A Death at Fountains Abbey (3)

Travel Guide

The Tom Hawkins Guide to London and Yorkshire

Red Lion Square

The novel opens here and there’s a fire. John Aislabie lives here and he comes running from his home with a child, everything in ruins. You just know something is going on by the opening line “She never meant for the fire to spread”. This is the nice end of London where rich men and bankers live. Government men.

Change Alley

A barren of alleyways and on the coffee houses there we’re told that the South Sea scheme is rampant. Trading here between all walks of life goes on but the bubble soon bursts.Until then it was a case of national madness. But many lose their fortunes and everything else.

Yorkshire

Fountains Abbey

Fountain Abbey is the main setting for the novel and the intrigue. This is about 3 miles south west of Ripon. The setting of course in 1728 appears quite different to what is is now but Fountains Abbey in itself does look as if it’s been kept preserved in time.

“Can we not see Fountains Abbey from here? I asked craning my neck. Kitty’s eyes widened. “An abbey?” A ruined monastery I replied”

The wonder that these buildings create in the characters is clear to see. This is bitter sweet however as this is the home of a man who has swindled many out of their fortunes whilst profiting himself. Aislabie was the Chancellor of the Exchequer during a financial fiasco – the South Sea Bubble and the fall out from this has reached all the way to Yorkshire. The hum of the city might be far away but the stench of financial trickery and swindling is not.