History will be made in Ripon on Saturday night when the Platinum Jubilee Horn, made to mark the Queen’s remarkable reign, is blown for the first time.

The horn, commissioned by the city council to provide Ripon’s citizens and visitors with a ceremonial means of celebrating Her Majesty’s 70 years of service, will be presented to Cllr Sid Hawke, the Right Worshipful the Mayor of Ripon by John Richmond BEM.

Mr Richmond, an honorary freeman and former Mayor of Ripon, has the distinction of being the only person to carry out the internationally famous setting of the watch ceremony while in mayoral office, when he acted as a ‘stand-in’ hornblower in December 1975.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“It is an incredible honour to be asked to present the new horn in a city which takes great pride in its royal heritage.

“This goes back to Alfred the Great who, in 886, presented Riponians with their first ceremonial horn as a ‘thank you’ for their courage in fighting off a Viking raid.”

John Richmond BEM and Freeman of the City of Ripon who made history in 1975, will present the new Platinum Jubilee Horn.

The presentation will take place on Ripon Market Square at 8.45pm in time for the setting of the watch ceremony at 9pm.

The horn was made by Duncan Grimmond, a locally-based craftsman who has made several horns for the city council over the last four decades.

Mark Sidwell, musical director of Ripon City Band, advised Mr Grimmond on the process of making the horn, which is believed to be from an African buffalo and has silver mountings.

The mountings include the Commemorative jubilee hallmark and  the inscription reads Presented by Ripon City Council to the City of Ripon on the occasion of HM Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee – June 2022.

Cllr Andrew Williams. leader of Ripon City Council who proposed the commissioning of the new horn, pointed out:

“This will be a permanent reminder of our jubilee celebrations this week which promise to be the most comprehensive anywhere in North Yorkshire”

The nightly setting of the watch has continued un-broken for 1,136 years and is believed to be the world’s longest continuously-held ceremonial event.

It has survived the Black Death, other plagues, world wars, civil war and, more recently, the covid pandemic lockdowns, which saw Ripon’s team of four hornblowers keep the tradition alive by sounding their blasts behind closed doors at their homes.

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A series of beacons will be lit across the Harrogate district on Thursday night as part of national celebrations to mark the Queen’s platinum jubilee.

From a caravan park to a castle, the venues come in all shapes and sizes, and cover the length and breadth of the district.

Beacons are set to be lit at 9.45pm, in line with the national event which will see thousands lit around the UK and more across the Commonwealth.

Many of the public locations of beacons in the Harrogate district are listed below. Others are being organised as private events, such as by Scout groups.

If your town, village or community is lighting a beacon and you would like us to include details, send them to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Ripon Market Square

Ripon’s beacon has a burner head in the shape of a globe, representing the countries of the Commonwealth, surrounded by a crown.

A piper will play Diu Regnare, written for the platinum jubilee by Stuart Liddell, the 2020 Glenfiddich champion and pipe major of the world.

Knaresborough Castle

The highest point above the river in Knaresborough will offer a spectacular setting for the town’s beacon.

Masham: Roomer Common

A bugle call will announce the beginning of the event at 9.40pm, with the beacon set to be lit five minutes later.

Spofforth Castle

The village’s beacon is being created by farrier Gary Harland, using discarded horseshoes to mark the Queen’s love of horses.

Members of Spofforth School Choir will sing a medley of songs from 9pm, followed by a performance the Commonwealth Song, written for the occasion, by Spofforth Church Choir.

The lighting of the beacon will be accompanied by music from saxophonist Millie Hope.

Almscliffe Crag

The lighting of the beacon is not a formal public event because of concerns over health and safety, so anyone attending does so at their own risk.

However, the beacon should be visible for some distance from its position on top of the crag.

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Dallowgill

A jubilee bonfire will be lit at Greygarth Monument.

There is limited parking available at Greygarth if the weather is dry, and at Tom Corner or the Methodist Chapel.

