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...