St Stephen’s Day in this busiest of years for Ripon Cathedral started with a Eucharist service, followed by a leisurely four-mile walk to Fountains Abbey.
The annual Boxing Day pilgrimage linking the two internationally famous and historic religious sites has been taking place in all weathers since 1976.
Bright sunshine and clear skies saw hundreds of pilgrims participate in this morning’s walk, following a procession led by the Dean of Ripon the Very Revd. John Dobson and children, who took it in turns to carry a cross along the way.
The pilgrims on the start of their journey head up Kirkgate.
With celebrations during 2022 to mark the 1,350th anniversary of the cathedral’s foundation by Wilfrid, this year’s walk had an added significance. as the pilgrims again retraced the steps of the 13 Benedictine monks who were the original founders of the abbey in 1132.
A group of pilgrims arrive at Fountains Abbey
At the abbey, the hundreds who completed the walk from the cathedral were joined by hundreds more (pictured below) for a carol service held in the cellarium.
The service included readings, prayers and traditional carols, with musical accompaniment provided by the Stray Brass Ensemble.
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National Trust plans major £3.6m building project at Fountains Abbey
The National Trust today revealed designs for a new £3.6 million building and landscape project at the Studley Royal end of Fountains Abbey, near Ripon.
The project, called Studley Revealed, aims to create a more accessible café, admission point and toilets and restore historical sightlines to the 18th century Georgian water garden created by John Aislabie.
However, the new building would be situated inside the water garden and only be accessible to people who pay to enter.
The current tea room on the deer park side, which is free to enter, will close. A kiosk providing drinks and snacks will be built in the deer park car park, accessible to everyone.
The restaurant and parking at the main visitor centre will remain free for all to access.
How the new entrance and outside seating to the building from the canal bridge might look.
The trust says the plans, which went out to consultation in 2019 before being paused due to covid, will make Studley Royal less “muddled”.
It will submit a formal planning application to Harrogate Borough Council in the new year.
The organisation said in a statement today:
“This area is currently muddled with 20th century buildings and additions which make up an admission point, toilets, and the boundary of the pay-for entry area.
“For years this has created a large number of conservation and operational issues which are not appropriate in a World Heritage Site.
“The updated improvements will consolidate these facilities into one building and improve the way visitors move through this area.”
The trust added the landscape plans would “open up lost views and create walks that echo the original 18th century design”.
How the view of the building from the deer park might look.
New facilities including historical information, accessible toilets and a ‘space to change’ have also been included.
The trust has consulted Historic England, Harrogate Borough Council, World Heritage Site partners and Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on its plans.
It has appointed London heritage architects Feilden Fowles and Edinburgh landscape architects Rankinfraser to carry out the work.
How the new cafe seating area might look.
Justin Scully, general manager of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, said:
“The Studley Revealed project is an exciting part of the ongoing conservation of the Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal World Heritage Site.
“It has long been our ambition to improve the appearance of this area of the site and how visitors experience it.
“Crucially, it means we can create a place for our visitors to learn more about the fascinating history of Studley Royal.”
The designs and information about the project will be displayed at the Studley entrance from tomorrow until December 22 (excluding December 16) and can also be viewed here.
The trust aims to open the new facilities to visitors in late 2024.
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- Fire at Fountains Abbey causes carols to be cancelled
- Ripon jobs in jeopardy as fashion retailer goes into administration
Fire at Fountains Abbey causes carols to be cancelled
An electrical fault caused a fire at Fountains Abbey near Ripon yesterday.
Ripon firefighters were called to the National Trust-owned property at 12.13pm after staff discovered there had been a small fire.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident log said staff on site had already summoned an electrician and firefighters isolated the electricity supply.
A spokeswoman for Fountains Abbey said:
“There was a small electrical fire in the abbey on Sunday morning.
“Ripon fire service were contacted immediately and on arrival, they confirmed the fire was out and had been contained.
“Due to the nature of the fire, as a precaution, we took the decision to cancel Carols by Candlelight – despite its name, the event does require electrical power for a sound system to amplify the service to visitors, and to ensure there is sufficient lighting the abbey for the safety of our visitors.
“We’re very grateful to the fire service for their quick response and support.”
