Dancing to the music of time as Regency era recreated in Dales

A celebration of Regency music right out of a Jane Austen novel took place at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal’s Georgian water garden yesterday.

Visitors to the Ripon tourist attraction stepped back in time to the 18th century for a celebration of music and dance.

The Arbeau dancers performed the light and lively dances enjoyed by Jane Austen’s characters in Regency England on the lawns in front of the Banqueting House throughout the day.

Visitors relaxed on the laws as the acclaimed early chamber music group Arioso played on period instruments.

The Banqueting House, which is sometimes overlooked by visitors, provided the perfect setting for the Regency-era event.

It stands in tranquil seclusion overlooking the canals and moon ponds of the water garden.

It was designed to impress promenading visitors who were keen to enjoy the garden fashions of the day.

Visitors enjoyed picnics or treated themselves to cream teas which were served throughout the day.

Fountains Abbey, which was Yorkshire’s first World Heritage Site, has the largest abbey ruin in the country.

The site’s 800 acres contains 10 historic buildings spanning 800 years of history.