Heritage Open Days 2025

on st 5 p 2 i 1 R ‑2 20 th er 2 1 mb te p Se heritageopendays.org.uk Heritage Open Days is England's largest festival of history and culture bringing people together to celebrate their heritage, community and history. It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences ‑ and it’s all FREE.

Supported & produced by

1. Clifton Castle Tour

Clifton, Ripon HG4 4AB A tour of Clifton Castle to view various heritage assets & chattels, including conditionally exempt items. A family home containing many chattels including furniture, paintings, porcelain & silver dating back to the 17th century, in the setting of a Georgian house; also the chance to explore the grounds & river walks.

Event Times꞉ Friday 12 September 11.00 & 14.00 Booking Details꞉ Pre‑booking required.

Directions꞉ 2½ miles north of Masham on the road towards Richmond. The drive gates are on the left hand side heading north from Masham, by a red telephone box

2. The Architecture of St John’s꞉ From Arches to Bells & Beyond!

Berrygate Lane, Sharow, Ripon HG4 5BJ Learn about the amazing windows, see how the church has been adapted for modern times, discover what is planned for the Sharow Bells Restoration, stroll through the tranquil churchyard managed for wildlife conservation, drink tea & eat cake!

Event Times꞉ Friday 12 ‑ Sunday 21 September 10.00‑16.00 (12.00‑16.00 on Sundays) Booking Details꞉ No booking required Directions꞉ In the centre of the village, opposite a car park & children's play area, next to Sharow Primary School.

Bellringing Taster Sessions at St John’s

Saturday 13 September 14.00‑16.00 and Monday 15 September 18.30‑20.30

3. Fun Historical Ripon Cathedral Trail

Minster Road, Ripon HG4 1QT A family‑trail around some of the treasures of Ripon Cathedral with time to wander and wonder through 1350 years of faith, hope and love in the heart of Ripon.

Event Times꞉ Available during normal opening hours Booking Details꞉ No booking required

4. Gazebo

Blossomgate Court, Blossomgate, Ripon HG4 2AW Stroll in the surroundings of this eighteenth century marvel still surviving in Ripon. Late 17th century/early 18th century gazebo beautifully restored to give a view of the countryside, the Gazebo is one of the undiscovered treasures of Ripon, & is a wonderful reminder of 18th‑century life in the city.

Event Times꞉ Friday 12 & Saturday 13 September 13.00‑16.00 Booking Details꞉ No booking required Directions꞉ Enclosed by Blossomgate Court sheltered housing, Blossomgate, Ripon.

5. Chapel of St Mary Magdalen (the leper chapel) Magdalens Road, Ripon HG4 1HU The Chapel is part of the Hospital of St Mary Magdalen established c1132 on land given by Archbishop Thurstan of York. The Hospital continues to provide 10 homes for local people in alms houses managed by a charitable trust.

Event Times꞉ Saturday 13 September 09.30‑16.30 Booking Details꞉ No booking required Directions꞉ From the Cathedral follow St Marygate into Stonebridgegate, past the Magdalens pub onto Magdalens Rd. The Chapel is on the right 200 metres on from the pub.

6. Ripon & District Light Railway

10‑11 Canal Side, Dallamires Lane, Ripon HG4 1TT Come & visit part of Ripon's rich industrial heritage, showing this railway that still exists with some of the machinery used on it. See artifacts, memorabilia, signs, machines, engines etc. in this museum of portable light railways.

Event Times꞉ Sunday 14 September 10.00‑16.00 & Monday 15 September 10.00‑16.00 Booking Details꞉ No booking required

7. St Wilfrid’s Catholic Church, Ripon

Coltsgate Hill, Ripon HG4 2AB Grade II*, opened in 1862. Joseph Aloysius Hansom was the architect and Edward Pugin designed the reredos. Stained glass windows are by John Hungerford Pollen (senior). The other stained glass windows are by Barnett of Newcastle and the mosaic medallions are by Antonio Salviati. Volunteers available along with a quiz and drone footage can be viewed of the areas that are accessible.

Event Times꞉ Sat 13, Sun 14, Tue 16, Wed 17 & Sat 20 September 12.00‑16.00 Booking Details꞉ No booking required Directions꞉ By car, access to St Wilfrid's Catholic Church car park is via Trinity Lane, as Coltsgate Hill is one way.

8. Allhallowgate Methodist Church

Victoria Grove, Ripon HG4 1LG Built in 1881 as a Primitive Methodist Chapel, Allhallowgate Methodist Church has seen continued unbroken worship for the past 144 year and is a thriving, active church within the city of Ripon.

