riponhistory.co.uk. A history of aspects of Ripon in pictures Welcome 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 Visit Ripon! LNER poster is one of a series promoting rail travel to Ripon between 1923 and 1948 when LNER was nationalised the first time. 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 therefore attained the status of Cathedral. While the diocese of Ripon has gone, the titles of City and Cathedral remain. 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, one of three yards (garths) off Skellgarth, 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 The three Yards (York, Skell and Millgate) have been replaced by Bedern Court.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 the subject of subsidence. (Courtesy of National Library of Scotland) A view of Ripon Minster and The Hall, now Minster House, home of the Dean, from across the river Skell. 1770? To William Aislabie Esq Member for the Borough of Rippon. This 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

Explore More Latest Posts Narratives Historical Accounts Archival Discoveries Ancient Revelations Dive into detailed accounts of the chapels' past, unraveling their architectural beauty, unique features, and the stories that shaped Ripon's medieval heritage. Explore the hidden gems from the archives, revealing ancient artifacts, historical events, and the captivating journey of these cherished chapels through time. Photographic Retrospect Visual Timeline Mapping History Navigating the Past Take a visual journey through time with a collection of current and historical photographs showcasing the evolution and timeless allure of Ripon's medieval chapels. Navigate through the past with detailed maps illustrating the geographical context and architectural layout of these iconic medieval chapels in Ripon. Read More

Ripon's three medieval hospitals North bridge from 1350 Position of river crossing hospital of St Mary Magdalen from 1130 hospital of St John the Baptist from 1119 hospital of St Anne (Maison de Dieu) from C13th or C14th from Town and City Historical Maps No.19 The hospital of St John the Baptist Painting of Ripon looking north across Bondgate bridge about 1830 (artist unknown). The west end of the Norman chapel of St John the Baptist is on the right. Old Hall (now the Dean's House) can be seen across the Skell with a set of gates fronting the river. The Minster is behind Old Hall. The footpath along the south side of the river is still there. The earliest of the three Ripon hospitals (1119) was built on land given by Thomas II, Archbishop of York (1109-1114) and confirmed by his successor Thurstan (1114-1140). It was built just south of the river Skell in the township of Aismunderby and Bondgate, not in the township of Ripon. The hospital was on the route into Ripon from the south and would have provided accommodation for pilgrims visiting the tomb of St Wilfrid in Ripon church, as well local destitute people. The hospital of St Mary Magdalen This was the second hospital to be built in Ripon (1130s). It was built on the route into Ripon from the north, on the first high ground after crossing the river Ure. The founder of the hospital was archbishop of York, Thurstan of Bayeux (1114-1140). He gave 68 acres of good land beside the river Ure on which the hospital was built, together with access to woodland. He also gave the land for the foundation of FountainsAbbey, a hospital in Otley, and he had an interest in the establishment of many of the northern monasteries. The hospital of St Anne The photograph shows the medieval chancel arch looking through into the ruins of the chapel. The altar can be seen under the east window. The nave would have covered the lawn. It was demolished in 1868 when the almshouses on the right were built. St Anne's has an unknown founder. It was built on a small plot of land just north of the river Skell (C12 or C13) at the point where the route from the east crossed the river. It was usually called the Maison de Dieu (House of God) which suggests the founder was a local Norman family, possibly the Nevilles from Raby Castle. Since the conquest the ruling class was Norman, using a language the locals didn't understand. So they mimicked what they heard and Maison de Dieu was called locally the Massingdew. This hospital had no church connection so records of it are few. The chancel arch, which still remains, is late C12th and the solidly built nave, demolished in 1868, may share that date. The ruins of the chancel architecture has been dated to the late C14th

Marquess of Ripon George Frederick Samuel Robinson The young George, from a portrait in the Mayor's parlour. KG = Knight of the Order of the Garter GCSI = Knight Grand Commander of the Star of India. CIE = Civilian Imperialist, for his service as Viceroy of India. VD = Vice-Director, recognising him as Vicount de Grey PC = Privy Councillor George was born in 10 Downing Street in October 1827 when his father, Frederick John Robinson, was briefly Prime Minister. His mother was Lady Sarah Albinia Louisa Hobart, daughter of the Earl of Buckinghamshire. George's father died in 1859 and he inherited the title of Earl of Ripon. George's uncle, Thomas Philip Robinson, Earl de Grey, also died in 1859 and from him George inherited the title Earl de Grey. He chose to be called "Earl de Grey and Ripon". George became Marquess of Ripon in 1871. George married his cousin Lady Henrietta Vyner, daughter of Thomas Philip de Grey and had a son and a daughter. They lived in Studley Royal, now part of the World Heritage Site of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal. The house burned down in 1946 and was completely destroyed and demolished. Only the magnificent stable block remains. George followed his father into politics and had a long and distinquished career and served the country in a variety of roles, too long to fit on the plinth in Ripon Spa Gardens which carries his statue. 1905-08 Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal 1880-84 7th Viceroy and Governor of India 1892-95 Secretary of State for the Colonies 1886-86 First Lord of the Admiralty 1868-73 Lord President of the Council 1866-66 Secretary of State for India 1863-66 Secretary of State for War 1861-61 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for India 1859-61 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for War 1859-1909 Member of the House of Lords. Lord Temporal 1857-59 MP for the West Riding of Yorkshire 1853-57 MP for Huddersfield 1852-53 MP for Kingston upon Hull George died at Studley Royal in 1909 age 81 Statue of the Marquess of Ripon in Spa Gardens, Ripon.

