The Tower of Abbot Marmaduke Huby of Fountains Abbey: Hubris or Piety?

Abstract The bell tower built by Abbot Marmaduke Huby (1495–1526) at the Cistercian monastery of Fountains has often been regarded as self-aggrandizement. However, a different interpretation is possible when the content of the three bands of inscriptions around the tower's upper storeys are considered. These contain texts from the offices sung at a Cistercian monastery on a Sunday. Several have been adapted to express devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus. The inscriptions, and the identity and location of the three saints' images on the tower, mean that the structure can be interpreted as an expression of Huby's personal devotions and of his dedication to monastic reform.