Event Times꞉ Sunday 14 September 13꞉00‑16꞉00 Booking Details꞉ No booking required

For full access details & directions, please visit꞉

www.heritageopendays.org.uk

Ripon Events Diary Friday 12th September

Saturday 13th September

Sunday 14th September

Monday 15th September

Tuesday 16th September

Fun Historical Ripon Cathedral Trail

Fun Historical Ripon Cathedral Trail

Fun Historical Ripon Cathedral Trail

Fun Historical Ripon Cathedral Trail

Fun Historical Ripon Cathedral Trail

Ripon Light Railway 10.00‑16.00

Ripon Light Railway 10.00‑16.00

Architecture of St John’s 10.00‑16.00

Architecture of St John’s 12.00‑16.00

Architecture of St John’s 10.00‑16.00

St Wilfrid’s Church Ripon 12.00 & 16.00

St Wilfrid’s Church Ripon 12.00 & 16.00

Gazebo 13.00‑16.00

Allhallowgate Methodist Church 13.00‑16.00

Chapel of St Mary Magdalen 09.30‑16.30

Architecture of St John’s 10.00‑16.00

Architecture St Wilfrid’s of Church St John’s 10.00‑16.00 Ripon

12.00 & 16.00

Clifton Castle Tour 11.00 & 14.00

Gazebo 13.00‑16.00

St John’s Bellringing Session 14.00‑16.00

St Wilfrid’s Church Ripon 12.00 & 16.00

St John’s Bellringing Session 18.30‑20.30

In the Footsteps of the Marquees 19.30‑21.00

Wednesday 17th September

Thursday 18th September

Friday 19th September

Saturday 20th September

Sunday 21st September

Fun Historical Ripon Cathedral Trail

Fun Historical Ripon Cathedral Trail

Fun Historical Ripon Cathedral Trail

Fun Historical Ripon Cathedral Trail

Fun Historical Ripon Cathedral Trail

Ripon Spa Baths Hard Hat Tours 10.00 ‑ 12.00

Architecture of St John’s 10.00‑16.00

Architecture of St John’s 10.00‑16.00

‘What’s Up’ Ripon Walk 11.00

Ripon Town Hall Open Day 10.00, 11.30 & 13.00

St Wilfrid’s Church Ripon 12.00 & 16.00

Ripon Spa Baths Hard Hat Tours 10.00 ‑ 12.00

Architecture of St John’s 10.00‑16.00

Architecture of St John’s 10.00‑16.00

St Wilfrid’s Church Ripon 12.00 & 16.00

Architecture of St John’s 12.00‑16.00

9. Ripon Civic Society Walk ‑ ‘What’s Up in Ripon’

Meet at the Obelisk, Ripon Market Place A walk led by Richard Taylor and David Winpenny of Ripon Civic Society inviting you to look up at details often missed on Ripon’s historic buildings. If you want to know why St Wilfrid is taking a bath in public come join a stroll around the city centre to find out about this and other curiosities.

Event Times꞉ Wednesday 17 September 11.00 Booking Details꞉ No booking required

10. In the Footsteps of the Marquess

St Wilfrid’s Catholic Church Coltsgate Hill, Ripon HG4 2AB The story of the First Marquess of Ripon ‑ an illustrated talk by Richard Taylor at St Wilfrid's Catholic Church Event Times꞉ Tuesday 16 September 19.30‑21.00 Booking Details꞉ Required ‑ email꞉ v.jillfreeman322@yahoo.com

11. Ripon Spa Baths Hard Hat Tours

Park St, Ripon HG4 2AX A look inside the city’s Edwardian gem currently under restoration by Sterne Properties Ltd. Take a ‘hard hat’ tour to inspect the wonderful art nouveau tiling and stained glass in the former pump room of this listed building opened by Queen Victoria’s daughter in 1905.

Event Times꞉ 18th & 20th September 10.00‑12.00 Half Hour Slots Booking Details꞉ Booking essential via Eventbrite꞉ Thurs 18th꞉ https꞉//tinyurl.com/5xkd2pa4 Sat 20th꞉ https꞉//tinyurl.com/33vkncau As this is an active building site 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. Ripon Town Hall Open Day

Town Hall, Market Place South, Ripon HG4 1DD Visit the Mayor's Parlour at Ripon Town Hall. With our Bellman Geoffrey Johnson as your guide, explore historical displays, paintings, & learn about the city's civic heritage & traditions.

Event Times꞉ Thursday 18 September 10.00, 11.30 & 13.00 Booking Details꞉ No booking required

For full access details & directions, please visit꞉

www.heritageopendays.org.uk

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

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