Rejoicing in Ripon: Ripon Workhouse wows at the Reopening July 21st
Ripon Workhouse wows with an interactive insight into the lives of our Victorian forebears🕯️
The next chapter in the history of Ripon’s Workhouse Museum begins today (Tuesday July 21st) following the biggest-ever investment in the impressive heritage attraction.
With the school summer holiday’s just begun, the centrepiece of the city’s tremendous trio of museums has, through £2.5 million National Lottery funding and monies from the Wolfson Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation and North Yorkshire Council, undergone a major programme of restoration works which started eight months ago when Ilkley-based Dobson Construction began work on the residential block.
Now, with its repaired roof and replaced windows, and refurbished features, visitors can explore the newly restored building, where a fascinating and interactive visitor experience designed to spark the imagination of people of all ages awaits.
Director of Ripon Museums Alexa Vernon, told Tim Flanagan of the Rejoicing in Ripon Blog: “The Workhouse, along with The Prison & Police and Courthouse Museums help to tell the real-life stories of the unfortunate people – from children to the elderly – who fell on hard times and found themselves at the mercy of a severe Victorian regime in which destitution, crime and punishment went hand in hand.
“Under the theme of Inspiration for a Fairer Future, which runs across all three of our museums, we hope that we can all learn from the lessons of the past by reflecting on the experiences of the impoverished members of Victorian society whose lives were in a downward spiral.” 🔦👣
- An interactive message from George Greenwood, first master of Ripon Workhouse.
- The restored museum reopened to the public today (Tuesday July 21st).
A message from the first Ripon Union Workhouse Master👇
Among the ingenious elements of the new interactive display is a ‘talking picture’ featuring George Greenwood in the master’s dwelling within the residential block.
Greenwood, the first master of the Ripon Union Workhouse and his wife Anne, who was matron, were appointed in 1854 with a joint annual salary of £20 and through the ‘talking picture’ which comes to life when visitors enter the luxurious lounge with its fine furnishings and piano, he tells of how he nearly lost his job when Anne died in 1861.
The rules said that the establishment should be run by a master and matron and Greenwood managed to stay in post by quicky proposing to and marrying a nurse from the Workhouse Infirmary, who was considerably younger than him.
A lesson in cruelty from the schoolroom 🏫
The refurbished schoolroom at the Workhouse with its smart blackboard looks sure to attract a lot of attention as it provides an opportunity for today’s generation to turn the clocks back to the reign of Queen Victoria, when teachers were able to cane children for the slightest misdemeanour.
Among those facing punishment for their ‘crime’ were pupils who were left-handed – something that was frowned upon and considered by some as a sinister sign of the Devil’s work or even linked to witchcraft.
By way of ‘correction’ left-handed youngsters were forced to write with their right hand and Workhouse volunteer Sue Lay, pointed out: “Their left hand was put in wooden finger stocks and tied behind their backs, in an act of cruelty, intimidation and humiliation carried out in front of their classmates.”#
3.The revamped Victorian schoolroom provides a learning resource for today’s children.
4. Volunteer Sue Lay with the infamous finger stocks used to ‘correct’ left-handedness.
Hands-on experiences 🤚🏼
The new visitor experience includes hands-on activities designed to show what life inside the workhouse was really like.
Guests can choose to spend time inside a recreated vagrants’ cell, sweep the yard, pick oakum from old ropes and discover whether they could have coped with the jobs carried out by Victorian paupers.
Families can also dress in replica workhouse uniforms, while younger visitors can search for hidden mice in the kitchen, use traditional weighing scales and take part in interactive activities throughout the museum.
At yesterday’s eve of opening event, Helen Featherstone, Director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “The redevelopment has secured the future of one of Britain’s most complete surviving Victorian workhouses, preserving both the building and the stories it holds for future generations.
“We’re incredibly proud to have been able to support the project thanks to money raised by National Lottery players and it is now creating opportunities for volunteering, learning and skills development, ensuring the museum remains relevant and accessible to all.”
Lilla Bathurst, manager of Ripon BID, said: “This is a landmark day for the city which further underlines the growing confidence in Ripon shown by the National Lottery and private sector investors.
“It’s great news for our independent businesses, as the timely reopening of the Workhouse Museum will attract increased footfall during the school holidays.
“Looking ahead, we have the new three-screen cinema investment of John Tate and John Hewitt on Fishergate, which is due to come on stream by the end of this year and further down the line, Sterne Properties Limited’s rejuvenation of the iconic Spa Baths will see another heritage asset brought back into active use.”
5. A stunning portrait of Queen Victoria dominates one of the restored rooms in the master’s dwelling.
6. A colourful display in the women’s washroom.
7. The arts room provides a place where visitors can create their own designs.
8. Director of Ripon Museums Alexa Vernon, pictured with Robert Ling, the chair of Ripon Museums Trust at yesterday’s preview.
All photographs taken by Tim Flanagan for Ripon BID.