The UNESCO World Heritage Site is is one of the largest and best preserved ruined Cistercian monasteries in England.
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Photo of the Week: Fountains Abbey at night
This week’s photograph was taken by John Shepherd, capturing the moon shining over Fountains Abbey at the Christmas illumination night.
John Shepherd
Photo of the Week celebrates the Harrogate district. It could be anything from family life to capturing the district’s beauty. We are interested in amateur and professional photographs, in a landscape format.
Send your photographs to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk for a chance to be featured next week, we reserve the right to adjust and crop images to fit into our format.
Fountains Abbey plans solar panels in effort to reduce fossil fuel relianceFountains Abbey has submitted plans to introduce solar panels at its attraction in an effort to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
The National Trust, which owns the site near Ripon, has lodged the plan with Harrogate Borough Council.
It would see the 34kW panels installed on the roof of its visitor centre to generate electricity.
In documents submitted to the council, the trust said the plan was part of its commitment to reduce reliance on fossil fuels at a time of high energy prices.
It said:
“This proposal will reduce the reliance on imported electricity and reduce fossil fuel sources, and in future will enable funds to be directed to other goals such as increased efforts in environmental protection and conservation.
“At a time when the cost of energy is extremely high the organisation is looking at creative ways to minimise the impact on the charity as well as make meaningful change for the environment.”
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- Consent granted for demolition of Ripon homes affected by subsidence
- Bid to save bus linking Ripon, Thirsk and Northallerton
The trust had initially proposed to implement 105 panels on the roof, but later reduced this to 95 to preserve the character of the building.
It is hoped the panels will contribute 28,000kWh of electricity to the site each year and help the trust reach its carbon net zero target by 2030.
Harrogate Borough Council will make a decision on the plan at a later date.
Sawley Arms granted midnight licence extensionA gastro pub near Ripon has been granted an extension to its licensing hours until midnight.
The Sawley Arms, which has eight bedrooms and is popular with diners, applied for an extension until 1am, seven days a week.
But Harrogate Borough Council’s licensing committee decided on Friday that alcohol could only be served until midnight.
Steve Manton, owner of the Sawley Arms, told the committee he had spent more than £1 million refurbishing the pub since he bought it 11 years ago as a retirement project.
Mr Manton, who previously ran several businesses in the Harrogate area, said the pub’s main activity was food.
“It’s a destination pub. The traditional boozer has disappeared.”
Customers, he said, “like to linger and that’s why we have put in the extension until 1am”.
Mr Manton addresses the meeting.
He added:
“That doesn’t mean we will stay open until 1am every night. Last night we closed at 9.30pm.”
Mr Manton, who lives on the Isle of Man, described the venue as “a summer pub”, adding there was “very, very little activity in winter and we close our gardens”.
He said besides diners, the pub attracted weekend walkers, visitors to Fountains Abbey and guests from nearby Grantley Hall, the opening of which he described as “a lifeline”.
Before the meeting, David Taylor, clerk to Grantley and Sawley Parish Council, had submitted an objection to the proposal raising “grave concerns”. He said:
“The residents of the village are very likely to be disturbed by vehicles leaving the site at times that would extend beyond 1am.
“Although 1am is the requested extended time, there would be ‘drinking up time’ and staff leaving the premises, therefore it would be nearer to 2am when the last cars leave the site.”
Wan Malachi, a licensing enforcement officer at the council told the committee it had received no complaints about the venue.
Ed Darling, the Conservative councillor who chairs the licensing committee, told Mr Manton it had granted the extension on condition that it applied until midnight, seven days a week, rather than the 1am requested. Cllr Darling added:
“There is a right of appeal against this decision to Harrogate Magistrates Court within 21 days of receipt of the decision notice.”
Fountains Abbey tops survey of UK’s best historic attractions
Fountains Abbey near Ripon and the Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh have tied in first place in a survey of the best historic attractions in the UK.
The two sites were the joint favourite attractions of 63 that were ranked in a survey of almost 3,000 members of consumer organisation Which?.
The survey looked at nine criteria including overall value for money, helpfulness of staff and lack of crowds.
Both achieved an overall score of 88 per cent, beating well-known attractions including York Minster, Stonehenge, Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London to the top spot.
