Blog

On Sunday 11th September, with the kind permission of the Dean & Chapter of Ripon Cathedral, Ripon Museum Trust opened the (long disused) cell below the Courthouse.

Known as the holding cell, this is where, in the early years of this building, prisoners were brought from the Liberty Gaol in St Marygate. He, or she, was then escorted up the stone steps into the courtroom for their trial.

Although today it houses the central heating boiler, it has great atmosphere.

The event was a huge success and our volunteers clearly enjoyed getting into the role of  prisoners waiting sentencing...

Put mum and dad in the Dock… What does it feel like to be a witness?... Explore our new Family Trail around Ripon’s Georgian Courthouse and decide who’s guilty and who’s not, which Victorian crime was the most serious and learn what a magistrate actually does!

We have just completed our new displays for the Courthouse Museum. Our very popular Transportation exhibition (which was only intended to be on display for a year and stayed for more than five years!) has not been completely removed - we are producing booklet that will contain all the information from the old display.
 

Radio York popped in on Tuesday afternoon to make some short programmes on the museums’ history – We don’t know when the 5 minute slots will be aired but we’ll keep you posted.