Ripon: curiosities, hidden histories, & wonderful walks
Ripon is one of those place where you'll always be rewarded for looking beyond the obvious and delving a little deeper.
Take a closer look - Ripon Cathedral curiosities
When was the last time you spend any time inside Ripon Cathedral and really looked at its treasures. Some of them are really quite curious… and curioser…
Go to the rear of the cathedral and into the quire, where you can see incredible woodwork, much of it carved in the 15th century. The misericords or mercy-seats (for discretely resting during a longer service) are full of small details of medieval life. Look a little closer to see if you can spot the monkey, the elephant and the gryphon chasing a rabbit down a rabbit hole. It’s said to have inspired Lewis Carroll to write Alice in Wonderland as he spent much time in Ripon.
Turn to cast your eyes upwards towards the organ and you’ll see another unusual feature - a hand, which once beat time for the choir!
Perhaps the most special spot is where you can step back in time to 672 AD, venturing down into the crypt and underground into a passage which is part of the St. Wilfrid’s original church. Don’t leave before you’ve following the ‘trail’ of the tapestry kneelers, which bring to life Ripon’s 1350 years of history.
Wonderful walks
At this time of year, you might want to enjoy a shorter walk in a more sheltered place with lots of features to find. There are some great walking routes to follow in and around Ripon, all on the VisitRipon website. They’re a great way to discover more of Ripon’s heritage, and wander down some lanes you might not normally notice. Choose from city centre trails, a Studley Royal circular walk, a wander along part of the River Skell, a riverside ramble and a canal walk.
Hidden histories on the map
A fantastic map of Ripon has recently been published which gives an introduction to Ripon’s history, shows the sites of significant lost buildings, and uses colour coding to demonstrate the layers of history within Ripon’s architecture and streets. It really does give some fascinating insights. You can buy your copy (£11.99) from the Little Ripon Bookshop.
Always something to see in Ripon