Fountains Abbey: History
• Origins
• Sources
• Foundation
• Consolidation
• Trials and Tribulations
• Strength and Stability
• End of Monastic Life

Fountains Abbey: Buildings
• Precinct
• Church
• Cloister
• Sacristy
• Library
• Chapter House
• Parlour
• Dormitory
• Warming House
• Day Room
• Refectory
• Kitchen
• Lay Brothers' Range
• Abbots House
• Infirmary
• Outer Court
• Gatehouse
• Guesthouse

Fountains Abbey: Lands

Fountains Abbey: People

Stones, slates and tiles

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Vein fissure on Craven Moor
© Peter Howard
<click to enlarge>

Fountains had quarries, or rights to quarry stone, in Skelldale, Nidderdale, Craven and Hutton Moor.(140) Laverton sandstone was available nearby, just at the edge of the abbey precinct.(141) The community acquired rights to take millstones in Crosslands, near its grange at Bradley, some four miles from Huddersfield, and also at Sawley.(142) John Norton, a knight of Sawley, granted Fountains all his quarries and millstones in Stainburne, with free access through his lands to obtain this, and the right to quarry stone as often as they wished in all his lands in Sawley, excluding, John’s manor and demesne lands. John stated that this stone was for any building that was required at the monastery and its granges of Morker, Haddockstones, Swanley and Brimham, and for roofing and repair work. In addition to stone, the community could fell any trees in the quarries. John imposed no restrictions on the monks as to when or often they could quarry, and stipulated that they should not be hindered by John or anyone acting in his name.(143)

Tiles at Fountains
© Cistercians in Yorkshire Project
<click to enlarge>

The manufacture of pottery and tiles
Fountains manufactured pottery and tiles on its granges of Sutton and Bradley. This, it seems, was essentially for the community’s own use. From the late twelfth century earthenware was produced at Winksley, on Sutton grange, which lay to the north of the abbey. Four kilns have been excavated here and a number of pottery fragments uncovered. The pottery produced here was rather distinctive, and adopted a pattern similar to Dutch pottery from Aardenburg.(144)

The community also manufactured pottery at Bradley grange, near Huddersfield, at Potter Heaton.(145) Tiles were produced at Cayton, in Lower Nidderdale, some four miles from the abbey.(146)