THE ancient ruins of Fountains Abbey took on an even more spectacular aspect over the weekend.
More than 70 colourfully-clad watchmen from across Europe paraded in their finery to the World Heritage Site to re-enact their age-old duties.
All members of the European Night and Tower Watchmen's Guild, they were in North Yorkshire for a gathering hosted by the city of Ripon.
The event was co-ordinated by Ripon's hornblower, Alan Oliver, and involved activities in Ripon, Masham and Fountains Abbey.
The aim of the gathering was to promote and preserve the ancient customs of the watchmen, whose origins date from 1241.
Some of the customs date back even further, with Ripon being one of the oldest. Its post of hornblower goes as far back as 886AD.
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