AN historic abbey in Ripon has made it on to a prestigious national list celebrating England’s heritage.

Fountain’s Abbey has been chosen to feature in Historic England’s Irreplaceable: A History of England in 100 Places awards.

The awards list 100 places, buildings and historical sites that tell the remarkable story of England and its impact on the world.

Fountains Abbey was nominated by the public in the Faith and Belief category, and was included in a shortlist provided to the judge, the Very Reverend David Ison, Dean of St Paul’s who then chose it as one of his ten places.

The city’s MP Julian Smith welcomed the news and said: “I am really pleased to hear that Fountain’s Abbey has featured in Historic England’s Irreplaceable: A History of England in 100 Places.

“We are very lucky to have such a wonderful, historic site in our area and I am pleased its getting the recognition it deserves.”

Rev Ison said: “This site is a reminder of how monasteries greatly shaped the economic as well as religious and social fabric of society. It is also a telling reminder of the huge destruction the Reformation in the 16th century.”