Fountains Abbey, which is a World Heritage Site managed by the National Trust, is one of the largest Cistercian abbey ruins in Europe. It was a thriving monastic community for 400 years until the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539.
Light shines through the cellarium at Fountains Abbey.
Those who rated the attraction highly praised the ‘calm atmosphere’ and ‘leisurely walks’ on offer in over 800 acres of grounds, with the attraction scoring a full five stars for lack of crowds, as well as how accurately the description matched reality.
The Royal Yacht Britannia, which served the Royal Family for more than 44 years, is now docked permanently on the Firth of Forth in Leith.
Durham Cathedral was the highest scoring free attraction, with a customer score of 86 per cent. It ranked joint fifth in the table overall, tying with Stirling Castle.
Read more:
- 390 homes approved in Ripon despite concerns over impact on Fountains Abbey
- History of Ripon Spa Baths captured as venue prepares for new lease of life
At the other end of the table was Shakespeare’s birthplace, the playwright’s childhood home in Stratford-Upon-Avon, with a score of 63 per cent. While respondents praised the building’s cultural significance, it scored just two out of five stars for value for money and facilities, and rated no more than three stars in any category.
Guy Hobbs, acting editor of Which? Travel, said:
“This year two very different but equally impressive historic attractions topped our survey, and it’s easy to see why. Both Fountains Abbey and the Royal Yacht Britannia offer a unique day out with visitors telling us they enjoyed the opportunity to immerse themselves in a slice of history for the day.
Which? surveyed 2,944 members between April and May 2022.
New Dales bus service from Knaresborough and Harrogate
A new bus service will operate from Knaresborough and Harrogate every Sunday from this weekend for the summer season.
Eastern DalesBus 825 will run to Ripley, Brimham Rocks, Fountains Abbey, Kirkby Malzeard, Masham, Leyburn and Richmond.
It will continue every Sunday and bank holiday until September 25, departing from Knaresborough bus station at 10am and stand three at Harrogate bus station at 1020am.
Eastern DalesBus 825 is run by York-based Reliance Motor Services , which provides rural bus services in North Yorkshire, as part of the DalesBus network, with support from the National Trust and North Yorkshire County Council’s Locality Fund.
Full timetable details are available in a leaflet available from Harrogate Bus Station and here.
Other DalesBus services running from Harrogate include double-decker DalesBus 59 on Saturdays to Blubberhouses, Bolton Bridge and Skipton, and DalesBus 74 on Saturdays to Ilkley, Bolton Abbey and Grassington.
DalesBus 24 runs daily between Harrogate and Pateley Bridge, with onward connections on Sundays and Bank Holidays to Upper Nidderdale and Grassington.
Read more:
- Harrogate buses enjoy strike boom but taxis suffer
- Concerns raised over ‘success’ of rural bus pilot scheme in Ripon and Masham
Grab a picnic rug for open air theatre performances in the district
It has been a week of soaring temperatures across the Harrogate district.
And when the sun shines, there is nothing better than grabbing a picnic rug or deckchair and enjoying some fabulous outdoor entertainment.
We have put together a selection of outdoor theatre performances taking place across the Harrogate district this summer where tickets are still available:
Hamlet The Comedy – RHS Harlow Carr Gardens, July 5 and 6
Festival favourite Oddsocks Productions return to Harrogate with yet another high-energy, feel-good family theatre show.
Pack your picnic and join the crazy theatre troupe for a festival of music, magic and mayhem as they bring Hamlet The Comedy to the beautiful grounds of Harlow Carr.
Hamlet The Comedy finds the eponymous royal student returning home for the summer holidays to find something rotten in the state of Denmark and it’s more than just the bag of dirty washing! Mum’s married Uncle Claudius and Dad’s dishing the dirt from his grave – it’s enough to make a teenager mad!
Shakespeare’s famous tragedy is performed as you’ve never seen before with lots of laughs, music and memorable moments.
Presented by Oddsocks Productions as part of Harrogate International Festivals.
Event details:
Doors open at 6.30pm for Friends of the Festival and RHS card holders.
General admission from 6.45pm.
This is an outdoor event, please dress appropriately for the British weather. Feel free to bring your own picnics, rugs and deckchairs to make the most of the event.
Tickets are available here.
