Ripon Museum Trust

Preserving law and order past in Ripon

Overview

The Trust was set up in 1981 "to provide and maintain a museum or museums in Ripon" and opened the Prison and Police Museum in 1984. This was followed by the Workhouse Museum in 1995 and the Courthouse Museum in 1999. These projects together with the recent extension and refurbishment of the Prison and Police Museum were part of the regeneration programme for Ripon.

The Museums and Collections are maintained and administered almost entirely by the labour of a dedicated and enthusiastic team of volunteers from its membership under the direction of the Executive Committee.

The Trust is responsible for the largest collection of police memorabilia in the North of England, including those of the North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire Police Forces.

Establishment of the Trust

The Ripon Civic Society from its inception in 1968 had been concerned at the lack of museum coverage in the City which had resulted from the closure of the City Museum at Thorpe Prebend House in 1956. This was to be made worse by the closure of the Wakeman's House Museum in 1987. The Society had continued to press the local authorities to provide premises for another museum.

In 1981 the old Ripon Liberty Prison became vacant and it was decided to set up the Ripon Museum Trust with the intention of opening the Ripon Prison and Police Museum there. The Trust was given charitable status in 1983.

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Aims of the Trust

  1. To provide and maintain a museum or museums in Ripon for the exhibition to the public of articles of historic interest.
  2. To extend, conserve, maintain and store the collections of the Trust.
  3. To persuade the Local Authorities to provide museum facilities in the City to replace those lost by the closure of the Thorpe Prebend House and the Wakeman's House Museums.

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Progress of the Trust

1984 - the Prison and Police Museum opened.

1994 - lease obtained for the former Vagrants' Cell Block at the old Workhouse in Allhallowgate.

1996 - the Workhouse Museum opened.

2000 - the Courthouse Museum opened in the old No. 1 Court in the Ripon Liberty Court which had been closed in 1998.

2004 - the Prison and Police Museum was re-opened following a complete refurbishment.

2005 - the Courthouse Museum was re-opened following redecoration in the original 1830 colour scheme.

2006 - the Trust celebrates its twenty-fifth anniversary.

The three museums are known collectively as the Yorkshire Law and order Museums.

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Funding

Capital expenses are substantially met with grants from various foundations and the proceeds of fund-raising events.

For revenue to maintain the museums and to store and conserve collections, the Trust is dependent on entrance fees, donations and annual subscriptions of the membership.

If you are able to help with financial support, or in a practical way, please join the trust.

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Contact the Trust

If you would like further information about the Trust and its work or would like to help in the work we do, please contact: -

The Museums Manager, Ripon Museum Trust, The Workhouse Museum, Sharow View, Allhallowgate, Ripon, HG4 1LE.

or telephone 01765 690799 or e-mail info@riponmuseums.co.uk. We are all volunteers and welcome new volunteers and members.

Ripon Museum Trust: Registered Charity No. 512913.

Supported by Harrogate Borough Council Museums and Arts.

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