Poisoning of Abbot Greenwell

Around June 1447, John Greenwell, the abbot of Fountains Abbey, in Yorkshire, Northern England, was poisoned by a monk, William Downom. By the 15th century, Fountains was the richest abbey in England, and its abbot was an important figure in local political society. The first half of the century saw it wracked with internal strife, including a disputed election which had violent repercussions. Greenwell appears to have brought a degree of peace to the abbey upon his election, but he does not seem to have been popular. Downom poisoned a dish of pottage, which he then attempted to feed the abbot while the latter was sick. Greenwell survived, and the case became notorious. Although it took over a year and discussions with Fountains' motherhouse of Cîteaux Abbey, Downom—who may have also had previous offences on his record—was eventually expelled from the abbey. Greenwell himself remained controversial and was both accused and accuser in local lawsuits, and later incurred the distrust of King Edward IV for his political leanings. Greenwell eventually resigned in 1471; Downom remained a monk after being expelled from Fountains and may have joined Kirkstead Abbey in Lincolnshire, following which he disappears from the record.

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Fountains Abbey

Fountains Abbey is a ruined Cistercian monastery near Ripon in North Yorkshire, England. It was founded in 1132 under the direction of Thurstan, archbishop of York, and over the next four centuries became one of the wealthiest monasteries in England thanks to its large and diverse landholdings. The monastery was dissolved in 1539 as part of the English Reformation and its estates sold. Fountains Abbey is now within Studley Royal Park, a landscaped garden created in the eighteenth century. Even in its current state, Fountains is described by Historic England as "the best preserved of English abbeys and [...] the finest picturesque ruin." The majority of the buildings were constructed in the Romanesque and Early English Gothic style between 1170 and 1247, with significant additions in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. The abbey church and many of the claustral buildings survive, including the chapter house, refectory, and lay brothers' dormitory, as well as ancillary structures such as the guest houses, abbey mill, and bridges. The abbey is protected for its historic significance, having been designated a grade I listed building and a scheduled monument by Historic England. It also forms part of the Studley Royal including the ruins of Fountains Abbey World Heritage Site. It is owned by the National Trust and maintained by English Heritage, and is open to the public.

Fountains Mill

Fountains Mill, sometimes known as Abbey Mill, is a historic building at Fountains Abbey, a World Heritage Site in North Yorkshire, in England. The watermill was built in the 1130s or 1140s on a leet from the River Skell, as a corn mill for the abbey. It originally had a single wheel at the southern end, but it was rebuilt in the 1150s atop a dam, with a wheel at each end. In the 13th century, the upper storey was added, to serve as a granary. The Abbey closed in 1539 with the Dissolution of the Monasteries, following which the north end was demolished and replaced with a new single-storey section. The mill continued in use, and in 1840 was converted into a sawmill, the current waterwheel being installed at this time. In 1928 a turbine was installed to convert the building to the production of electricity. The mill closed in 1937, and the building then served various uses including refugee accommodation and a stonemason's workshop. It was restored in 1993 for use as a museum and exhibition space. It is the most substantial Cistercian mill to survive. The building has been grade I listed since 1986, and is also a scheduled monument. The mill is built of gritstone with a stone slate roof, and has three stories and five bays, and a two-storey two-bay extension to the north. On the east front is a round-arched doorway, other round-arched openings and four stepped buttresses. The west front has similar openings and an attached wheelhouse. On the left return are external steps leading to a round-arched doorway with a chamfered surround, and in both returns are square-headed windows.

Fountains Hall

Fountains Hall is a country house near Ripon in North Yorkshire, England, located within the World Heritage Site at Studley Royal Park which include the ruins of Fountains Abbey. It belongs to the National Trust and is a Grade I listed building.

Anne Boleyn's Seat

Anne Boleyn's Seat is a historic structure at Studley Royal, a World Heritage Site in North Yorkshire, in England. The shelter, containing a seat, is at a high point in the garden, known as "Surprise View". The National Trust describes it as "the climax of the garden". The structure was commissioned by William Aislabie and was probably complete by 1790; it was initially described as a "sashed Gothic temple". A headless statue was erected nearby, and it is believed that this led to the structure being named after Anne Boleyn, who was beheaded. The structure provides a view of the ruins of Fountains Abbey, and its name may also reference the role of Henry VIII of England, Boleyn's husband, in the Dissolution of the Monasteries. The shelter is built of wood. On the west front are three slender Gothick arches on quatrefoil columns, and an elaborate embattled parapet. At the rear is a narrow entrance and a similar parapet, and the side walls are blank. The floor is concrete, and there are two modern benches. It has been grade II listed since 1986.