The decision to dissolve England's monasteries was a consequence of Henry's split from the Catholic church after Pope Clement VII refused to annul the king's marriage to Catherine of Aragon in 1527.
The monasteries were a reminder of the power of the Catholic Church.
It was also true that the monasteries were the wealthiest institutions in the country, and Henry’s lifestyle, along with his wars, had led to a lack of money.
Monasteries owned over a quarter of all the cultivated land in England.
By destroying the monastic system Henry could acquire all its wealth and property whilst removing its Papist influence.
Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539 by Henry VIII, the Abbey buildings and over 500 acres of land were sold to Sir Richard Gresham, a merchant.
The property was passed down through several generations of Sir Richard's family, finally being sold to Sir Stephen Proctor who built Fountains Hall in 1611.