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Sept
Ripon's programme of Heritage Open Days ends this weekend
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Ripon’s 2025 programme of Heritage Open Days comes to an end this weekend, with activities focused on Ripon Cathedral and St John’s Church in Sharow.
The free to attend, heritage talks, tours and other activities were supported by funding from the National Lottery and organised by business development organisation Ripon BID and Ripon Civic Society.
It involved a dozen events that shone a light on the stories, architecture and culture that underline the deep and rich history of Ripon and surrounding areas, from the magnificent grade one listed cathedral, whose roots go back to AD 672 to St Wilfrid's Catholic Church on Coltsgate Hill, where rerodos screens designed by renowned church architect Edward Pugin can be seen.
'Family fun trails will be held at Ripon's ancient cathedral today (Saturday) and tomorrow.
St John's Church, Sharow
Tomorrow (Sunday) St John's Church in Sharow (pictured above) is holding an event called From Arches to Bells and Beyond, between 12noon and 4pm.
The hard hat tours of Ripon's Spa Baths building proved popular.
Among this year's must-see locations was the iconic Spa Baths on Park Street, described by Ripon Civic Society as 'An Edwardian Gem'.
The grade-II listed building was opend on October 24 in 1905 by Princess Henry of Battenburg, the youngest child of Queen Victoria.
The public swimming pool attached to the spa buiding, was opened in 1936. It was the place where thousands of Riponian's, including Olympic Gold diving champion Jack Laugher, were taught to swim by the late Sylvia Grice, who died in November 2023.
Tour guide Richard Taylor spoke about the history of the building.
The tour inside Spa Baths, was headed by Richard Taylor and David Winpenny, joint chairs of Ripon Civic Society and groups of attendees had to wear hard hats and high vis jackets, because the building, with its stunning stained glass windows and ornate tiles, is being rejuvenated by Sterne Properties Limited.
The Ripon-based investrment and development company, which completed its purchase of the dilapidated property from North Yorkshire Council last October, plans to return the building to its former Edwardian splendour.
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