This
attractive Grade II starred listed building dates back to 1686
when it was acquired for Ripon to incarcerate the Cities
'undeserving' poor and to improve their lot by means of
compulsory labour.
During the 18th century when statutes were introduced requiring
the separation of 'classes' of prisoners e.g. male, female,
children, the old, vagrants, felons and debtors, prison
buildings began to conform to accepted layouts making it
impossible for the existing facility in Ripon to cope.
In the face of strong criticism by prison reformer John Howard
and urged on by Lord Grantham of Newby Hall and the Ripon
Recorder, John Williamson of Ripley, the local magistrates
agreed to construct a new, state-of-the-art prison in 1816.
As an amateur architect, Lord Grantham, who was later to become
the first President of the Royal Institute of British
Architects, designed a new prison adjacent, adding, as part of
the overall plan, a couple of extra bays to the east of the
existing House of Correction, giving the house its present
proportions and providing a fine residence for the Master of the
new prison.
A cross-passage within the house led into the lower corridor of
the 'new' prison which from 1870 also served as the police
station, the old house becoming the inspector's residence.
Eventually the House of Correction became a private residence
and continued as such until 1996 - the Ripon Museum Trust being
offered first refusal for purchase.
The new prison building remained in use until the 1980's when
it became vacant, and local historian, John Whitehead, set up
the Ripon Museum Trust to preserve the police station and
prison. |
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