Ripon BID welcomes news of start date for £5.8 million Studley Revealed project at UNESCO World Heritage Site

 🌿🏛️The National Trust has this morning (Wednesday August 5th) announced the appointment of Ripley‑based contractor HACS Group to deliver the £5.8 million Studley Revealed project, which will see the creation of new visitor facilities at the Studley Royal entrance 🚧✨.

The start of work will necessitate a 12‑month closure of the entrance and tea‑room from Monday September 7th. Main visitor routes through the estate and entry through the Visitor Centre and West Gate will be unaffected, and the car park at Studley Royal will remain open for visitors to the deer park 🦌.

A once‑in‑a‑generation investment 🌟

Justin Scully, general manager of National Trust Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, said: “Studley Revealed represents a once‑in‑a‑generation investment in the future of this remarkable World Heritage Site.

“The project will help us to better care for the landscape and create visitor facilities that are worthy of a World Heritage Site for the millions of people who will continue to enjoy this special place in years to come.

“As a conservation charity, we’re committed to protecting the heritage of Studley Royal while helping visitors understand and enjoy what makes it so special.”

Attracting more visitors 📈

News that the start of work is fast approaching has been welcomed by Lilla Bathurst, manager of Ripon BID.

She told Tim Flanagan of the Rejoicing in Ripon Blog: “North Yorkshire’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site is on our doorstep, and with more than 430,000 visitors a year coming to Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, there is an obvious heritage link between it and the Cathedral City of the Dales — a link that brings mutual benefit to both heritage‑rich locations.”

Lilla pointed out: “Once complete, the Studley Revealed project will attract more visitors to the beautifully manicured splendour of the water garden 🌸 and the spectacular abbey ruins 🏰.

“Naturally, we hope that those who come to enjoy this unique site will also find time to come to Ripon and the cathedral where, in December 1132, a group of 13 Benedictine monks set off along the banks of the River Skell and eventually found the perfect place to build their abbey.”

About Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal 🕰️

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal is one of the UK’s most remarkable historic landscapes and has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986.

Shaped over more than 800 years, it brings together monastic ruins, elegant water gardens and sweeping parkland in a landscape of outstanding beauty and significance 🌿✨.

Stunning vistas 🌅

Visitors can see the awe‑inspiring ruins of the 12th‑century Fountains Abbey and the Georgian water garden at Studley Royal, renowned for its ornamental lakes, follies, statues and stunning vistas.

They can also discover the Victorian Gothic St Mary’s Church, Elizabethan Fountains Hall and its hidden walled garden, and a medieval deer park home to over 300 deer 🦌.

A destination for all seasons 🍂🌼🌞❄️

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal is cared for by the National Trust and offers a year‑round programme of events, family activities and opportunities to connect with nature, history and heritage.

Enhanced hop‑on bus services 🚌

Since last month, enhanced hop‑on bus services from Ripon and surrounding areas have been running to Fountains and Studley Royal. Details about participating bus routes can be found here: tinyurl.com/29y85fu5

Supporting the local economy 🤝

Eddie Ashworth, commercial director of HACS Group, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this project, particularly as it’s so close to home.

Supporting our local community is something we’re genuinely passionate about, and while we’ve had the privilege of working on a number of heritage projects, this will be our first World Heritage Site — an exciting opportunity to showcase our team’s expertise while helping to enhance a valued community facility.”

Working with award‑winning heritage architects 🏗️

The project team includes award‑winning heritage architects Feilden Fowles, whose previous work includes projects at the Natural History Museum, Yorkshire Sculpture Park and the National Railway Museum, alongside landscape architects RankinFraser.

Together, the design team has developed proposals that carefully balance conservation, accessibility and visitor experience, while responding sensitively to one of the most important designed landscapes in Europe.

Maelys Garreau, Senior Architect at Feilden Fowles, said: “Studley Revealed reconnects an 18th‑century masterpiece with its original landscape, reuniting the deer park and garden, reinstating the Georgian sequence at its true entrance, while enhancing accessibility and climate resilience across the site.”

Illustrations of how the entrance and exterior of the new building will look were provided by Feilden Fowles Architects.

The photo of Justin Scully, general manager of National Trust Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal (pictured right with Eddie Ashworth, commercial director of HACS Group) was provided by The National Trust.