Ripon Workhouse Museum to open historic cellar to the publicResidential plan revealed for prime Ripon locationUnanimous call for compulsory purchase of prominent Ripon buildingCall for compulsory purchase of grade II listed Ripon buildingRipon developer submits plans to convert Spa Baths
Plans have been submitted to convert Ripon Spa Baths into two commercial units and offices, and create a new building to accommodate four flats.
The application, from Ripon-based property development and investment company Sterne Properties Limited, would see the demolition of the 1930s swimming pool hall at the rear of the original grade two listed spa building.
The swimming pool building would be replaced with a small, glazed single-storey extension and a landscaped courtyard area linked into the adjacent Spa Gardens, providing a new public access to the parkland area.
The Samuel Stead-designed terracotta-clad building was constructed in 1904 and 1905 and has been disused for two years.
Robert Sterne (pictured above), director of Sterne Properties, told the Stray Ferret:
“Restoration of the iconic spa building is central to our proposals as we aim to return it to its former glory at the heart of the city’s spa quarter, within a high-quality hospitality-led development.”
He added:
“The restoration will enable us to reveal classical features, such as stunning stained glass windows and ornate tiles dating back to the elegant Edwardian era, that have been covered up since 1936 when the site was remodelled to include a public swimming pool.
“These features are part of Ripon’s heritage and will be freely accessible for people to see in the pump room area, which will be open for the community to visit.”
The proposed north (top) and west elevations.
Andrew Burningham, the architect for the scheme, said:
“We have carried out a great deal of research into the history of the spa to produce a scheme that re-establishes the seamless link that it previously had with Spa Gardens.
“The new buildings have been designed to be sympathetic to, and respectful of, their historic surroundings.”
Rhe distinctive terracota cladding.
Spa Baths closed in November 2021 after 116 years of service and was put on the market by the now-abolished Harrogate Borough Council.
Sterne Properties announced plans for a community-focused hospitality-led restoration in June 2022 and following months of negotiations, exchanged contracts with North Yorkshire Council.
The council will decide whether to approve the application.
Repairs planned for listed weir at risk of collapse at Studley RoyalThe National Trust has applied for planning permission to carry out repairs to an ancient weir that is in danger of collapse.
The weir, to the north-east end of Studley Royal Water Garden, is a listed structure and forms part of the World Heritage Site at Fountains Abbey near Ripon.
The work will aim to stabilise the retaining walls around the weir, parts of which date back to the early 18th century. As part of its application on behalf of the National Trust, JBA Consulting said:
“The wall on the east side of the outfall is collapsing as a result of failure of its fabric, historic tree damage and past flood events, whilst the wall on the west side is collapsing as a result of intrusive root action from a nearby tree and past flood events.
“The proposed works are intended to stabilise the wall and repair the damage through installation of modern retaining walls which will be dressed using the stones saved from the extant walls. Following the repair, the walls will be reinstated to their former character and stabilised for the future.”
Part of the retaining wall is at risk of collapse.
The application said the footpath along the side of the river and the footbridge over it would remain open during the works.
However, access to the river bank may need to be restricted for safety reasons, it said. A temporary works area will be installed to the north of the river to store materials and allow a vehicle to be kept on site.
The application added:
“Without the proposed repair works there is the risk that the water from the outflow will continue to undermine the drystone wall leading to damage of the more formal dressed stone structure and the riverbank.
“There is also a risk of the mature tree on the bank above the south wall becoming unstable as the wall and earth bank behind it degrades further.”
The plans will be decided by North Yorkshire Council at a later date. To view or comment on the application, visit the planning pages of North Yorkshire Council’s website and use reference ZC23/01443/LB.
Read more:
Historic Ripon clock to undergo specialist repair
Almost 125 years after being unveiled, it’s time for specialist repair work on Ripon’s most prominent and, of late, least reliable civic clock.
The hands on the four-faced timepiece housed in the ornate Victoria Clock Tower at the busy junction of North Road, Palace Road and Princess Road, have stood still on either 12 noon or 12 midnight for many weeks.
But Ripon city councillor and former mayor Eamon Parkin has good news.
He told the Stray Ferret:
“The pendulum of the clock will be undergoing specialist repair and we hope to have it back working again as soon as possible.”
The clock tower was commissioned to mark Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897 and in the following June, the classically styled stone tower — paid for by sisters Frances and Constance Cross of Coney Garth — was gifted by them to the city of Ripon in a ceremonial civic opening event attended by a huge crowd.
The grade II listed building passed into the ownership of Harrogate Borough Council with the reorganisation of local government in 1974, but will change hands once more when the new North Yorkshire unitary authority comes into being on April 1.
In recent years the clock has required attention because of its erratic performance, which at times have seen it running fast or slow on numerous occasions.
Read More:
Plans submitted to extend Grade II listed Knaresborough hotelAn application has been submitted to create more bedrooms at Knaresborough’s Dower House Hotel, including a rear extension
The plans, put forward by the Inn Collection Group (ICG), include changing the internal layout and creating a new portico entrance.