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Bedern Bank A sketch of houses on the west side of Bedern Bank, leading up to the cathedral from the Boroughbrige Road. The rooflines of some of these houses appear on the paintings of York Yard on the "Welcome" page looking up to the cathedral. Bedern Bank was called Walkmiln Bank until the early years of the C14th, possibly because it led down to a mill on the banks of the river Skell. (In the C19th the mill was called Union Mill.) The name change of the road was the result of developments at the church (now the cathedral). The church in Ripon was a collegiate church, administered by a group (a college) of Canons. Each of Ripon's canons held a portion of church land with a house from which they received a stipend (an income). This set them apart from other canons and they were called prebends. It was common for each prebend to employ a vicar to carry out some of their work in the church. These vicars were employed on an annual basis and lodged in the town. These arrangements were considered unstisfactory and in 1304 Nicholas de Bondgate gave land on which to build accommodation for the vicars near the church and "enclosed against the resort of women". This accommodation was called a Bedern (a house of prayer. In old English "bede" = prayer, "aern" = house) One hundred years after the building of the Bedern, vicars had drifted away to other accommodation. A new, larger Bedern was built and vicars were fined 12p (about £100 today) if they were absent. The old properties on Bedern Bank had a sad history. Nothing is known of the properties on the east side of the road. They were probably demolished around 1700 when the Oxley family built a large Hall, now Minster House, home of the Dean. In the 1930s the city council had plans to build a relief road on Bedern Bank and they bought and demolished homes along the west side of the road as they became vacant. The road was not built but the scheme was revived in 1947 and in 1959 all remaining houses were demolished together with the houses in the three Yards off Skellgarths Thorpe Prebend House Grade II* listed From the cathedral, down Bedern Bank, left at roundabout and left onto St Agnesgate. The house backs onto the road. A peak at the front over the fence at the side or on the footpath the other side of the river. An unknown artist's impression of Thorpe Prebend House from across the river Skell. The house on the right was built on the bank of the river where the old river crossing joined the north bank. and St Agnesgate The ford was replaced by New Bridge in 1811. A view of Thorpe Prebend House by the artist E W Haslehust (1866-1949) around 1900. The house appears to be verging on dereliction. A recent photograph of the house after renovation. The oldest part of the house is thought to be the block on the right. I Thorpe Prebend house may have its origins in the C7th. The east wing is dated to 1517, the hall and west wing to 1584. The house was rebuilt in 1609 and internal alterations continued in the C18th. In the C13th there were seven prebends of the church in Ripon. Six had a house within the parish of Ripon; (Bishop) Monkton, Givendale, Nunwick, Studley, (Little) Thorpe and Sharow. The seventh was Stanwick, north of Scotch Corner, where the prebend lived. A plaque on the wall at the Minster Road end of Low St Agnesgate marks the site of Nunwick Prebend house where Charles I signed the Treaty of Ripon in 1640. Treaty of Ripon. The Scottish parliament rejected the Pope's authority and abolished the Mass in 1560. England had done the same in 1534 but the two countries adopted different versions of Protestantism. Charles I in the 1630s attempted to impose his version on the Scots who refused to accept it. Two wars followed called the "wars of the bishops". The treaty of Ripon in 1640 brought a truce in the second war and was favourable to the Scottish side. While it ended hostilities, it allowed the Scots to maintain their occupation of Northumberland and Durham until their grievances were addressed and their expenses paid. The treaty also agreed to the payment, by the English, of Scottish forces of £850 each day until a final settlement of the war (£181.500 today)

