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16
Apr
Unique worldwide collection of measurement items to be housed in Ripon
A remarkable and extensive international collection containing items of worldwide importance has been delivered to its new home in Ripon following 38 years of planning.
The collection, now in secure storage at the Old Wesleyan Chapel on Coltsgate Hill, was gathered over decades by husband and wife Alex and Gwen Renton, two mathematics teachers who lived in the Ripon area.
It includes more than 2,000 scientific and technological instruments gathered from across the globe, which have been used in every form of measurement and weighing employed by mankind since 600 BC.
The delivery was made last week.
In 1986, Mr and Mrs Renton made their phenomenal offer to the Ripon City Festival Trust, when it was making preparations for celebration of Ripon's 1100th anniversary.
Trustee Barrie Price told the Stray Ferret:
He added:
'No similar collection anywhere in the world'
In 1997, Professor Norman Biggs, an internationally-recognised expert on weights and measures, based at the Centre for Discrete and Applicable Mathematics at London School of Economics and Political Science, said:
The collection includes many rare documents, books and catalogues
The collection, which includes a library of books documents and catalogues on matters related to weights and measures, was left in trust and is under the guardianship of the Knoll Charitable Trust, whose chairman is Mr Price.
A building saved from dereliction
The trust also owns the former Wesleyan Methodist Chapel built in 1861, which ceased being a place if worship in 1963 when it merged with Allhallowgate Methodist Church.
This imposing building was home in the 1960s to U-Save, Ripon's first supermarket, but fell into dereliction after the store closed.
Following major refurbishment in 1997 it became the office of a regional accountancy practice where Mr Price was a senior partner.
The former chapel was awarded a green plaque by Ripon Civic Society in recognition of its heritage status.
Nexus Dental Laboratory
As well as providing a new long-term location for the Renton Collection, the ground floor of the building has been the base for Nexus Dental Laboratory, following its relocation last year from smaller city centre premises.
Steve Campbell, the company's chief executive and his colleagues are enthusiastic about sharing the building with a collection of outstanding educational and cultural importance. He said:
He added:
The sculpture of Blind Jack with his trundle wheel in Knaresborough Market Place.
Nexus director Iain Baldwin, a former pupil of King James's School, Knaresborough, said:
Before items can go on display the search is on for a person with the necessary skills and knowledge to undertake the mammoth task of working through the extensive collection and getting it into shape.
Mr Price said:
He added:
Main image: Barrie Price (right), Steve Campbell (centre) and Iain Baldwin, are pictured with some of the many items from the Renton Collection.
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