Heritage Open Days 2025

1.CliftonCastleTour

Clifton,RiponHG44AB

AtourofCliftonCastletoviewvariousheritageassets&chattels, includingconditionallyexemptitems.Afamilyhomecontaining manychattelsincludingfurniture,paintings,porcelain&silver datingbacktothe17thcentury,inthesettingofaGeorgian house;alsothechancetoexplorethegrounds&riverwalks

EventTimes꞉Friday12September11.00&14.00

BookingDetails꞉Pre‑bookingrequired.

Directions꞉2½milesnorthofMashamontheroadtowards Richmond.Thedrivegatesareonthelefthandsideheading northfromMasham,byaredtelephonebox

2.TheArchitectureofStJohn’s꞉FromArchesto Bells&Beyond!

BerrygateLane,Sharow,RiponHG45BJ

Learnabouttheamazingwindows,seehowthechurchhasbeen adaptedformoderntimes,discoverwhatisplannedforthe SharowBellsRestoration,strollthroughthetranquilchurchyard managedforwildlifeconservation,drinktea&eatcake!

EventTimes꞉Friday12‑Sunday21September10.00‑16.00 (12.00‑16.00onSundays)

BookingDetails꞉Nobookingrequired

Directions꞉Inthecentreofthevillage,oppositeacarpark& children'splayarea,nexttoSharowPrimarySchool.

BellringingTasterSessionsatStJohn’s

Saturday13September14.00‑16.00andMonday15September 18.30‑20.30

3.FunHistoricalRiponCathedralTrail

MinsterRoad,RiponHG41QT

Afamily‑trailaroundsomeofthetreasuresofRiponCathedral withtimetowanderandwonderthrough1350yearsoffaith, hopeandloveintheheartofRipon.

EventTimes꞉Availableduringnormalopeninghours

BookingDetails꞉Nobookingrequired

4.Gazebo

BlossomgateCourt,Blossomgate,RiponHG42AW

Stroll in the surroundings of this eighteenth century marvel still surviving in Ripon. Late 17th century/early 18th century gazebo beautifullyrestoredtogiveaviewofthecountryside,theGazebo is one of the undiscovered treasures of Ripon, & is a wonderful reminderof18th‑centurylifeinthecity.

EventTimes꞉Friday12&Saturday13September13.00‑16.00

BookingDetails꞉Nobookingrequired

Directions꞉ Enclosed by Blossomgate Court sheltered housing, Blossomgate,Ripon.

5.ChapelofStMaryMagdalen(theleperchapel)

MagdalensRoad,RiponHG41HU

TheChapelispartoftheHospitalofStMaryMagdalen establishedc1132onlandgivenbyArchbishopThurstanof York.TheHospitalcontinuestoprovide10homesforlocal peopleinalmshousesmanagedbyacharitabletrust.

EventTimes꞉Saturday13September09.30‑16.30

BookingDetails꞉Nobookingrequired

Directions꞉FromtheCathedralfollowStMarygateinto Stonebridgegate,pasttheMagdalenspubontoMagdalensRd. TheChapelisontheright200metresonfromthepub.

6.Ripon&DistrictLightRailway

10‑11CanalSide,DallamiresLane,RiponHG41TT

Come&visitpartofRipon'srichindustrialheritage,showing thisrailwaythatstillexistswithsomeofthemachineryusedon it.Seeartifacts,memorabilia,signs,machines,enginesetc.in thismuseumofportablelightrailways.

EventTimes꞉Sunday14September10.00‑16.00 &Monday15September10.00‑16.00

BookingDetails꞉Nobookingrequired

7.StWilfrid’sCatholicChurch,Ripon

ColtsgateHill,RiponHG42AB

GradeII*,openedin1862.JosephAloysiusHansomwasthe architectandEdwardPugindesignedthereredos.Stained glasswindowsarebyJohnHungerfordPollen(senior).The otherstainedglasswindowsarebyBarnettofNewcastleand themosaicmedallionsarebyAntonioSalviati.Volunteers availablealongwithaquizanddronefootagecanbeviewed oftheareasthatareaccessible.

