Monasteries and water gardens.

We spent a wonderful day at Fountains Abbey, a monastery founded in 1132 and got rid of by Henry V111 in 1539. The walk led on to the stunning Studley Royal water gardens. 
 
The gardens was John Aislabie’s  dream to turn the wild and wooded Yorkshire landscape into a garden to impress his friends. He came here in 1693 and after a time as chancellor of the exchequer returned to start his garden. His son William finished it in the mid 18th century. It was awarded World Heritage Status in 1986.