Plans put on hold because of covid are finally set to come to fruition at the Old Deanery in Ripon following the appointment of Adam Jackson.
The award-winning executive chef is working with owners Rebecca and Chris Layton to provide fine dining and accommodation to sit alongside the wedding and events business the couple launched two years ago at the historic grade two listed Minster Road property.
The Jacobean mansion is situated in the shadows of Ripon Cathedral.
Ms Layton told the Stray Ferret:
“We always had an appetite for making the Old Deanery a fine dining destination that would be open on a more regular basis, but covid meant that we had to put our plans on hold.
“Now we believe that the time is right and Adam joins us as part of our exciting plans to open as Yorkshire’s newest dining experience. He is already working on menu development.”
Executive chef Adam Jackson. Picture: The Old Deanery
Award-winning Mr Jackson was head chef at the Black Swan at Oldstead, near Thirsk, where he helped it win its first Michelin star in 2012.
He then set up his own York restaurant The Park in Marmadukes Town House Hotel, which gained three AA Rosettes.
Latterly, he has worked at the Faversham Arms in Helmsley and the Bow Room at Grays Court in York.
From November, in addition to its weddings and receptions, The Old Deanery will be open for dinner, bed and breakfast stays and meals, including grazing-style meals and Sunday lunches.
Organisers of Ripon’s third Summer Funfest are celebrating its success and looking to build on this further in 2024.
Ripon Together director Simon Hewitt said last week’s free activities at locations across the city and at Studley Royal Cricket Club were fully booked, with 400 youngsters taking part.
Activities included football, cricket, athletics, croquet, tennis, crazy golf and circus skills.
The week culminated in a megafun day on Thursday with obstacle courses, tug-of-war, sumo wrestling and many other sports and games, plus free Syrian street food.
Mr Hewitt said:
“Attendances at these events are growing year by year and this year they were all full up. Ripon Together will be considering how to grow the initiative further next year.”
In addition to its own funding, Ripon Together received grants from the locality budgets of city and North Yorkshire councillors Barbara Brodigan and Andrew Williams, the Jepson Trust and the Ripon Girls Fund.
The week was also supported by Ripon Runners, Ripon Spa Croquet Club, Studley Royal Cricket Club, JD Football Academy and the Sun Parlour Cafe, as well as Morrison’s, Sainsbury’s, Booths and M&S.
Oyez, oyez, oyez! the pronouncement from Ripon Bellman Geoffrey Johnson rang out loud and clear on Ripon Market Square last night,
The simple message for the economy of The Cathedral City of the Dales is that Ripon has many attractions for both tourists and local residents to enjoy’ and now has new boundary signs to attract more visitors.
To emphasise the point, the official unveiling of the signs was also attended by Patricio Maglio, a member of the Ripon Hornblower team who, like Mr Johnson, features on notice boards at key locations.
Following the bellman’s announcement, the hornblower performed the nightly ceremony of setting the city’s watch minutes after the new signs were officially unveiled.
As part of Ripon BID’s commitment to improve wayfinding it partnered with North Yorkshire highways to upgrade the boundary signage on the bypass, Boroughbridge Road, Kirkby Road and Studley Road.
The project was supported by city and North Yorkshire councillors Barbara Brodigan and Andrew Williams through donations from their locality budgets.
The BID also worked with the highways team to refurbish, repaint and restore the notice boards and finger posts that include bespoke maps and tourist information’
BID manager Lilla Bathurst told the Stray Ferret:
“These have been designed to help guide visitors around Ripon’s ancient streets, while providing an insight into the city’s rich history and heritage attractions.
“Our objective is to generate increased footfall to benefit the local economy and we are pleased to say that Ripon now has signage befitting a cathedral city and we hope that our businesses, residents and visitors will all agree that it’s a huge improvement.
“The boundary signs are designed to tempt motorists into Ripon from the road network, while the notice boards help tourists to locate the attractions, while also including information about events happening in the city, which is updated weekly.”
Pictured with Ripon bellman Geoffrey Johnson (right) and hornblower Patricio Maglio at last night’s unveiling event, are: Councillor Barbara Brodigan, Ripon City Council leader Andrew Williams, Ripon BID manager Lilla Bathurst and BID directors Richard Taylor and Stuart Baldwin.
Read more:
- Chance for Harrogate district community groups to win £3,000
- Search begins for Ripon’s community stars of 2023
Two charities that provide much-needed support for local people are benefiting from the £7,000 raised through the Mayor of Ripon’s annual appeal.
