Fountains Hall
FOUNTAINS HALL, FOUNTAINS LANE
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1149809
- Date first listed:
- 23-Apr-1952
- List Entry Name:
- Fountains Hall
- Statutory Address:
- FOUNTAINS HALL, FOUNTAINS LANE
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1149809
- Date first listed:
- 23-Apr-1952
- List Entry Name:
- Fountains Hall
- Statutory Address 1:
- FOUNTAINS HALL, FOUNTAINS LANE
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- FOUNTAINS HALL, FOUNTAINS LANE
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- North Yorkshire (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Lindrick with Studley Royal and Fountains
- National Grid Reference:
- SE 27136 68289
Details
NORTH YORKSHIRE HARROGATE 5338
SE 2768 LINDRICK WITH STUDLEY FOUNTAINS LANE ROYAL AND FOUNTAINS (east side, off)
9/34 Fountains Hall
23.4.52
GV I
Large house, now offices and exhibition centre. 1598-1611 for Sir Stephen Proctor, with alterations by Mr Clare Vyner c1930. Grey limestone, stone slate roof. Built in the Renaissance style of Robert Smythson. 3-bay central block of 2 storeys plus basement flanked by projecting gabled wings of 4 storeys plus basement and buttressed at each end by 5-storey projecting towers. Central round-arched entrance flanked by coupled fluted Ionic columns with statuettes of knights and 2 more in niches to left and right. Balcony above with balustrade and 5 statuettes. Basement windows of 5 lights; 5-light mullion and transom ground-floor windows flanking and slightly higher than the entrance. Behind the balcony is a tall semicircular 5-light oriel window with 2 transoms and to left and right equally-tall 2-transomed 5-light windows - the climax of the facade. Flanking gabled wings: 3-storey bay window with transomed 5-light windows to first, second and third floors; 3-light mullion windows in gable. Flanking towers: 3-light mullion and transom windows to first, second and third floors. Moulded string to each floor level. Crenellated parapets, the wings with shaped gables. Large corniced stacks with coupled flues, mainly to rear of ridge. Rear: shallow projecting gabled wings flanking central recessed range; board door entered from terraced pathway (qv) over short bridge at third-floor level, right. Interior: a flight of steps to right immediately inside the entrance arch gives access up to the great hall. A flight to the left leads down to the basement containing kitchen and service rooms. The hall contains screens passage with enclosed gallery over; a large fireplace with moulded Tudor arch against the north wall and flanked by large mullion and transom windows; panelling. Original newel stair in south-west tower; imported wooden-framed stair with large balusters and ball finials in rear (north-east) wing (inserted c1930). The Great Chamber: elaborate chimney-piece with strapwork, caryatids and sculptured panel representing the judgement of Solomon; the ceiling a replica of that at Canonbury Tower, c1930. In 1540 Fountains Abbey was bought by Sir Richard Gresham and in 1597 it was sold to Sir Stephen Proctor, Collector and Receiver of Fines on Penal Statutes to James I. Sir Stephen built the house from stone taken from abbey buildings to south and east of the cloister, but there is little sign of the stone being reused. He may have built on the foundations of early C16 buildings near the Abbey gatehouse (Hope, p 133). He died in disgrace and the Hall passed through several owners into the hands of the Messenger family who held it until 1768 when William Aislabie added it to his estate at Studley Park (qv) as the culmination of his father's landscaped grounds. The combined estates then passed through the ownership of the Robinson family of Newby Park, Ripon, including the first Marquis of Ripon (1827-1909) who married Henrietta Vyner. In 1923 the Vyner family came into ownership and the hall became a permanent residence again after restoration. From 1966 the West Riding and North Yorkshire County Councils were owners until the estate was acquired by the National Trust in 1983. 'Fountains Hall, Yorkshire', Country Life, August 15 1931. N Pevsner, West Riding, p 213. W T C Walker, Studley Royal and Fountains Abbey Estate, 1976.
Listing NGR: SE2714368298
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 331036
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Walker, W T C, Studley Royal and Fountains Abbey Estate, (1976)
Pevsner, N, Radcliffe, E, The Buildings of England: Yorkshire: The West Riding, (1967)
Country Life in 15 August, (1931)
Other
Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England, Part 32 North Yorkshire,
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 27-Jun-2026 at 05:49:12.
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