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STUDLEY ROYAL PARK

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The 18th century developments from 1716 to 1781 as extensive pleasure grounds with geometric layout and deer park by John and William Aislabie. (See SE26NE118 for overview of the park). The park was developed from the earlier park owned by the Mallories in the C17th. This was further landscaped by John Aislabie, but following the fire which burnt down Studley Hall in 1716, a major reorganisation of the landscape was begun (See SE27SE23 for the preceding period). Central to Aislabie's scheme was the enhancement of the hydrology of the River Skell. The valley sides were lowered and the bottom raised and canalised. On the East side of the canal a circular pond flanked by two cresentic ponds (Moon and Crescent Ponds) were constructed, with a half Moon Pond on the West side. Statuary and garden temples accompanied the scheme. A reservoir to the South controlled the flow through the canal via the Rustic Bridge, which at the time formed the Southern boundary of the garden. The Canal emptied into an artificial lake over a wier. This was flanked by fishing pavilions and a boathouse. The Lake emptied into a naturalistic part of the Gardens, the Seven Bridges Walk. The bridges and ford carried a carriageway downstream to the Chinese Wood. This section of the river course was also landscaped. By the time of his death, the major landscaping was largely complete.

Following John's death in 1742, work continued under his son William. Minor alterations to the layout of the statuary around the canal were undertaken, and functional buildings added at the North end of the park near Lindrick Gate. But his major work was in the vicinity of Fountains Abbey which he purchased in 1768. Weirs were added to the River Skell between the abbey and reservoir, the Abbey itself was `restored' as a romantic ruin, the monk's garden was planted as a parterre, and statuary and a folly added to enhance the scene. He also further enhanced the Skell below the Lake and created a Chinese garden.

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