EventTimes꞉Sat13,Sun14,Tue16,Wed17&Sat20September 12.00‑16.00

BookingDetails꞉Nobookingrequired

Directions꞉Bycar,accesstoStWilfrid'sCatholicChurchcar parkisviaTrinityLane,asColtsgateHillisoneway.

8.AllhallowgateMethodistChurch

VictoriaGrove,RiponHG41LG

Builtin1881asaPrimitiveMethodistChapel,Allhallowgate MethodistChurchhasseencontinuedunbrokenworshipfor thepast144yearandisathriving,activechurchwithinthecity ofRipon.

EventTimes꞉Sunday14September13꞉00‑16꞉00

BookingDetails꞉Nobookingrequired

Ripon Events Diary

Wednesday17th September Thursday18th September

19th September

20th September

21st September

FunHistorical RiponCathedral Trail FunHistorical RiponCathedral Trail FunHistorical RiponCathedral Trail FunHistorical RiponCathedral Trail FunHistorical RiponCathedral Trail

Architecture ofStJohn’s 10.00‑16.00

‘What’sUp’ Ripon Walk 11.00

StWilfrid’s Church Ripon 12.00&16.00

RiponSpaBaths HardHatTours 10.00‑12.00

Architecture ofStJohn’s 10.00‑16.00

RiponTownHall OpenDay 10.00,11.30& 13.00

Architecture ofStJohn’s 10.00‑16.00

RiponSpaBaths HardHatTours 10.00‑12.00

Architecture ofStJohn’s 10.00‑16.00

Architecture ofStJohn’s 12.00‑16.00

StWilfrid’s Church Ripon 12.00&16.00

9.

RiponCivicSocietyWalk‑‘What’sUpinRipon’

MeetattheObelisk,RiponMarketPlace

AwalkledbyRichardTaylorandDavidWinpennyofRiponCivic SocietyinvitingyoutolookupatdetailsoftenmissedonRipon’s historicbuildings.If you want to know why St Wilfrid is taking a bathinpubliccomejoinastrollaroundthecitycentretofindout aboutthisandothercuriosities.

EventTimes꞉Wednesday17September11.00

BookingDetails꞉Nobookingrequired

10.IntheFootstepsoftheMarquess

StWilfrid’sCatholicChurch

ColtsgateHill,RiponHG42AB

ThestoryoftheFirstMarquessofRipon‑anillustratedtalkby RichardTayloratStWilfrid'sCatholicChurch

EventTimes꞉Tuesday16September19.30‑21.00

BookingDetails꞉Required‑email꞉v.jillfreeman322@yahoo.com

11.RiponSpaBathsHardHatTours

ParkSt,RiponHG42AX

A look inside the city’s Edwardian gem currently under restoration by Sterne Properties Ltd. Take a ‘hard hat’ tour to inspectthewonderfulartnouveautilingandstainedglassinthe former pump room of this listed building opened by Queen Victoria’sdaughterin1905.

EventTimes꞉ 18th&20thSeptember10.00‑12.00HalfHourSlots

BookingDetails꞉BookingessentialviaEventbrite꞉ Thurs18th꞉https꞉//tinyurl.com/5xkd2pa4 Sat20th꞉https꞉//tinyurl.com/33vkncau

As this is an active buildingsite please wear stout shoes. Hard hats and hi viz jackets will be made available.There are some uneven floors which may not be suitable for those with limited mobility.

12.RiponTownHallOpenDay

TownHall,MarketPlaceSouth,RiponHG41DD

Visit the Mayor's Parlour at Ripon Town Hall. With our Bellman Geoffrey Johnson as your guide, explore historical displays, paintings,&learnaboutthecity'scivicheritage&traditions.

EventTimes꞉Thursday18September10.00,11.30&13.00

BookingDetails꞉Nobookingrequired

The Ripon area has a remarkable variety of historic buildings and sites꞉ Nearly 500 listed buildings of which 15 are Grade I listed and 24 listed at Grade II*. Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal is also a World Heritage Site, one of only two in Yorkshire. Ripon Civic Society is pleased to be working with the Ripon BID to promote awareness of Ripon's rich heritage through Heritage Open Days.

Ripon Civic Society formed in 1968 is an independent charity dedicated to protecting and enhancing the historic buildings and environment of the Ripon area.

For more about us please visit our website at riponcivicsociety.org.uk