A place that I missed the first
couple of times that I visited Fountains Abbey is Fountains Hall. The hall is
a grade I listed country house in the grounds of the abbey near Ripon. It was
built between 1598 and 1604, partly using stone from the abbey ruins. As you follow
the footpath to the abbey, another path leads to Fountains Hall
and some lovely gardens by the river. I don’t think it’s particularly well hidden. I’ve just never noticed it!
The hall fell into disrepair
after the war and was taken over by the National Trust in 1983. Fountains Hall
is said to be haunted, although we didn’t see anything to prove this whilst we
were there!
Across the bridge from the
gardens, you’ll find a 12th-century mill which is another place I’ve
missed out. The mill is one of the oldest buildings in the Fountains Abbey
grounds and was still in use up until 1927.