Read more:
- First Ripon Theatre Festival launches tomorrow
- Shortlist revealed for Harrogate’s crime writing festival
Cinderella – Valley Gardens, Harrogate, July 17
In an enchanted kingdom faraway land magical creatures and fairy godmothers come together to tell the best-loved of all fairy tales.
Full of song, mirth, and joy for the summer ahead, join us on Cinderella’s journey of a lifetime to a magical ball where nearly anything is possible especially if it is before midnight.
Family and friends are welcome to picnic and children are invited to dress in their favourite fairy tale characters and join for the midsummer ball dance.
Presented by Chapterhouse Theatre.
Event details:
Doors open at 3pm and the production starts at 4pm.
The performance will last around 90 minutes (with no interval) and will take place in all but the worst weather.
Please bring your own deck chairs, rugs and picnics etc for the performance.
Tickets are available here
Romeo and Juliet – Knaresborough Castle, August 6
This best-loved story of star crossed lovers and feuding families shall be performed in the castle yard.
Dressed in beautiful Elizabethan costume and performed by a fine troupe of Shakespearean players, join Chapterhouse for the greatest love story ever told as they perform magical theatre in magical surroundings.
Presented by Chapterhouse Theatre.
Event details:
Doors open at 6pm and the production starts at 7pm.
The performance will last around 90 minutes (with no interval) and will take place in all but the worst weather.
Please bring your own deck chairs, rugs and picnics etc for the performance.
Tickets are available here
Pride and Prejudice – Ripon Spa Gardens, August 20
Take a step back in time as we meet Elizabeth Bennett and her sisters. Whilst their interfering mother engineers various courtships, Elizabeth and Jane must pursue their own quest for true love.
Amidst mistakes and miscommunications, can Elizabeth finally surpass her prejudices to see past the proud exterior of the enigmatic Mr Darcy?
Presented by Chapterhouse Theatre.
Event details:
Doors open at 6pm, the production starts at 7pm.
The performance will last around 90 minutes (with no interval) and will take place in all but the worst weather.
Please bring your own deck chairs, rugs and picnics etc for the performance.
Tickets are available here
Derby Day and Ripon’s royal connection to the world’s greatest horseraceAway from the the sights and sounds of the platinum jubilee celebrations across the Harrogate district, it’s a fitting day to remember another royal connection from the Ripon area that goes directly to the Queen, via her great great grandmother, Queen Victoria.
It was Derby Day on Epsom Downs and the world’s most famous race grabbed national and international attention, with the easy winner and 5-2 favourite, Desert Crown, trained by Sir Michael, destined to earn a fortune at stud.
On the boundary wall at the Parish Church of St Lawrence in Aldfield — between Ripon and Fountains Abbey — there is a blue plaque recognising that William Powell Frith, the world-renowned painter, whose signature work was called The Derby Day was born in the tiny village on November 2, 1819.
A portrait of William Powell Frith as a young man. Picture: Mary Evans Picture Gallery
His mother Jane, was house steward to Sophia Lawrence of Studley Royal, before the family moved to Harrogate in 1826 to manage the Dragon Hotel.
Nine years later, at the age of 16, Frith decided to take his prodigious artistic talent to London, telling his family that his aim was to make his fortune.
This was no misplaced boast, as he was entered into the Royal Academy and earned the accolade of being one of Queen Victoria’s favourite painters.
The Queen, who is Victoria’s great great grandaughter, has never won the Classic race as either owner or breeder and the nearest she came was in her coronation year , when her horse Aureole finished second in the 1953 running.
Dreams of a fairy-tale win in platinum jubilee year were dashed when her horse Reach for the Moon was withdrawn from today’s race by joint trainers John and Thady Gosden, after the three-year-old colt suffered a training setback.
For only the third time in her 70-year reign, the 96-year-old Queen is also a ‘non-runner’ at Epsom today, with ongoing health issues meaning she will be watching the race on television.
Frith, who lived to the age of 89, died in 1909 assured that his Derby Day work created between 1856 and 1858 had earned him the fortune that he predicted.
His classic painting and other celebrated works – have put him forever in the frame as one of the world’s best known artists
Read More:
- Where you can go for the district’s jubilee celebrations
- Why was it time for a royal tea at Ripon Cathedral?