Social club agrees to buy Ripley Town Hall for £400,000Ripley Castle garden buildings saved from risk of being lost

A collection of grade II* listed Georgian garden buildings in the grounds of Ripley Castle has been removed from the Heritage at Risk Register after more than 20 years.

The register, compiled annually by the public body Historic England, lists historic places at risk of being lost as a result of neglect, decay or inappropriate development.

In a press release today, Historic England said its grants of over £440,000 had helped fund extensive repair work to the orangery (palm house) fire engine house and adjoining pavilions and bothies (potting sheds) in the grounds of the 15th-century castle.

Ripley castle gardens. Pic Historic England

It added they will be used for education and volunteer activities with school children and the local community, including visits and outdoor theatre.

Sir Thomas Ingilby, owner of Ripley Castle, said:

“I’m extremely grateful to Historic England for the help and support over many years which have helped to repair these handsome historic garden buildings which form the centrepiece of Ripley Castle’s beautiful grounds.

“Their restoration will improve the experience of the tens of thousands of people who visit every year. It will also provide educational and leisure opportunities for local schools and groups.”

Ripley Castle. Pic Historic England

The garden buildings are thought to have been designed around 1785 by York-born architect William Belwood.

In 1817-18, a glass roof was added to the orangery to convert it into a palm house. Designed to grow tropical plants, palm houses were a popular status symbol in the 19th century.

The fire engine house is still home to the hand-pulled fire engine which helped protect the castle and village, while a collection of giant ferns now lives in the orangery.

Repair work, which started during the pandemic, included replacing the iron frameworks for the orangery, as well as removing the balustrades, replacing the glass and masonry.

The Temple of Victory at Allerton Park and the Church of St James in Baldersby, which are both in the Harrogate district, have also been removed from the register.

Read more:

 

Column: The Herculean responsibility of inheriting a role at a young age

This column is written for the Stray Ferret by Sir Thomas Ingilby, of Ripley Castle.

I was 18 when my father died and too young to appreciate how his unexpected passing would change my life forever.

I inherited a title (a Baronetcy – the most junior rank of knighthood), an ancient castle and an institution that was steeped in seven centuries of tradition. I inherited a privilege – and an imposition. The life and freedom that I had fondly dreamed of disappeared: I was metaphorically handcuffed to the castle radiators. Having been given a title by accident of birth I have spent 49 years trying to earn it.

But the pressures that I faced were a tiny microcosm of the huge challenge that the 25-year-old Princess Elizabeth inherited when her father died. She found herself catapulted into the global spotlight and suddenly had to deal with momentous matters of state every day while bringing up a family of four.

People expect their monarchs to be wise but not arrogant, dignified yet personable, firm but with a sparkle in the eye, to have a cheerful countenance all day, every day: there can be no such thing as ‘an off day’ or ‘a bad day at the office’ for a monarch. Mistakes at that level can have terrible consequences and when you are under that kind of pressure it is impossible to relax. Little wonder that she found so much contentment away from the spotlight at Balmoral, a place where she could just be herself.

We were fortunate to meet the Queen on several occasions and she was always the consummate professional, chatting to everyone, no matter who they were, putting them at their ease, captivating them with the sparkle in her eyes. She was genuinely interested in everyone that she met and it showed in the warmth of her approach. She had an agile mind and a great sense of humour: any nervousness that you had about being in her company was rapidly disarmed by her approachability.

Deep and genuine faith

At times of stress the pressure must have been almost unbearable – the strain showed in her face. Her deep and genuine faith and her determination to meet the challenge head on while listening to the counsel of her husband and other trusted advisers always saw her, and the nation, through.

Hers was a Herculean responsibility and she gave it her all for 70 years, a truly remarkable achievement given the enormous personal, national and international crises that arose during her reign. She inherited an institution that was steeped in over a thousand years of tradition and transformed it into something far more appropriate for the modern age – something that can and will continue to evolve to meet the nation’s needs.