Ripon's Bridges The river Ure runs to the north and east of Ripon, the river Skell, once the southern boundary of the town, now runs through the southern part of the city, and the river Laver runs to the west of Ripon. In medieval times crossings were by ford or possibly by wooden structures. North Bridge Artist's impression of North Bridge looking from the north bank of the river Ure towards Ripon church (now the cathedral) North bridge is thought to be Ripon's oldest stone bridge, built in the C13th. The challenge was to build a structure which would survive the river in flood. The crossing point chosen was upstream from the ford which had used an island in the Ure to split the ford into two sections. The ford may have had Roman origins and, on the south bank, joined Stammergate (now Magdalen's Road) to form the main route from the north into Ripon. The bridge was built on seventeen arches and is over 200 metres long. Initially is was wide enough to take pedestrians and possibly a hay cart. Over the years it has been widened to take modern traffic, and much repaired. The initial bridge is thought to have been built with a chapel of St Sitha on its northern side which accepted donations and possibly collected tolls for the upkeep of the bridge. The chapel disappeared at some unknown date, possibly at the Reformation (mid C16th). In the days of the Ridings of Yorkshire north bridge crossed the boundary between North and West Riding and generated active debate about who was responsible for the upkeep of the bridge. It eventually fell to the West Riding until 1974 when the Ridings disappeared and North Yorkshire was created. Ripon enclosure map, mid C19th, shows north bridge (left) and the route of the ford crossing to the right of it. The pathway from Magdalen's Road to the river is called North Bridge Green Road which stops on the far edge of the river island and is marked "Stammergate watering place". On the opposite bank where the ford would have ended is "North Bridge watering place". The map indicates the planned river crossing for the railway yet to be built. It dates the map to about 1846/7. As we do today people prefered to walk the shortest route. Before the bridge was built the river crossing and Stammergate formed the direct route from the north to the church and into the town. However the bridge was built upstream from the ford so the river end of Stammergate (now Magdalen's Road) had to be diverted to link up with the bridge and that kink in the road remains today. However,the diversion was ignored and a new track was created by people walking straight from the bridge towards the town. That track became North Road replacing Stammergate as the main route from the north into the town. Borrage Bridge Artist's impression of Borrage Bridge from the south bank of the river Skell, by Thomas Girton about 1800 The bridge has had various names over the years but has settled in recent times as borrage bridge. It carries the road from Harrogate across the river and was one of Ripon's early stone bridges. It is likely that the name derives from the merchants (burghers) who lived around the market square. Most of the burghers will have had land behind their houses but on the south side of the square the land behind the houses falls away and the owners had burghage plots along Borrage Green Lane, using the bridge the reach them. Did the burghers bridge evolve into Borrage Bridge and Borrage Lane? C14th wills contain references to gifts left by burghers for the repair of the bridge. Artist's impression of Borrage Bridge crossing the river Skell from south to north. George Parsons Norman, Suffolk artist 1840-1914 Chain Bridge or Archer bridge Detail from "the south east prospect of Rippon" Samuel and Nathaniel Buck 1745 The bridge was for pedestrians to cross the river Skell into Ripon township from the township of Bondgate with Aismunderby. Sometimes called Archer bridge because it is thought archers from the church crossed the river to practice on Bondgate Green. The date the bridge was built is unknown but is likely to have linked the two townships from medieval times. It will have been a wooden bridge and is likely to have been replaced several times. On the 1856 map of Ripon it is called the "chain" bridge. Why would a medieval bridge refer to chains? From the time of the Norman conquest the ruling class had been Norman/French. Normans are likely to have built the early bridge and used local oak to construct it. Their name for "oak" is chene or