Fountains Hall
Ripon · HG4
Amenities
Summary
A Grade I listed Elizabethan prodigy house near Ripon in North Yorkshire, built in 1598 to 1611 with stone from adjacent Fountains Abbey, located within the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Studley Royal Park, managed by the National Trust, used as a filming location for The Secret Garden (1993) and Gunpowder (BBC One, 2017).
About this location
Fountains Hall stands within the Studley Royal Park World Heritage Site near Ripon in North Yorkshire, adjacent to the ruins of Fountains Abbey. The house was built between 1598 and 1611 by Stephen Proctor, partly using stone robbed from the nearby Cistercian abbey ruins, which had been dissolved by Henry VIII in 1539. It is an example of a late Elizabethan prodigy house — possibly influenced by the work of Robert Smythson — with a tall, elaborately fenestrated facade of considerable ambition for its date. A balcony survives on the exterior, though the staircase serving it has been deemed unsafe for public access. In July 1604, the young Prince Charles stopped at Fountains Hall while travelling from Dunfermline to London.
After Proctor’s death in 1619, the hall passed through several hands before being acquired by William Aislabie of the neighbouring Studley Royal estate in the late 18th century. The Aislabies’ primary seat was Studley Royal, and Fountains Hall became effectively redundant — it was leased to tenants and at times used for farm storage. The hall was renovated and modernised between 1928 and 1931 and used as a guest house for the Duke and Duchess of York. During the Second World War, the stable block and courtyard housed Queen Ethelburga’s School, evacuated from Harrogate. Fountains Hall and the Studley Royal estate were transferred to the National Trust and are now part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes Fountains Abbey and the 18th-century water garden.
The Secret Garden (1993, directed by Agnieszka Holland, starring Kate Maberly, Heydon Prowse, and Andrew Knott, adapted from Frances Hodgson Burnett’s novel) filmed exterior sequences at Fountains Hall. Gunpowder (BBC One, 2017, written by Kit Harington and Ronan Bennett, directed by J Blakeson, about the Gunpowder Plot of 1605) used Fountains Hall for the outdoor sequences depicting the 1603 raid on a Catholic household — though the scene was labeled “Baddesley Clinton” on screen, Fountains Hall was the location actually used for filming.
Access notes
- Parking
- On-site parking available — confirm crew-vehicle capacity with the venue.
- Loading access
- Loading access not listed. Confirm access points, door widths, and lift availability with the venue before the day.
- Public transit
- Ripon has mainline rail and regional bus connections. Check the nearest station and allow for equipment on-foot from transit.
Ask us about this location
Quick question before you enquire upstream? We often know day-rate ranges, permit lead times, or a direct-to-owner shortcut not shown on the source page.
On the map
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Access process
National Trust
The National Trust has a central commercial filming and photography team that handles enquiries across all 500+ properties. Location fees fund conservation.
- Lead time
- 8 weeks minimum; 3+ months for major interiors.
- Fees
- Day rates set per property and per shoot scale — typically £500–£5,000+ for full crew access. Student and charitable reductions available.
- Crew size capped per property. Large shoots need dedicated agreement.
- No flash photography on historic interiors. No damage to fabric of any kind.
- Standard insurance requirement: £5m public liability minimum.
FAQ
- Do I need a permit to film at Fountains Hall?
- Yes — filming on or around Fountains Hall typically requires a permit. Allow roughly 5–10 working days lead time for most UK councils. Interior shoots on private property may also need owner consent.
- Is parking available at Fountains Hall?
- On-site parking is available at Fountains Hall. Capacity varies — confirm crew-vehicle numbers with the venue before the day.
- How much does it cost to film at Fountains Hall?
- Fountains Hall sits in the ££ band. Typical UK film-location day rates range from under £200 for simple interior shoots to well over £1,000 for period properties and landmark venues. Confirm with the venue directly.
- What crew size is suitable for Fountains Hall?
- Fountains Hall can accommodate a large crew of 15+ including feature-film unit requirements, trucks, and extras.
- Has anything been filmed at Fountains Hall before?
- Fountains Hall appears on Filmshoot's UK location index because it has a documented track record or strong characteristics for film and photography. Specific production credits aren't displayed unless publicly confirmed by the venue — ask the venue directly or check ScreenSkills and IMDb Locations for verified credits.
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