Dacre

The village beacon will be list at Dover Castle, near Low Hall, with songs including the national anthem. Visitors are asked to arrive by 9.30pm.

Woodhouse Farm Caravan Park, Winksley

Residents and visitors are invited to gather in The Barn from 8.30pm, when hot chocolate will be available in commemorative jubilee mugs from £4. The group will move onto the park at 9.30pm ready for the beacon lighting and singing the national anthem.

Langthorpe

The jubilee beacon will be lit in Back Lane. Visitors are asked to park on the main road and walk up to the site.

West Tanfield

The beacon is in a field on the left-hand side of the road as you approach West Tanfield from Ripon, just before the bridge into the village.

Ripon began its 1,350th anniversary celebrations in spectacular style yesterday, with a son et lumiere in the cathedral among the highlights.

Throughout the day, the work of Wilfrid, who founded the church in AD 672, was celebrated in words, artworks and music.

From the the focus on Ripon’s ancient roots, the night-time spotlight switched to Market Square, where four tribute acts performed in a free concert arranged by the city council. Rain that arrived in early evening, deterred some people from attending.

A Beyonce tribute, was one of four acts to perform on Market Square, with Craig David, Boy George and Freddie Mercury tributes also taking to the stage

Events and activities at the cathedral earlier in the day, included the first glimpse, for many visitors, of Chrissie Freeth’s series of 13 tapestries in her Beyond Words exhibition.

The  intricate woven works, depicting pre-Renaissance scenes, have previously been on display at the Royal Academy, Salts Mill and in Sweden, Latvia and Finland.

The exhibition will remain in Ripon until May 25.

The medieval world in woven form, can be seen in Chrissie Freeth tapestries

Alongside a guided tour, featuring a talk on the building’s hidden history, there was an opportunity to meet director of music, Dr Ronny Krippner, to learn about the organ that is central to the cathedral’s Sung Eucharist and other services.

After playing his special arrangement of the hymn Thine Be the Glory, he told the audience:

“The organ is an orchestra in itself, able to produce the sounds of many different instruments.

“It adds to the cathedral’s splendour, air of mystery and wonderment, with its booming sound able to be increased by pulling out the stops.”

Music master and apprentice – Dr Krippner, gave children, including five-year-old Rafael, a lesson in how to play the organ

For Rafael, a pupil at Cathedral School, it was a day to remember, as Dr Krippner, instructed him on how to hold a note.

The miracles of St Wilfrid

By the evening, the son et lumiere  created to provide a visual representation of the seven miraculous events in St Wilfrid’s life, flooded the cathedral with coloured light.

Among those miracles,  It is said that he was born in a house that was on fire, but survived without being injured.

It is also said that on the first anniversary of Wilfrid’s death, the moon and stars shone so bright that a lunar rainbow appeared over Ripon.

Hornblower Patricio Maglio, setting the watch on Market Square

The hornblower tradition

While the cathedral, is a dominant reminder of the city’s patron saint, another famous person, Alfred the Great, who has shaped Ripon’s rich history, is celebrated nightly on Market Square.

Last night it was the turn of Patricio Maglio,  from the team of four hornblowers, who delivered the blasts to the past, dating back to AD 886, when King Alfred awarded a ceremonial horn, in recognition of the way in which Ripon repelled a Viking incursion.

The unbroken tradition of setting the city’s watch was complete by the time the clock on the nearby cathedral clock struck nine.

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Bid to retain Ripon Spa Baths for community use fails

Ripon Spa Baths is set to be sold to a commercial developer after a bid to retain the building for community use failed.

Harrogate Borough Council, which has owned the Edwardian building since the reorganisation of local government in 1974, has confirmed that it intends to sell the Park Street property to the unnamed commercial bidder.

Ripon City Council successfully applied for for the building to be listed as an asset of community value in September. This meant it had six months to raise the finance to purchase the building to keep it in commercial use. But time has now run out.

The city council also called this month for the ownership of the Grade II listed building, which was used as a swimming pool until it closed in November, to be transferred back to Ripon without charge when Harrogate Borough Council is abolished next year.