chesne. The locals, speaking a different language, may have interpreted that as "chain", pronouncing it as they heard it and this has come down to us over the years. (Locals did the same with St Anne's hospital next to the bridge on it's northern side. Built as the "maison de dieu" locals called it the "massingdew") The building at the northern end of the bridge on the left is Thorp Prebend House with The Hall (now called Minster House and home of the Dean) behind it. The medieval hospital of St Anne on the right at the northern end of the bridge, is hidden by the trees. The church (now the cathedral) is top right and the top of the obelisk in the market square is top towards the left. The obelisk was built in 1702. On the far left, just above the trees, the building with the bell turret is possibly the Norman chapel of St John the Baptist on Bondgate., demolished in 1868. The link between the bridge and High St Agnesgate was by a piece of roadway now mainly covered by the bandroom, built after the chain bridge was replaced with the stone built New Bridge in 1811, just upstream from the chain bridge. The new bridge carried pedestrians and vehicles. Detail from Mr Beckwith's map of the common field lands of Rippon, Littlethorpe and Bondgate 1744. The bridge in the centre of the map is Borrage (Borrish) Bridge but the map is drawn as if a ford for carts existed beside the bridge. Bondgate Bridge is to the right (under the V of RIVER) and the map shows the buildings along Bondgate including the Norman chapel beside the river. Further to the right (under the last R of RIVER) is the chain bridge for pedestrians arriving via Bondgate Green, with a ford beside it for wheeled traffic. Mr Beckwith also marks the two mill races which supplied water to Ripon's mills. Top left is the mill race from High Clough which served three mills and entered the river Skell beside what is now New Bridge. The other (bottom right) served New Mill and rejoined the river a little further east. Detail from the 1800 Humphries' map of Ripon. The Chain Bridge is marked crossing the river Skell (middle left) with Bondgate bridge above it. Bondgate Green, across Chain bridge in the township of Bondgate, is dotted in with the row of terraced houses and the old pub, the Brewers Arms, next to the river. These houses are still there although the pub has closed. There is no sign of a ford. The mill race from High Clough joins the Skell opposite the pub. The mill race served three mills one on Skellbank (where Hugh Ripley Hall stands), one at the bottom of Duck Hill and the other at the bottom of Bedern Bank. New Bridge New Bridge was built in 1811 and replaced the Chain Bridge. It accommodated wheeled traffic as well as pedestrians. The bridge now carries the Boroughbridge road out of Ripon towards Hewick Bridge over the river Ure. Bondgate Bridge A sketch of the old Bondgate bridge over the river Skell. The building far left is The Bricklayers Arms pub now demolished, and the chimney is part of the brewery. The house next to the pub is still there and may have been occupied by the manager of the brewery. The stone bridge was demolished in the 1892 and replaced with a metal bridge The new metal bridge which replaced the stone bridge in 1892. Hepworth's brewery is in the background. The "new" metal bridge is now subect to a weight restriction, unlike the stone bridges from around 700 years ago! Plaque recording the opening of the bridge. OPENED BY THE MAYORESS OF RIPON (MRS. SMITHSON) FRIDAT THE28TH OCTOBER 1892

grade II* listed The Gazebo The gazebo is in a private garden and is only open to the public on selected days during the Heritage Open Day period in September each year. A gazebo was a status symbol. It was built in the garden of a large Ripon house on Park Street (now two houses numbered 7 and 8) to impress visitors and guests. The Gazebo was probably commissioned about 1719 when the house was in the ownership of the Baynes family who lived there for more than a century (1679 to 1791). Each tower housed a small upstairs room where guests would retire after dinner and sample candied fruits, marzipan and other sugar confections. The gallery walkway linking the two towers allowed "perambulation" with views of the house and garden. The gazebo was acquired by Harrogate Borough Council in the late 20th century and restored to its current state.

