Welcome
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The Ripon History you might have walked past.
An engraving of Ripon from an original drawing by F. Nicholson, taken from Studley Park and dated 1797. It is called The Itinerant.
The aim of the website is to highlight the lesser known aspects of Ripon's history. Much is written about the Cathedral and Fountains Abbey, but what about the 16th century Abbot Huby's wall, the 13th century Maison de Dieu (the Massingdew, as the locals called it), and the two 18th century drinking fountains? There are, in Ripon, many unnoticed historic structures, each of which has an interesting story. I hope you enjoy looking at these brief histories as much I have recording them.
Peter Sutton September 2025
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Visit Ripon!
LNER poster is one of a series promoting rail travel to Ripon between 1923 and 1948 when LNER was nationalised. This one is aimed at the French market. The Art Director for the series was William Teasdale and the artist of the Ripon poster is Walter Spreadbury.
Ripon from across the river Skell, the southern boundary of this part of the town. From a painting by an artist with an unreadable signature.
There is a pleasant path along the south side of the river skell from Borrage bridge via Bondgate bridge to New bridge on Boroughbridge Road.)
Ripon became a City in 1836 when its church, Ripon Minster, became the centre of a new diocese of the Church of England. The church attained the status of Cathedral. While the diocese of Ripon has gone, the titles of City and Cathedral remain.
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The website is a work in progress and pages will be added to the site as pictures and comment come to hand. Where it is possible, I have attempted to find prints of interesting paintings and sketches, rather than old photographs, to illustrate each section of the site.
A view of Ripon by the artist Hargrave (1908), looking towards the cathedral from the south west.
York Yard by E W Haslehust about 1900
The three images above are all looking at the cathedral from York Yard which seems to have been a "go to" place for catching an interesting view. The Yard was off Skellgarths. York Yard was demolished in the 1960s to accommodate road development.
The three Yards (York, Skell and Millgate) have been replaced by Bedern Court. York Yard probably occupied the area recently subjected to subsidence.
A view of Ripon Minster and The Hall, now Minster House from across the river Skell. 1770?
To William Aislabie Esq Member for the Borough of Rippon
the view of Rippon Minster is Inscribed
By his most obedient Servants Thomas Hearne and William Byrne.
London: Published as the Act directs 15 Sep 1729 by W Byrne & T Hearne
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