Diocese of Ripon

The Diocese of Ripon, renamed the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds from 1999 until its amalgamation into the new Diocese of Leeds in 2014, was a former Church of England diocese within the Province of York. Immediately prior to its dissolution, it covered an area in western and northern Yorkshire as well as the south Teesdale area administered by County Durham which is traditionally part of Yorkshire. The cities of Ripon and Leeds were within its boundaries as were the towns of Harrogate, Richmond, Knaresborough, Hawes and Bedale and the surrounding countryside; its northern boundary was the River Tees. The diocesan Bishop of Ripon had his cathedral church at Ripon. The diocese was also served by a suffragan Bishop of Knaresborough and was divided into two archdeaconries, those of Richmond and Leeds. For organizational purposes, the diocese was further divided into eight deaneries: Richmond, Wensley, Ripon, Harrogate, Allerton, Headingley, Armley and Whitkirk. The first four deaneries are located in the Archdeaconry of Richmond, and the latter four are in the Archdeaconry of Leeds. The former Diocese covered an area of 1,359 square miles, with a range of urban and rural parishes, these range from urban areas like Holbeck and Armley with New Wortley, urban centres like Ripon and Richmond and rural parishes like Danby Wiske with Hutton Bonneville in the Vale of Mowbray, Eryholme on the southern bank of the River Tees and Upper Nidderdale high in the Yorkshire Dales.

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Ripon Cathedral

The Cathedral Church of St Peter and St Wilfrid, commonly known as Ripon Cathedral, and until 1836 known as Ripon Minster, is a cathedral in Ripon, North Yorkshire, England. Founded as a monastery by monks of the Irish tradition in the 660s, it was refounded as a Benedictine monastery by St Wilfrid in 672. The church became collegiate in the tenth century, and acted as a mother church within the large Diocese of York for the remainder of the Middle Ages. The present church is the fourth, and was built between the 13th and 16th centuries. In 1836 the church became the cathedral for the Diocese of Ripon. In 2014 the Diocese was incorporated into the new Diocese of Leeds, and the church became one of three co-equal cathedrals of the Bishop of Leeds. The cathedral is notable architecturally for its gothic west front in the Early English style, considered one of the best of its type, as well as the Geometric east window. The seventh-century crypt of Wilfrid's church is a significant example of early Christian architecture in England. The cathedral has Grade I listed building status.

Minster House

Minster House is a historic building in Ripon, a city in North Yorkshire, in England. The house may lie on the site of the Bedern, the college of vicars of Ripon Minster. This was built in 1414 and dissolved in 1547, following which there was a failed proposal to use the building as a theological college. The current building was constructed in the early 18th century, when it was known as "The Hall". In the 19th century, the house was owned by the Oxley family, who erected their shield of arms over the main door. In 1945, it was purchased by the diocese to become the residence of the Dean of Ripon. The building was grade II* listed in 1949. The house is built of red brick, with stone quoins, a floor band and a parapet. It has two storeys, a south front of seven bays, a west front of five bays, and two slightly projecting bays on the east front. In the centre of the south front is a doorway with a broken pediment containing a coat of arms. The windows are tall sashes with moulded sills and keystones. Inside is what Historic England describes as a "very fine staircase", and early wood panelling and fireplaces. In one room there is wainscotting dated to about 1600, which is believe to have come from Markington Hall.

Old Courthouse, Ripon

The Old Courthouse is a historic building in Ripon, a city in North Yorkshire, in England. The building may be 14th century, although no dateable features have survived. It is possible that it reuses some materials from a former palace of the Archbishop of York. It was used as the courthouse of the Liberty of Ripon. It was later extended to the south, the extension perhaps incorporating an existing timber-framed kitchen block. By the 17th century, its ground floor was used as a gaol, and in the early 19th century it may have been a debtor's prison. It was owned by Ripon Cathedral until the 1950s, when it was sold and converted into a private house. The building was grade II listed in 1949. The building is constructed of stone and has sprocketed pantile roofs. There are two storeys, three bays, and a south extension with a timber framed upper floor. The building contains a blocked round-arched doorway, and an arched doorway in the upper floor approached by external steps with an iron balustrade. The windows are a mix of sashes, casements and one slit window. Inside, the former cells have iron-plated ceilings, and two doors studded with iron.

The Old Hall, Ripon

The Old Hall is a historic building in Ripon, a city in North Yorkshire, in England. The house, on High St Agnesgate, was built in 1738. It was altered in the mid 19th century, the work including a new roof. From 1841 to 1858 it was used as a resident by a canon of Ripon Cathedral, including Charles Dodgson from 1852 to 1858, with his son Lewis Carroll spending several months of the year at the property. The house was grade II* listed in 1949. In 2025, it was marketed for sale for £1.6 million, at which time it had six bedrooms, five reception rooms and four bathrooms. The house, at right angles to the street, is built of red brick, with a modillion eaves cornice and a Welsh slate roof. There are two storeys and attics, five bays, a recessed bay to the north, and a rear wing. The doorway has a round head and channelled quoins and voussoirs. There are two French windows, and the other windows are sashes with channelled voussoirs. Inside, there is original high quality plasterwork, and there are several murals, including a scene of the Judgement of Paris on the ceiling of the upper hall.