The national sense of grief and thanksgiving is a verdict delivered: she overcame everything that fate through at her and set an exemplary standard through her leadership. In contemporary parlance she took on the job and absolutely smashed it. She has richly earned our respect and gratitude: she can finally rest in peace alongside her beloved husband.

King Charles III becomes the 33rd monarch to assume the throne during my family’s time at Ripley. In that time we have saved the life of one king (Edward III), fought for another (Charles I during the Civil War), been implicated in a conspiracy to blow up another one (James I in the Gunpowder Plot) and extended our warm hospitality to several others.

But all that is in the past and as we pledge our allegiance to the new monarch we wish Charles III a less testing reign than his predecessors as he seeks to help guide our nation forward through these precarious times. He has big footsteps to fill – but clearly shares his mother’s passion for the challenges ahead.

God save the King!

Plan approved to convert former Smarties nursery in Ripley into home

Plans have been approved to convert the former Smarties Day Nursery in Ripley into a home.

Smarties opened in 1987 and catered for 52 children. The building, which is called Wood Close, is part of the Ripley estate and is owned by Sir Thomas and Lady Emma Ingilby.

However, it closed last year after its owners decided not to renew its lease.

Now, Harrogate Borough Council has approved plans by Sir Thomas to convert the former nursery into a house.

Sir Thomas lodged the proposal as the Ingelby’s son and family plans to move there from Ripley Castle.

The nursery’s closure last year prompted an emotional response from many parents on the Stray Ferret’s Facebook page, with one saying she was “absolutely gutted” and another calling it “really sad news”.

Read now:

 

Chief executive defends Welcome to Yorkshire after accountability allegations

The chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire has defended the organisation amid allegations that the tourism body has become unaccountable.

James Mason, who joined the organisation in January 2020, called on people to judge the body on its record “going forward”.

Mr Mason joined the organisation after former boss, Sir Gary Verity, resigned in March 2019. on health grounds. He later faced allegations of bullying and inappropriately claiming expenses, which he denied.

Two inquiries carried out after Sir Gary’s resignation cost the tourism body £482,500. Following the announcement of the investigations, the then chairman of Welcome to Yorkshire, Ron McMillan, resigned after councils funding the organisation demanded a “significantly revamped board to take the business forward”.

In July 2019, Lord Paul Scriven, a former leader of Sheffield City Council and Liberal Democrat peer, called for the board to resign and said “fundamental change” was needed to regain its reputation.

The new allegations come after the Yorkshire Post reported that Sir Thomas Ingilby, owner of Ripley Castle and Gardens, said in an email to members of Welcome to Yorkshire that the body had become “completely unaccountable” and had failed to meet with members.

Mr Mason told the Stray Ferret that he “fully respected” Sir Thomas’ disappointment, but added that the organisation had taken steps to be accountable and transparent.

He said the accusation “could be labeled at the past” and the present “to a point”.

Read more:

But, Mr Mason said the body was undertaking a governance review, held meetings in public and published minutes of its board.

He added that Welcome to Yorkshire was also looking at its constitution and how it elected chairmen and board members.

Mr Mason said:

“We’re looking at how we as an organisation can represent the future as a county.”

Meanwhile, Mr Mason said the organisation needed to come together in order for the tourism industry to recover after the covid pandemic.

He said:

“Whether you are for or against Welcome to Yorkshire is not really important.

“What you need to be for is the Yorkshire tourism industry and the visitor economy that really needs support right now. It’s an unwelcome distraction.”

Mr Mason added:

“We all want the same thing at Welcome to Yorkshire, whether you are a member or not a member.

“We all have to come together and want the same thing. That’s the only way we are going to recover. 

“It’s not going to be via fighting, bitter feuds, looking back or looking at the present, it’s about looking forward.”

Mr Mason called on people to judge Welcome to Yorkshire on their record going forward.

“Just judge us please on the now and going forward. That is all I would ask.”