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The Obelisk, the Market Square and the Hornblower The obelisk is one of three grade I listed buildings in Ripon and is in the centre of the market square. A view of the obelisk looking across the market square to the south west corner. The obelisk replaced an earlier market cross in 1702, but the artist has retained the old name. The building with the cupola is now (2025) occupied by the Yorkshire Building Society, but the cupola has gone. The Wakeman's house is far left but the house next door has been demolished and the site that is now HSBC bank is occupied by cottages. From a painting by the York artist Jessie Dudley (1872-1930) The market square on market day (Thursday) looking towards the south west corner of the square, the juction of Westgate and High Skellgate. The town hall is far left. The artist is Parson(s) Norman (1840-1914). Born in Newington, Surrey, he spent his early life in East London, but moved to Suffolk in 1878 and joined the Ipswich Fine Arts Club. He exhibited at the Royal Academy. The obelisk was constructed in 1702 as the centre-piece of a newly paved market square. It is 82 feet high and cost £564.11s. 9d. (about £115,000 today) It was the first free standing obelisk in the country and was designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor who later designed the obelisk at Castle Howard. Daniel Defoe, in his "Tour through the whole Island of Great Britain", 1724-6, described the completed project as "the finest and most beautiful square that is to be seen of its kind in England." The aim of the project was to improve Ripon. John Aislabie, Mayor of Ripon and owner of the Studley Royal estate, funded the project and the stone for the obelisk came from his estate. From 1695 he was Ripon's M.P. and became Chancellor of the Exchequer. He was also responsible for designing the landscaped gardens and grounds of Studley Royal which, together with the ruin of Fountains Abbey, is a World Heritage Site. The market square looking south west. Gas lighting has arrived in Ripon and the buildings appear much as they are today. Not only has the cupola disappeared from the top of the building on the corner (second right) the whole of the top floor has gone. The metal finial at the top of the obelisk. It incorporates the hornblower's horn and the Ripon spur rowel (the star wheel on the back of a spur which some of us remember from the days of "cowboys and indians" films), Both are symbols of the City. They stand above a Fleur de Lys. The plaque on the obelisk is an exercise in how not to do it. The inscription says: MDCCLXXXI (1781) Erected at the expense of William Aislabie Esquire who represented this borough in parliament sixty years. The Mayor, Aldermen and Assistants of Ripon ordered this inscription MDCCLXXXV (1785) The Honourable Frederick Robinson Mayor The obelisk was, in fact, erected in 1702 by William's father John Aislabie, at his own expense. He was also an MP for Ripon. William was responsible for the renovation of the obelisk and surrounding structures in the 1780s. The City coat of arms showing the Ripon rowel on the spur, the horn and the motto which is also inscribed along the top of the town hall. Artist's image of the hornblower standing beside the obelisk in front of the town hall. Artist unknown. The tradition of the Ripon hornblower goes back to King Alfred the Great who, in the year 884, granted the town of Ripon a Royal Charter and donated a horn which became known as the Charter Horn. Ripon people were living through a period of Viking raids and, at Alfred's suggestion, appointed a Wakeman to keep watch over the town from dusk till dawn. He announced the start of his watch by blowing the horn at each corner of the obelisk. But over the years the wakeman accumulated powers to tax the population and to employ local people to "police" the town. King James I, in 1604, issued a new Charter which removed the post of wakeman and replaced it with an elected Mayor. The last wakeman, in fact, became the first mayor. The Mayor appoints a hornblower to continue to announce the start of the watch. The ceremony still continues, but at 9.00pm each day. It was not disrupted by either world war or the covid pandemic (but the horn was blown at the home of the hornblower during covid, and not the market square, and shown on Facebook!). There is now a small team of hornblowers, which can include all genders, rather than a single man. The year 886 (trigger warning; this may not be true!) The year 1690. Cost 6s.8d or 34p equivalent to £71 today. Three of the five Ripon horns. An additional horn was donated in 1986 to mark the 1100 years since the first charter. Another horn was bought by the City in 2018 so that each of the team of hornblowers had access to a useable horn. The year 1886 The Unicorn Hotel A grade II listed building The Unicorn Hotel is in the south east corner of the market square. It is possible that the original hotel was the four storey building on the right. Half of the three storey building on the left is a shop (now The Works, but a printer's for many years). The other half is part of the hotel, and signs between the second and third floor windows of both buildings say "Unicorn Hotel". The hotel was a coaching inn although there is no direct access from the square to the rear of the hotel for the coaches. Access is through an archway on Kirkgate. The building in the picture (by an unknown artist) is 18th century but parts of the site are older. Their are records of