Following the dissolution of Fountains Abbey, the site fell into ruin until 1768, when it was bought by the Aislabie family who had long hoped to incorporate it into their Studley Royal estate. John Aislabie transformed it into superb landscaped grounds, featuring a water garden that incorporated the winding Skell valley, as well as canals, ponds and waterfalls designed to reflect the follies that stand amid rare trees and flowerbeds. Studley Royal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.