Ripon councillors argued that Spa Baths and other city assets, including the town hall, Hugh Ripley Hall, Market Square, Spa Gardens and Spa Park, should be handed back for free by Harrogate Borough Council as it had not paid a penny for them.

The building is recognised as a key heritage asset by Ripon Civic Society

But Harrogate Borough Council’s response to Ripon City Council’s request for the reversion of ownership, seen by the Stray Ferret, confirms the building will be sold to a developer.

Trevor Watson, Harrogate Borough Council’s director of economy and culture said in the email, which has been circulated to all city councillors:

“As you are aware we are selling Ripon Spa Baths because a brand new pool has been built in Ripon and this building is no longer needed.

“Our main objective through this disposal is to ensure that the building continues to be used in future and supports the sustainability of Ripon City Centre. To achieve this objective we have undertaken a comprehensive sales strategy which generated market interest in purchasing the building.

“The preferred bidder can demonstrate the experience, capacity and capability in bringing buildings back into use. In addition the proposed sale to the current preferred bidder will generate a capital receipt.

“The generation of capital receipts for assets that are no longer needed allows significant investment to be made in new assets, such as the new Ripon Pool.”

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“At its meeting on 13 October 2021, Harrogate cabinet have previously agreed to dispose of the building to the preferred bidder.

“As the building is listed as an Asset of Community Value a moratorium period was initiated and implemented where the council has not been able to dispose of the building, now that this period has expired we will execute this decision.

“We believe that this will deliver the best way of ensuring the future, sustainable use of this asset and enable Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire Council to continue to invest in the continuous improvement of Ripon City and its neighbourhoods.”

Several of the Harrogate district’s most popular visitor attractions are offering free or half price admission until Sunday.

National Lottery Open Week is being staged to thank lottery players for contributing to good causes.

Places that have benefited from lottery funding, including Fountains Abbey in Ripon, RHS Harlow Carr and Ripon Museum Trust are among those taking part.

RHS Harlow Carr

Anyone who presents a lottery ticket or scratch card (digital or physical) at the National Trust-owned Fountains Abbey‘s visitor reception can visit the historic site for free.

Fountains Abbey. Photo: J Shepherd

RHS Harlow Carr is offering 2-for-1 entry for anyone that presents their lottery ticket or scratch card.

Ripon Museum Trust is offering a 50% discount to lottery players on Saturday to individuals and family groups that show a National Lottery ticket or scratch card on arrival at its three venues. They are the Liberty Courthouse, Prison & Police and Workhouse museums

Helen Thornton, museum trust director, said:

“We’ve been fortunate to receive National Lottery funding which enabled us to purchase the Workhouse Museum site and also to progress our future development plans.

“This is our way of saying thank you to everyone who has bought a National Lottery ticket, helped us on our journey and made a vital contribution to supporting good causes.”

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Darren Henley, chief executive of Arts Council England and chair of the National Lottery Forum, added:

“The National Lottery Open Week is a fantastic opportunity for hundreds of venues and projects across the UK to say thanks to players who raise £30 million each week for good causes.”

Further details about National Lottery Open Week available here.

Harrogate Borough Council is being urged to return assets such as the town hall and spa gardens to local ownership in Ripon before devolution comes into effect next year.

Harrogate Borough Council took control of the assets when it was created following local government reorganisation in 1974.

At the same time the Municipal Borough of Ripon was abolished and the city reduced to parish council status under the authority of Harrogate Borough Council.

Now, with another major shake-up of local government looming, Ripon City Council is calling for the city’s town hall, Hugh Ripley Hall, Market Square (pictured below), Spa Gardens and Spa Park to be transferred back to local ownership.

It says provisions in the Localism Act, designed to protect assets of community value (ACV), should be used to achieve this prior to the formation of the new North Yorkshire unitary authority next year.

Moves are already underway to retain community use at Spa Baths, after the city council successfully applied in September to have the historic building listed as an ACV.