an inn from the 14th century and may have been called the Unicorn in the early 17th century. The buildings to the left of the hotel appear to have been bought in the 1760s to expand the Unicorn. The entrace to the stables of the Unicorn was from Kirkgate. It is still there and now gives access to the bus station and main car park. Statue of Saint Wilfrid. Unnoticed by most people, the statue is fixed to the wall of 39 market square (south), the building to the left of the town hall. It is a stone sculpture set in a metal niche. The sculpture is all that remains of two previous buildings on the site demolished in the early 1960s. St Wilfrid is the Patron Saint of Ripon. He had become Abbot of a newly founded monastery established in the town in 672AD by a group of monks from Melrose Abbey. The church in Ripon (now the cathedral) is dedicated to St Wilfrid and St Peter. There is an annual procession for St Wilfrid every year in late July or early August. The building on the far left of the photograph was the Claro Bank, and in the centre of the triangular parapet at the top of the building was a niche in which the statue of St Wilfrid was placed. In the 1960s the Claro Bank building and the building to the right of it (possibly also part of the Bank) were demolished and replaced with a new building for the National Westminster Bank. This was possibly the ugliest building in Ripon but it displayed Wilfid's statue. In recent years the building has been remodelled and now borders on the attractive. The photograph is of a celebration around the town hall (the white building). It is possibly Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee celebration (1897) when the Marquess of Ripon gave the building to the people of Ripon. Saint Wilfrid 633 Wilfrid was born into a noble family in Northumbria (all the lands north of the Humber river, which included present dayYorkshire.) He entered religious life in his teens and studied at Lindisfarne, Canterbury, France and Rome. 660 returned to Northumbria. Christianity was still new in Britain. It had come via two routes; Celtic (Irish) Christianity over the Irish sea and Roman Christianity over the channel. From his training in Rome, Wilfrid was of the Roman persuasion. It is no surprise that the two groups could not agree on many things. They argued particularly about the date set for Easter. The issue was further complicated in the North because the king of Northumbria (Oswiu) was of the Celtic persuasion but his wife and son (Alhfrith) were of the Roman persuasion. 660 Wilfrid was given oversight of the monastery of Ripon by Alhfrith king of Diera (Yorkshire) under his father, king of Northumbria. The monks from Melrose Abbey, who had established the monastery, were of the Irish persuasion so Wilfrid sacked the Abbot and filled the post himself. Monks who were not prepared to accept the Roman rites were expelled, including Cuthbert, later a Saint. Wilfrid was soon consecrated a priest and later a Bishop of York and bishop of Northumbria. He chose to be consecrated in Gaul but on his return At the Synod of Whitby, in a group set up to agree the method for determining the date of Easter. Wilfrid led those , speaking for the Roman method which, won the day and was agreed by the Synod. The Crown Hotel Sainsbury's supermarket now stands on the site in the market square once occupied by a coaching inn called the Crown Hotel, closed in 1907. On the outside wall of the Hotel was fixed the rather fine carving of the crown (picture left). When the hotel was demolished the crown was kept in Ripon museum but, when the museum closed, it was refixed to the wall of the new building in 2003. Unfortunately, it didn't weather well and fell off the wall in 2014 and was seriously damaged. It was restored with the help of the Civic Society and Sainsbury's and placed inside the supermarket. It can now be seen at the back of the supermarket on the wall above the trolley ramp. The Crown Hotel, just north of the Unicorn Hotel, before development. The crown can be seen at he top of the building above the carriage entrance.

Kirkgate Old Kirkgate (the old road to the church - from the market place) from a painting by Jessie Dudley, Clifton, York 1872 - 1930 courtesy of Stanley Mackintosh Kirkgate. A sketch taken from the sketchbook of J M W Turner 1797. The faint sketch lines have been enhanced and some digital colour added by Stanley Mackintosh. (There is often a free copy of this sketch from outside St Margaret's House on Kirkgate) Kirkgate is one of the oldest streets in Ripon, linking the church to the town centre. It is narrow and now largely free of traffic but until recent years it catered for 2-way traffic. Kirkgate in Turner's sketch appears much wider that it is today. This may be because Turner moved across the street to complete his sketch, drawing the left hand side from the right, and the right hand side from the left. This enabled him to more easily sketch the detail of the fronts of the buildings. In the past 200+ years many of the buildings have been refronted and there is some evidence that the new fronts were built further out into the street. The cream washed house on the right is St Margaret's House, still there but sadly without its Tudor frontage. At the far end of the street is the gateway through the wall surrounding the Minster (now the cathedral). Wall and gateway are no longer there. Many Ripon streets are called "gates". The word does not refer to an entrace to the town. It is from the old Norse and means a street or road.