Ripon MuseumsThe Yorkshire Law and Order Museums |
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Ripon MuseumsThe Yorkshire Law and Order Museums |
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From early times, as a possessory holding of the Archbishop of York, the Estate and Liberty of Ripon enjoyed an independence within the West Riding of Yorkshire with regard to the maintenance of law and order. Throughout the Middle Ages Ripon was governed by the Archbishop and justice, both religious and secular, was firmly dispensed through the authority of the Church, via the Canons of the Minster and their officials.
Penalties for those who fell foul of the law might range from public humiliation - such as been made to walk barefoot in procession through the town, or being set in the stocks or pillory - to the social exclusion of suspension or excommunication from the church. It might also take more corporal form - beating, whipping mutilation or, ultimately, hanging at the gallows. In mediaevel Ripon, executions and other punishments would have been carried out in or around the market place, where justice could be 'seen to be done' (as well as providing a popular public spectacle). Gallows, stocks and a whipping post would have been situated close by the old market cross
In these times the security of the town was the responsibility of its chief citizen, the Wakeman, who kept the watch each night. Householders were charged two pence for each outer door of their property to provide a fund from which compensation for any burglary committed during the night was paid by the Wakeman. The ceremony of setting the watch by the Ripon Hornblower marked the handing over of the security of the town to the Wakeman and his officers until dawn. It has continued through to the present day, becoming a popular tourist attraction and can be witnessed each evening at 9 o'clock at the Obelisk in the Market Place.
The granting of a Charter of Incorporation by James I in 1604 gave Ripon Borough status allowing the formulation of its own bye-laws. This led to a new judicial infrastructure and signalled a move away from ecclesiastical dominance. From this time the position of Wakeman was replaced by that of Mayor (the last Wakeman, Hugh Ripley, becoming the first Mayor of the town) who, along with the Corporation, became the new focus of a civil authority.
Many of the buildings associated with the upholding of law and order within Ripon can still be seen in a half-hour stroll about the city by following the Law and Order Trail.
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For further details of the individual locations to be seen on the Law and Order Trail, click on its image in the table above or click the map image to view a larger scale map of the trail.
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