Fountains Abbey is one of the largest and best preserved ruined Cistercian monasteries in England.It was founded by 13 monks expelled from the Benedictine house of St Mary’s Abbey(York).The monks subjected themselves to Clairvaux Abbey,in Burgundy which was under the rule of St Bernard.Under the guidance of Geoffrey of Ainai,a monk sent from Clairvaux,the group learned how to celebrate the 7 Canonical Hours and were shown how to construct wooden buildings in accordance with Cistercian practice.