Dementia Forward‘s community fundraiser Amy Senior visited Ripon Town Hall on Tuesday to accept a cheque for £3,500 and the same amount will be presented shortly to Harrogate District Mind.
Dementia Forward, which operates throughout North Yorkshire, opened its flagship community hub in 2017 at George Armitage House in Burton Leonard and a further five have followed across the county.
Ms Senior said:
“This donation is greatly appreciated and will support the day services that we provide through our hub club for people affected by dementia.”
Mind’s Harrogate District association was founded in 1973 and over the past 50 years, the charity run by local people, for local people, has been a constant source of support and confidential services including befriending, counselling and outreach.
The Mayor of Ripon, Councillor Sid Hawke, said:
“We are delighted to support two great charities and have been able to do so because of the generosity of the local community and the tremendous work of the appeal committee, which organised and ran fundraising events throughout the last mayoral year.”
Read more:
- Chance for Harrogate district community groups to win £3,000
- Search begins for Ripon’s community stars of 2023
Record £200,000 prize money for St Wilfrid’s day at Ripon Races
Ripon is preparing for its most valuable race day ever on Saturday, with more than £200,000 of prize money on offer across seven races.
This includes a total pot of £100,000 for the winner and placed horses in the principal race, the William Hill Great St Wilfrid Handicap.
It will feature some of country’s top sprinters, including current favourite Summerghand trained by David O’Meara.
Mr O’Meara, who trains at Upper Helmsley, said:
“He ran well in the race last year but was drawn on the wrong side. He is in really good form and he likes Ripon so fingers crossed for a nice draw and we’re very hopeful of a good run.”
The highly-competitive six furlong sprint, now in its 30th year of sponsorship from bookmaker William Hill, has been run in honour of Ripon’s patron saint since 1839.
One of the many floral displays at Yorkshire’s Garden Racecourse
A further reminder of the link between the historic course and ancient cathedral city will come when blasts from the Ripon hornblower, whose nightly ceremony dates back to King Alfred the Great in 886 AD, signal the start of racing.
William Hill is sponsoring five of the races on Saturday’s card and Ripon Racecourse managing director and clerk of the course, James Hutchinson, said:
“We’re immensely proud to be William Hill’s longest standing sports sponsorship and we’re delighted with the quality of entries for the big race.”
He added:
“It’s been 13 years since we last saw the trophy head south of Yorkshire and with a very strong contingent from Yorkshire and the North it would be no surprise if that extended to fourteen on Saturday.”
Operations and marketing manager Jon Mullin said:
“Advanced sales have been good, with the club enclosure sold out, but space is still available in the paddock and course enclosures and we’re hoping plenty of people come along to enjoy a great afternoon of racing. Families are always welcome and under 18s will be admitted free.”
While the Great St Wilfrid takes centre stage, the card also includes the William Hill Silver Trophy. Both races will be shown live on ITV4.
The gates will be open from 11.15am and the first race is off at 1.35pm.
Read more:
New life could be breathed into an abandoned Ripon redevelopment site, which formerly housed the city’s first public library.
The site at Skellgarths/Water Skellgate has planning approval for six terraced houses and is up for sale by auction, with a guide price of £500,000.
Harrogate-based estate agents FSS has described the plot as:
“An ideal opportunity to acquire a site with planning approval for six terraced houses, in two blocks of three, together with the freehold of 18 Water Skellgate, which comprises of a recently converted detached building containing five apartments.”
The online auction is due to take place at 3pm on September 14.
The site is in Ripon’s conservation area, in close proximity to Ripon Cathedral and on the route to prime tourist attractions — Fountains Abbey in one direction and Newby Hall in the other. It is also one of the main thoroughfares leading to the city centre.
Following demolition of the library nine years ago, a start was made on the proposed residential redevelopment of the plot, but this came to a halt and the site became an overgrown eyesore that was initially fenced off with steel barriers.
After a call for action by Ripon councillors, more permanent hoardings were erected in 2020 by Harrogate Borough Council workmen.
Read more:
- Hoardings erected at derelict Ripon redevelopment site
- Search begins for Ripon’s community stars of 2023
Ripon Together has begun its search for organisations and individuals whose community-minded work enriches the life of the city and surrounding areas.
Following last year’s successful launch of the St Wilfrid’s Stars scheme, nominations can be made for the 2023 awards between now and the closing date of September 30. Further details can be found by clicking here.
The scheme, which has 11 categories, attracted hundreds of nominations in 2022. Working with media partner the Stray Ferret, the aim is to build on the success of last year.
The Stray Ferret is looking for a local business to sponsor our coverage of this positive community event in Ripon. Any businesses interested should email advertising@thestrayferret.co.uk.
