill. St. Mary’s contrast to other National Trust properties Church is owned by the State. The High which are supported by a central ‘General Stables, the Pheasantries and the freehold Fund’. Support from the general fund, if found sporting rights are in private ownership. The to be necessary, is only given on a loan basis ruins of the Abbey itself are in the guardianship • Over 80% of operating income comes from of the Secretary of State whose responsibilities visitors (via admission fees, membership as guardian are exercised by English Heritage recruitment, catering, retail, events, donations State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II

etc.). The endowment, which is by far the most machine shop training. Staff are also sustainable source of income, currently encouraged to gain experience at other produces an annual income that is insufficient properties and to share their skills. to provide protection against market forces • Training on site management for stakeholders. • English Heritage funding of the site is directed towards the following: the annual maintenance of the abbey ruins and St. Mary’s Church; large 9. Visitor Management scale, first time consolidation of the abbey ruins • Visitor statistics: 475,000 visitors in 2004 and St. Mary’s Church; grant aid towards • Visitor facilities: interpretation, visitor centre, specific conservation projects small shop, tea room, refreshment kiosk, • Other sources: European funding (ERDF) for lavatories, refreshment kiosk, 3 car park conservation of Fountains Hall. Interregional provisions designed to minimize the visual IIIB Program 'Converting Sacred Spaces' impact of cars in the historic areas of the estate, funding awarded in 2005 to be used for 3 admission points with provision for visitors interpretation and conservation of Fountains with disabilities. The visitor centre was opened Abbey in 1992 and was designed to cope with 350,000 • A draft Five Year Business Development Plan visitors a year and through-put of 700 visitors was completed in December 2004, reviewing an hour at the busiest times. It includes a large current operations, performance, conservation restaurant, a tiered lecture/meeting room needs and other projects seating 100 people, shop and admission area, • insufficient lavatories and the estate office. • Visitor facilities are adequate 7. Staffing Levels • There is no tourism/visitor management plan for the site • Number of staff: 57 • Also access to: rural surveyor and land use adviser, land use planning advisor, territory 10. Scientific Studies archaeologist, curator (gardens and parks), • There is no agreed research nature conservation adviser, learning and framework/strategy for the site interpretation officer, community and • Risk assessment, monitoring exercises, volunteering officer condition surveys, archaeological surveys, visitor management Rate of access to adequate professional staff • Monitoring exercises for St. Mary’s Church are across the following disciplines: conducted by English Heritage (St. Mary’s • Very good: management, education, visitor Church Conservation Plan was produced in management 2001).The National Trust conducts landscape • Good: conservation, promotion condition surveys twice a year. The water • Staff resources are inadequate features are surveyed annually. English • Over 300 regular volunteers each year: leading Heritage carries out condition surveys annually guided tours, stewarding the historic buildings of the abbey and St. Mary’s Church. The and gardening, assisting with conservation National Trust carries out condition surveys on work, carrying out research into various aspects the historic buildings every 5 years. Also: study of the site’s history. A volunteer research group of the signage and welcome to Fountains has operated for the last 5 years and Abbey & Studley Royal, natural history surveys, disseminates the information it collects to staff visitor management surveys, etc. and volunteers through a talks program and in • Studies used for management of site: the the site’s library and archive studies and research programmes have been used to inform the parks and gardens plan. The 8. Sources of Expertise and Training in plan is due for completion in summer 2005. The Conservation and Management surveys have also influenced day to day Techniques management practices, and interpretation of the site (e.g.: production of self-guided trails). • Staff training: Landscape, building craft and However, the studies have also increased the nature conservation training are available within need for financial resources as they have the National Trust. Some training is sourced highlighted areas where conservation is externally including dry stone walling and required and added to the site’s project list State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II

11. Education, Information and Awareness fence at Octagon Tower, conservation of piers Building and urns at the canal gates, decoration of Banqueting House and roof repairs, refurbishment • An adequate number of signs referring to World of Surprise View and reinstatement of statue Heritage site known as Anne Boleyn, conservation of Temple of • World Heritage Convention Emblem used on Fame and Temple of Piety, restoration of flanking publications walls and Lemonade House at Canal Gates, • Adequate awareness of World Heritage among: regilding of Canal Gates, restoration and local communities, businesses, local authorities. conservation of Fishing Tabernacles, conservation Inadequate: visitors of Galand Bridge, consolidation of Drum Fall and • There is an education strategy for the site Upper Canal walls, dredging of Upper Canal to • Need for awareness raising: the National Trust Rustic Bridge, conservation of Cortese Roundel, uses the WHS logo on the property literature Temple of Piety, conservation of Robin Hoods but more use could be made of it on regional Well, obscured vistas in the garden re-opened. and national literature. More interpretation is Studley Deer Park: conversion of Choristers needed at the property about the World House from estate office to holiday cottage, Heritage site status and what it means, to restoration of fords and consolidation of retaining increase awareness amongst visitors walls in Seven Bridges Valley, conservation of • Heritage days and education strategy: the Studley Royal Gates. National Trust and English Heritage organise Fountains Hall Area: repairs to hall roof, repairs an annual Restoration Weekend where visitors to stone work, walls and windows, conservation of can come along and watch traditional craftsmen Judgement of Solomon fireplace, complete at work and try their hand at some traditional internal and external decoration of hall, skills. Sculpture workshops have been held for refurbishment of heating system for hall, schools for the last three years. Local people development of function facilities, conversion of who volunteer for the National Trust are invited wings of Fountains Hall into two holiday flats and to talks by specialists in conservation as they two staff flats, conservation of Orchard Bridge and are arranged. Groups of volunteers on rebuilding of parapets, refurbishment of summer residential conservation holidays have worked house in Elizabethan tea garden. alongside skilled staff on conservation projects including dry stone walling. The learning Fountains Mill: restoration and conservation of program provides activities for school groups Fountains Mill, conservation of Dairy Buildings on based on natural history, the value of the site Kitchen Bank. and visitor care Fountains Abbey: base of Huby’s Tower cleared • Website available enabling tower area to be opened to visitors, • Local participation involved during the archaeological survey of West Green, repairs to development of the WHS management plan. Nave west wall and Galilee porch, Cellarium, Lay Volunteers from the local area are involved in Brothers Range, Gate House, repointing of south the practical management of the property aisle, Chapel of Nine Altars and Presbytery, South through residential conservation working Transept, North Transept, monuments Room holidays, and a volunteer gardening team who conserved and opened to visitors. meet three times a week. There is open access Other: ongoing consolidation of monastic precinct to the deer park and on permissible footpaths wall, ongoing consolidation of deer park wall. Visitor centre built to relieve visitor pressure at 12. Factors affecting the Property (State of West Gate and Studley entrances, repairs to How Hill Tower, Swanley Grange Farmhouse Conservation) renovated for staff accommodation. Swanley Reactive monitoring reports Grange farm buildings converted into an • N/A education centre • Present state of conservation: adequate Conservation interventions Studley Royal: restoration of garden statues, Threats and Risks to site restoration of Aislabie’s outdoor kitchen, • Development pressure, environmental pressure, restoration of Tent Hill, restoration of Rustic natural disaster(s), visitor/tourism pressure, Bridge, dredging of Half Moon Pond, stabilisation agricultural/forestry regimes of foundations, construction of new platform and State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II

• Specific issues: 1- Natural disasters: the site is • Strength of management: conservation at threat from extremes of weather i.e. storms, • Weaknesses of management: droughts. The high winds in January 2005 have Landscape management: there is poor sequential led to a number of veteran trees being tree management in all areas. This is partly due to damaged or destroyed. The water gardens are the constraints placed on the property by the third subject periodically to flooding, leading to the party freehold interest. closure of affected areas and detrimental Lack of financial and human resources: this impact on the landscape. 2- Agricultural/forestry imposes constraints on the amount of regimes: there is a high proportion of run off conservation work that the National Trust can from land leading to siltation in the water achieve on the property. channels. 3- Noise pollution from air traffic. 4- Visitor/tourism pressure: there are certain times Future actions: of year when there is increased visitor pressure • English Heritage has successfully acquired on the site, namely Boxing Day and bank funding for conservation of river walls within the holidays. 5- Features and buildings are at risk abbey precinct. Studley Gates and Mackershaw due to lack of adequate funding for Lodges have been prioritised for conservation conservation work. 6- Third party freehold work. Funding is available for work on these interest held by Studley Royal Shoot: there are structures. Funding has also become available two bodies with freehold interests on the estate, for conservation of Robin Hood’s Well. the National Trust (which owns the estate Adequate and sustainable financial and human freehold) and Studley Royal Shoot (which owns resources are needed to conserve the 18th the freehold shooting rights and imposes century designed landscape and maintain the constraints on the NT in terms of public access infrastructure of the estate. This applies to both (woodlands closed to visitors)) 7- Sourcing annual maintenance and capital works. The traditional materials and craftspeople for completion of capital works has a long term building work. 8- Area of high employment maintenance and resource application. therefore difficult to recruit staff for all facilities. • No WH Funding is sought • Emergency measures: the threat of flooding has been brought to the attention of the Environment Agency. A catchment study is required. An on site management plan has been produced with the Studley Royal Shoot which has helped to control the impact of the shoot on the property.

13. Monitoring • Formal monitoring programme • Key indicators are used in the following fields: Physical Condition and conservation of historic features, Landscape Protection, Nature Conservation, Environmental Quality, Visitors, Learning and Interpretation, Access and facilities, Impact of visitors and capacity • Future indicators to consider: The National Trust and English Heritage are developing conservation key indicators

14. Conclusions and Recommended Actions • Main benefits of WH status: conservation, social, economic, management • The status has encouraged a sharing of ideas between the National Trust, other World Heritage Sites and important heritage sites