Market Square

With Harrogate Borough Council due to be scrapped in April next year, independent Ripon city and district councillor Pauline McHardy told the Stray Ferret:

“There’s absolutely no reason for Harrogate to hang on to assets that rightfully belong to us.

“Not a penny was paid for them when they were handed to Harrogate in 1974 and we want them to be transferred back.”

Cllr McHardy put forward a notice of motion, seconded by fellow Ripon independent councillor Sid Hawke, which was due to be discussed at Harrogate Borough Council’s full council meeting in December, but the meeting was cancelled.

The motion calling for the return of the assets, is due to come before next month’s full meeting of HBC.

Cllr McHardy, pointed out:

“We will continue to press for the freehold of key assets in the city to be handed back to Ripon.”

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Ripon Civic Society (RCS) has welcomed the move by Harrogate Borough Council to appoint consultants who will draw up a masterplan for the city.

RCS chair Christopher Hughes told the Stray Ferret:

“As one of the founder signatories of the Neighbourhood Plan for Ripon, we look forward to sharing our thoughts with the selected consultants.”

The society believes that people with an informed knowledge of the city, its planning issues and opportunities, should play a key role in guiding Ripon’s future direction.  The city has suffered this year with the pandemic, with both the Ripon Spa Hotel and the Old Deanery closing down. 

With a fee of £85,000 for a 12-month contract, consultants will be tasked with devising an “inspiring and innovative” vision that will be at the heart of the Ripon Renewal Project.

The contract is due to start on January 10.

Ripon Civic Society believes heritage attractions can help make the city a meeting place of choice

The move to develop a masterplan for the city comes at a time when future growth is on the horizon.

The major Barracks scheme known as Clotherholme will see Homes England deliver 1,300 homes in a number of phases on the outskirts of Ripon.

In the city centre, Ripon’s ancient Cathedral is planning its most significant development in centuries, with a £6 million extension, designed to provide modern facilities and additional space.

Mr Hughes pointed out:

“The society has always believed in adopting an holistic approach, which takes account of the things that make Ripon special, such as its heritage assets, Market Square and spa quarter.”

He added:

“There is also a need to look at how people arrive in Ripon – and how they move around when they get here in this very walkable city.

“If we get it right, there is the opportunity to position our city as the meeting place of choice.”

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The appointed consultants will have to set out “clear and robust” delivery timescales, funding options and a business case for Harrogate Borough Council to use to bid for money for projects.

The contract brief says:

“The aim of this project is to maximise the opportunities within Ripon which will regenerate the city and boost the local economy.”

Roads running around the four quarters of Ripon’s ancient Market Square have been branded a ‘disgrace’ and ‘not fit for purpose.’

The problem lies in block paving, which replaced a tarmac surface that previously surrounded the square.

Traffic, including heavy goods vehicles and Transdev’s double deck 36 bus service, have to use the circulatory route.

A patched-up section of Market Place East

Weight of traffic, which is increasing as new housing schemes bring more vehicles into the city centre, is adding to the problem, as the blocks are regularly coming out of place or being damaged.

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With Market Place East – now resembling a patchwork quilt, as  sections of tarmac fill gaps where the surface has sunk – Ripon City Council is calling for an end to the Ripon’s bumpy ride and a return of tarmac, which councillors considered a more suitable and serviceable surface.

Councillors Stuart Martin and Mike Chambers, who are Ripon’s representatives on North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) agreed that the time is right to call for the highway authority to act.

Cllr Martin, said:

“I have raised the matter with the highways department. The Market Place East and West roads are a disgrace and not fit for purpose.”

At Ripon City Council’s  virtual full council meeting, members voted unanimously to call on NYCC to replace the block paving with tarmac.

Council leader, Councillor Andrew Williams, said:

“When the work is done, we can ask for the contractors to work in the evening, to minimise disruption to the city centre.”

To avoid disruption to Christmas trade, it was agreed that tarmac patches on affected areas, would be an acceptable temporary solution.