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The connection between the real Lord Grantham and Ripon – fictionally familiar from the television series Downton Abbey – was be remembered at a ceremony to unveil a new Ripon Civic Society plaque at the city’s Prison and Police Museum on Monday 11 Feb.

The 3rd Baron Grantham of Newby Hall near Ripon and Wrest Park in Bedfordshire was an amateur architect, and designed the cell block that now houses the Museum that was added to Ripon House of Correction in 1816.  He also designed his own house at Wrest Park in Bedfordshire, and in 1834, the year after he became the 2nd Earl de Grey, he was asked to become the first President of the newly-founded Institute of British Architects. 

The new plaque, which notes his work and the building’s subsequent history as a West Riding Constabulary Police Station from 1887 to 1958, will be unveiled by Richard Compton of Newby Hall, Lord Grantham’s great-great-great-great grandson, who is President of the Historic Houses Association and a former High Sheriff of North Yorkshire.  Also attending the event will be representatives of the (now Royal) Institute of British Architects.

Richard Taylor, who coordinates the plaques programme for Ripon Civic Society and is Chairman of the Ripon Museum Trust, which opened the building as a museum in 1984 , says, ‘When Julian Fellowes set Downton Abbey near Ripon and had it occupied by Lord Grantham, he was following in great footsteps. The 3rd Lord Grantham, later Earl de Grey, who designed the Prison and Police Museum building, was a great supporter of Ripon and the uncle of the Marquess of Ripon, another great local benefactor.  We are delighted that their descendant, Richard Compton, is able to unveil the plaque as part of the Civic Society’s series telling the history of the city.’

Samuel WINN, Ripon Liberty Police Officer.
When he had been appointed in 1830 as the first professional and uniformed Police Officer for the Liberty of Ripon in 1830 he was paid a salary of £30 per annum and this was raised to £30 per quarter in 1832.  One wonders what he had done to merit such a large increase in salary as well as what happened later when this was reduced to £25 per quarter in 1838 - possibly having to cut costs? Unfortunately to date we have not been able to find out! He was employed to supervise the unpaid constables in the Liberty from his home in Middle Street, Ripon

In 1832 Winn was involved with the City Police in the trial of Elisha Sinkler, one of two notorious poacher brothers from Pateley Bridge at York assizes where he gave evidence that, at Stone Beck Down and Dacre with Bewerley, Elisha feloniously counselled, aided and abetted John his brother wounding Thomas Dinsdale with intent to resist and prevent the lawful apprehension and detaining of the said John and Elisha Sinkler.

In 1840 he was involved in a case of two brothers called Atkinson who were charged with burglaries in the Ripon area and were sentenced to transportation when they appeared at York Assize Court.  He disappeared for some unknown reason in 1841and was replaced in 1842. He was eventually declared bankrupt.

His rattle has recently been donated to the Trust and a photo is above.
Ralph B. Lindley, Vice President, RMT.
March, 2013.

Ripon Workhouse Museum invites you to step back in time with us to the year 1890 and join us as we open our doors for ‘Christmas Day in Workhouse’, now a firm favourite on the museum calendar. The event is based on the Ripon Gazette reports of the time, detailing the Mayor’s annual treat for the poor inmates.

We have been decking the halls and scrubbing the floors ready for this special day when the old workhouse will bustle with the sights, smells and sounds of the past.  As you walk the corridors you will meet some of the real life characters of the workhouse itself: disgruntled inmates, pompous guardians, strict school mistresses, bossy matrons and even a drunken vagrant with a hidden past as life is breathed once again into the cells, corridors and work yard of this wonderful building.

You will have chance to talk to the inmates to see how the poor lived and learn what it was like to spend your day oakum picking, breaking stones, doing laundry and scrubbing.  The guardians will tell you about their last inspection, their views of the inmates and their new pride and joy, a hot water system! 

‘We are looking forward to welcoming visitors to drop in a see us this special day in the Workhouse calendar and experience a very different Christmas’  says Sue Dalton Head of Museums.

Refreshments will be served and performances of music hall songs, Victorian music and Christmas carols will be provided by ‘Marking time’ throughout the day.

Explore the darker side of Ripon’s history at Ripon’s Museums Museum this half term. The Prison & Police Museum, Workhouse and Courthouse Museums all remember the harrowing stories of those who have passed through their doors...

Experience the Workhouse by candlelight on Halloween and meet some of its ghostly inmates, finishing with a spooky story around the fire.

But it’s not all gloom! The museums also celebrate light at half term - experience the thrill of the Victorian Magic Lantern Show with its clever changing pictures and beautiful patterns. Children can also make moving shadow puppets and perform their own live show.