The names of all those nominated were displayed at a reception in the cathedral where a stunning star-spangled banner created by Ripon Community Poppy Project, provided a fitting backdrop for the evening event.
Ripon Together director Simon Hewitt said:
“The point of the scheme is to recognise and celebrate all those who add to the quality of life in and around Ripon. We want everyone in the area to think about those who go the extra mile in whatever field, and to nominate them.”
St Wilfrid’s Stars of 2023 categories
Business – A business which has supported the city or its community during the past year.
Community – An individual who has made a difference to local people or the wider local community in the past year.
Community organisation – A not-for-profit organisation that has made a difference to local people in the past year.
Culture – The organisation or individual who has made a significant contribution to cultural activities in the Ripon area.
Sports and activity clubs – An individual who has made a significant contribution to sports or other group activities during the past year.
Tourism – A business or other organisation that can demonstrate a significant contribution to improving the Ripon area’s offering as a tourism destination over the past year.
Environment – An individual or organisation that has made a significant contribution to protecting or improving the environment during the past year.
Individual young person – The person (under 19 years old) who has made a significant contribution during the past year.
Young people’s group – The group (under 19 years old) which has made a significant contribution during the past year.
Individual supporter of youth – the person who has made a major difference to Ripon’s young people.
The judging panel will also select an overall volunteer of the year.
Ripon Together would like to hear from any local companies interested in sponsoring the scheme or individual awards. Contact can be made via info@ripontogether.com
Drainage channels installed in £10,000 scheme on Ripon streetConcrete drainage channels have been installed outside homes in Newby Street in Ripon to prevent flooding during wet weather.
The drainage improvement work, costing £10,000, was completed last week after being authorised as one of five additions to the North Yorkshire highways capital forward programme for structural highways maintenance.
The combined total for the additional works is £340,842 and includes an allocation of £60,000 for work on Hampsthwaite Bridge, which is currently closed and under repair.
The Newby Street work is designed to carry rainwater from downpipes and into drains in the street, preventing a back-up of water on pavements.
Prior to the installation rainwater from downpipes, serving 42 brick-built late-Victorian houses, was released directly onto the pavements.
Read more:
Children’s author launches book at Halls of Ripon
First-time children’s author Jo Jo Stewart visited Halls of Ripon at the weekend for the launch of her book Tigby Tried.
The book, which she has written, illustrated and published, features the adventures of Tigby the crab as he overcomes challenges through sheer determination.
Ms Stewart said her 20 years as a teacher helped her realise how many children had lost confidence due to the lack of interaction brought about by covid. She said:
“My book is aimed at children aged up to seven and its message is ‘Keep trying and never give up’ as exemplified by Tigby.
“In Chinese culture the crab represents rebirth, transformation and renewal and in life, if you can’t move forward for whatever reason, don’t give up – move sideways like Tigby and look for an alternative route to achieve your goals.”
Ms Stewart, who studied children’s illustration at the London College of Art, added:
“My love for collage encouraged me to experiment with my book illustrations, using letters that are individually cut and a bit wonky.
“I want people to remember that the world isn’t perfect, there are lumps, bumps and wobbles and no one is the same.
“The Tigby character may have suffered his own lumps and bumps, but he proves that if you keep trying, no matter how wrong things might go at times, you’ll get there in the end.”
Further details about the book can be found by clicking here.
Read more:
Police seek help into spate of vandalism on cars in Ripon
North Yorkshire Police is seeking assistance from the public following a spate of vandal attacks on vehicles in Ripon car parks and on residential streets.
Over the past week, cars have been deliberately damaged in the Cathedral and Morrisons car parks in the city, as well as on Quarry Moor Lane and Oak Road.
The vandalism, which has been reported on social media, has ranged from the smashing of windscreens to attacks on bodywork, windscreen wipers and mirrors.
Yesterday (Sunday) members of the Harrogate Outer policing team were on Ripon Market Square to promote the North Yorkshire Community Messaging service and, while there, Sgt Jeff Peel, told the Stray Ferret:
“We’ve had a number of people who have given us information that may be helpful in our on-going investigations into the recent vandalism incidents.
“We would urge anybody else who feels they can help to contact us in confidence.”
Anybody with information about the attacks or other suspicious behaviour that that they have witnessed, can call 101 or report online via www.northyorkshire.police.uk.
The North Yorkshire Community Messaging service, provides another means for the public to help in the fight against crime and those who sign up for it will receive localised email alerts about events, crime appeals and safety advice.
Read more: