29/09/2010

The most ambitious conservation project ever to have taken place at Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal, a National Trust owned World Heritage Site near Ripon, is now complete.

The silt island that had become an unwanted feature in the Lake since the end of the nineteenth century has now been removed revealing wonderful views in and out of the Water Garden and turning the Lake into a mirror pool to the sky, just as its designer John Aislabie intended.

The National Trust appointed JN Bentley as contractors to drain and dredge the Lake and remove the silt island. The silt was rich in nutrients therefore rather than be wasted it was moved to a nearby farmers field as organic soil improver. While the Lake was drained it was possible to record the eighteenth century boathouses for the first time which gave greater insights into how the Pleasure Grounds had been used in their heyday. The dam and sluice gates were also inspected as part of the National Trust's legal obligations under the Reservoirs Act.

John Aislabie created a formal landscape with classical statues and follies to delight his Georgian visitors. Esteemed guests would have travelled to the estate by carriage, and the inviting view across the Lake into the water garden would have given a glimpse of the wonders in store. For the first time in over 150 years this view has been restored, so that modern day visitors can see the Lake just as an eighteenth century tourist would have done.

Now that 60,000 tonnes of silt has been removed, the water quality in the Lake has greatly improved, improving habitats for flora and fauna.

Chris Fowler, General Manager at Fountains Abbey, said, ‘In all my time at Fountains Abbey I've never seen the Lake looking so magnificent. This project took years to plan, and I'm delighted that it has been completed on time with such wonderful results. Our visitors have followed the project closely and have been very positive about the results.'

The project's progress has been well documented on the estate's website, along with a series of videos that feature key project members. To find out more please visit www.fountainsabbey.org.uk/lake

 

ENDS