The owners where the
’s. The farther of the family, John Aislabie was a former chanceller of the Exchequer. He was disgraced after the infamous ‘South sea bubble’ scandal. This is where the South sea company took on Englands debt for in exchange for trading with Spain. Therefore, with no way of making his respectability back in politics, he moved to his country estate in Yorkshire(fountains abbey) and made it good in order to restore some pride.
Source F is a source produced in the 19th century, towards the end of stage 4. Stage 4 was the landscape gardening stage, however by this time it was nearly over. This timing therefore suggests to us that this was done out of historical interest.
Furthermore, we see that it is showing the ruins. This is significant as during the landscape gardening phase, the ruins were well maintained, but by this point it was it was left unmentioned. This shows us the owners had no time or money in order to preserve it, so it shows us that the Abbeys upkeep and maintenance was costly, even for the rich. Also we see that as it is ruin, there is no longer an emphasis on ’showing off’ if anything it is now a burden on the owners.
You can see different styles of building. This suggests that at the time of building the Abbey was rising in power, and it shows they were wealthy. As the abbey was originally formed in 1132 as an attempt by a small band of Monks to escape from greed and corruption, we can gather that by this time, they had lost many of there core values.
However, we can see another angle. That, in the 1800’s, there was a rise in gothic culture. Gothic culture is literature and art and various other forms of media all about dark places, and looking back to medieval times. This is way ruins were so important as these where the last remnants of medieval times. Old houses are used in gothic literature. An example of this is Bram Stokers Dracula. As one of the main features of this culture was old ruins possibly the owners were trying to show off again, this time for its Gothic properties.
Further evidence of this is it was commissioned by the owners. Thus, this suggests they were willing to spend money in order to show it off, so we can glean that the Abbey was still important, and at the centre of Gothic culture.
Also, it is connected with Gothic culture as it is a old church, showing the religious and supernatural aspects of Gothic culture.
We also see the tower, which can show that despite the Monks going away from original values, they thought it was for good reasons. For example building the tower could be interpreted by them as aspiring to God.
Source G is an artists reconstruction of the chapel of the 9 altars. The reconstruction is modern from the end of stage 4 in the 20th century, but the painting is of it after is resurrection in the 1480’s.
One thing we see with source G is the chapel is illuminated from the big stain glass windows. This gives an impression of grandness of the abbey, so we can get the impression that at this time the abbey was very rich. It also shows they are getting greedy as they spending lots of money where it is not needed.
However, we could get the impression that they are glorifying God. This is because they have spent lots of money on it. The reason for this is to make the chapel look good. So, why are they making it look good? Some would say to glorify God, so we can get the impression that although they are getting richer, they are still loving God and glorifying him.
The artist has decided to illuminate them. This can make us think 3 things. One, that the artist thinks they are loving God still, and is illuminated them to show that they were still holy, still carrying out his work. Or, we can gather that the artist, regardless of his personal opinion
It shows they think they are still glorifying God.
Another thinking would be that the artist is commissioned. This means he is payed to draw the picture. Thus, if he is payed he is working to the agenda of his employers. Therefore, they could have wanted to make people think they were still holy, so the artist did this by illuminating them.
All these three theories work on the principle that light has a connation with God and heaven. Therefore, regardless of which one is correct, we can assume they were illuminated to show their holiness.
In the picture we see the monks talking and going about their business. If the monks are talking, they are breaking the original Cistercian vow of silence. The vow of silence was adopted by the original 13 monks who left the, in their view ‘corrupt’ and ‘sinful’ city of York. The fact that they are now breaking this rule shows us they are going away from their original values.
Along similar lines, the monks pledged a vow of poverty. This means they were supposed to be very basic. The grandness and ornate ness of the chapel of the 9 altars shows us they are breaking this pledge, as they are obviously using expensive stone, expensive stain glassed windows and expensive timber. And, if they were fulfilling the original vow they would only be making enough to eat, no way near enough to afford these buildings.
Also we see the Monks in very expensive clothes. This gives the impression they are rich, as clothes more than rags were a luxury in medieval times. It also suggests that they are breaking the vow of discomfort. This is where all their clothes are rough, and they are always in hardship. The aim of this was to remember Jesus’s sacrifice. By wearing fancy clothes, they are not fulfilling this, so we get the impression they are moving away from original values.
Furthermore, the chapel breaks the original cross shape of the church. This shows they value people over God, as a Abbot ordered this for money. They get more money as 9 altars mean 9 times more people can pay to be prayed for. This gives us the impression they are losing values, as they are only praying for rich people when they should be praying for everyone.
Source H is a tourist pamphlet, printed by the national trust in 1997. Therefore we can get the impression that the aim is to make you go to fountains abbey.
Source H contains a wide range of activities and attractions. These are all of different tastes for different people. This suggests the national trust is attempting to diversify their activities. Diversify means to broaden what’s on offer. They do this to appeal to as many different people. The aim of this is profit. This is because the more people who come means more people spend money so there is no profit.
For example, ‘the most complete ruins of a Cistercian monastery’ shows they are aiming at people interested in history. It shows it as ‘Cistercian’ which gives the impression it is aimed at people with a deep knowledge of history. This is because of other people would not fully understand this term. This target is their people who will come quite often, spend a little, not make them massive profit but enough to get by.
However, if we look at ‘600 deer’ this could be aimed at two people. First children. If they read this, there reaction will be to want to go to see the deer. Of course, they can’t go on their own. They need adults. So, this is clearly applying ‘nag power’. Nag power is a marketing term for when children pressure there parents into decisions. The parents, wanting to keep the children happy, will go, and make it a family event.
Now, this is how they get the majority of their profit. As families are generally the wealthiest, they will spend more money. Thus, this shows us the National trust are interested in profit.
However, there is only so long the family will keep going. So, this is the clever marketing. When the children grow up and have their own children, they remember the Abbey as a place of pleasant memory’s. Therefore, they go with there children. This shows the Abbey’s owners, the national trust, are thinking to the future for further sources of income.
We can see further evidence of diversification. For example, ‘in the west of Europe’ shows they are going international. Why are they going international?
Because people in other cultures do not normally have the opportunity to experience English history. Therefore; as soon as they come to England, they hope to see as much as they can before they go. So, as they advertise it as ‘the second biggest national trust site’ to tourists with not much experience of the Uk, they will automatically go to the biggest places near where they are staying.
It also attracts tourists with ‘ a beautiful place’. They want to go and see the best of the English countryside. So by going here, they are fulfilled twofold; once via the history and twice by the English countryside.
So overall the national trust are making Fountains abbey and Studley royal are making fountains abbey appeal to as many people as possible.
