For the second year running, covid has caused the St Wilfrid’s Day procession in Ripon to be scaled back but the tradition is being kept alive. It is one of many events taking part in the city this weekend.
Lifestyle History
Patron saint will come walking in as Ripon remembers Wilfrid
The covid pandemic has put paid to official celebrations in honour of Ripon's patron saint, but St Wilfrid will still be represented on the city's streets on Saturday. The tradition, which goes back decades, is being kept alive in the hope that things will be back to...
Returning Ripon hornblowers welcome fourth team member
Around the four corners of the obelisk, Ripon’s newly-enlarged team of hornblowers returned to applause on Monday evening after 16 months of setting the watch behind closed doors
All Ripon hornblowers will gather together for Monday night return
It has been 16 months since a Ripon hornblower’s last blast on Market Square and on Monday night they will return in force to perform the ancient ceremony by the city’s obelisk. However, they have not shirked in their duties during the pandemic, using social media to keep the tradition going.
Pyramid artforms at Fountains Abbey bring echoes of the past
The follies at Studley Royal have a mysterious missing piece – a pyramid structure – which has provided the inspiration for contemporary art installations in the classic Georgian water garden and across the river Skell.
Malcolm Neesam History: Harrogate’s gas-powered buses
As we witness a fundamental change in how cars and buses are powered, Harrogate historian Malcolm Neesam looks back to the turn of the last century when electric and somewhat unstable gas-powered buses came into operation.
New community curator for Ripon’s three museums
Dr Laura Allan will work with local organisations to increase interest in Ripon’s Workhouse, Prison and Police and Old Courthouse museums.
Malcolm Neesam History: the heyday of Harrogate’s cinemas
Harrogate Historian Malcolm Neesam takes us back to a time when Harrogate boasted seven cinemas. Pictures were big business and with the advent of “talkies” the number of cinemas grew.
Harrogate library turns back time on town landmarks
Most of the work is currently on display at the library and will be until the end of July but the volunteers have also shared others on social media.
Authors celebrate Valley Gardens’ journey from springs to scenic spot
The book covers the history of the park from its early days in the 1860s, when it was known as Bogs Field, to the fight to save a deteriorating Sun Pavilion in the 1980s and 90s, and the restoration of the Japanese Garden in 2016.
When will the Ripon hornblower return?
The nightly tradition has taken place for 1135 years but for the last 13 months has occurred behind closed doors due to covid. So when will the hornblower’s blast be heard again on Market Square?
Free walking tours back with new focus on Harrogate people
Besides the usual tour, Harry Satloka will also offer a new ‘locals tour’, which examines the lives of Harrogate people. His tours will resume on Wednesday with a six-person limit.
History: Where’s the vision, where’s the hope?
As we ease out of the global pandemic and debate rages about the best way to boost Harrogate town centre, historian Malcolm Neesam looks back at previous attempts to reshape the town after catastrophic world events…