Temple of Piety, Studley Royal

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Gardens form a World Heritage Site in Yorkshire, cared for by the National Trust.

Here, one of several follies around the gardens, The Temple of Piety across the Moon Ponds.  We enjoyed our walk here, first exploring the Abbey, with the impressive Cellarium, which is the extra photo below.  It was interesting to compare with Rievaulx which we visited last week. Both Cistercian, Fountains was founded around 1132, a huge place, built to accommodate several hundred monks. 

It was rather wet, but we did manage to see all the follies, and access the high path through the long Serpentine Tunnel.  If you are thinking of visiting, I would suggest waiting until next year.  There is work going on to repair the cascade, and a side bowl, and also the removal of silt from several ponds.  A bit disruptive to the beautiful views.