As previously reported by the Stray Ferret, the gym and spa have closed as ICG, which acquired the Grade II listed building in December, said they made the hotel less viable.
In the application, ICG said:
“Information contained on the company’s website demonstrates the sensitive design approach adopted for ICG facilities, staying true to the characteristic of each individual property.
“It is also worth highlighting that ICG is custodian to at least 12 listed buildings across its growing portfolio of inns, with many others at least in conservation areas, and sensitively restoring and celebrating these historic buildings is central to its customer experience and business philosophy.
“ICG is, therefore, familiar with the sensitivities surrounding heritage assets with the business model adapted to the characteristics and value of specific buildings.
“The works proposed at The Dower House Inn form part of a plan to upgrade and refurbish the existing site to provide essential maintenance to the building and its setting whilst improving its functionality for the benefit of its customers.
“This will ensure the business is viable and sustainable, in turn securing the preservation of the listed building for the future. The works proposed will reflect approaches taken across other sites, with the replacement of finishes and external and internal alterations sensitively incorporating existing features of the listed building and its setting.”
Read more:
The planned extension would see an extra 27sq m of floor space created on top of the existing 2,287sq m, as the new owners create more bedrooms in the area which formerly housed the gym and spa.
Internal walls would be moved and new windows created in order to create 16 additional bedrooms. The plan would also see an extra six car parking spaces created, bringing the total to 58.
The ICG application added:
“The proposal will upgrade the hotel, increasing visitors and encouraging overnight stays. This will facilitate a degree of growth and job creation, and thus will support the economic and social wellbeing of Knaresborough, an established main settlement.
“The principle of development is, therefore, considered acceptable as it presents an opportunity to enhance the site within the confines of its heritage context, thereby supporting the tourism industry, economic growth, and prosperity of town centres.”
To view or comment on the application, visit Harrogate Borough Council’s planning website and use reference 22/01750/LB.
Harrogate’s Sun Pavilion awarded Grade II listed building statusThe Sun Pavilion and Colonnade in Harrogate has been given Grade II listed status as part of the Queen’s platinum jubilee.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has announced six new sites across the country will be given the status.
The Sun Pavilion and Colonnade were constructed in 1933 to designs by Leonard Clarke, the borough surveyor, as part of a £60,000 spa development scheme intended to be one of the finest in Europe.
The classical building with Art Deco details was opened by noted medic Lord Horder of Ashford and the opening ceremony was captured on film by British Pathé. The pavilion was designed as a place to take refreshment and rest after taking exercise or after taking the spa waters in the town centre.
After a period of decline in the 1980s, the site was restored following a campaign led by local citizen Anne Smith and supported by celebrities including author James Herriot.
In 1998, the Sun Pavilion was officially re-opened by Queen Elizabeth II, and in 2018 celebrations were held to mark the 20th anniversary of Her Majesty’s visit.
Read More:
The five other sites given listed status include the M62 motorway, the Imperial Hotel in Stroud, Gloucestershire, All Saints’ Church in Shard End, Birmingham, the Queen’s Theatre in Hornchurch, Greater London and the Hampshire Archives in Winchester.
The listings aim to highlight some of the important places from the Queen’s reign and to reflect the important social, technical and cultural changes which have taken place over the past 70 years.
Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England which advised on the new listed buildings, said:
“These new listings celebrate the diversity and richness of our heritage overseen by Her Majesty during her 70-year reign, showing how the fabric of the nation has changed and developed.
“These sites cover the length and breadth of the country – from All Saints’ Church near Birmingham, which she opened in 1955 when she was newly crowned, to the high-tech Hampshire Public Records Office, completed in 1993.”
Nigel Huddleston, heritage minister, added:
“These historic sites provide a fantastic opportunity to reflect on how much life in the UK has changed during Her Majesty The Queen’s 70-year reign. Listing them as part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations is a fitting way to pay tribute to the longevity of her service.”
Bettys applies to create new baby changing room in Harrogate tea roomsA new baby changing facility could be created at Bettys‘ Parliament Street tea rooms if planning permission is given.
The company proposes changing the layout of its basement toilets to allow a separate room to be created for baby changing, rather than the current changing table within the ladies’ toilets.
The building is Grade II listed so permission has to be given by Harrogate Borough Council for any changes to be made.
As part of the application, a design and heritage statement said:
“Currently, the building does not have any separated room for baby change, accessible to all. The current baby change use allocated within the ladies toilet.
“Firstly, the proposal aims to divide the existing ladies customers toilets to create two separated rooms within the existing space, with two independent doors from the Spindler corridor. This allows the baby change to be used independently.
“Secondly, the proposed refurbishment creates an opportunity to enhance the design for the female toilets and baby change with the general palette through the rest of this building and other Bettys branches.”
Read more:
The proposed design would replace the dark wooden panels and tiled flooring with new materials including limestone and timber, as well as updated decor including wallpaper.
A fireplace in the ladies’ toilets will also be refurbished as part of the project.
To view the full application, click here to visit Harrogate Borough Council’s planning site and use reference 22/01430/LB.
