The Great Yorkshire Day Out

Workhouse Museum & Gardens Printable Guide

Workhouse Museum & Gardens Printable Guide

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Ripon Workhouse Museum Visitor Guide

Welcome to the Ripon Workhouse Museum

The Ripon Workhouse Museum offers a fascinating insight into the harsh realities of life for the poor and destitute during Victorian times. Explore how the workhouse system functioned, the lives of those who lived and worked here, and how attitudes toward poverty and welfare changed over time.

Location:

Sharow View, Allhallowgate, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 1LE

Opening Hours:

  • April to October: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Tuesday to Sunday)

  • November to March: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM (Saturday & Sunday only)

Please check the museum's website for any updates on seasonal changes, special events, or holidays.

Admission Fees:

  • Adults: £10.00

  • Children (6-16): £8.00

  • Family (2 Adults + 2 Children): £30.00

  • Concessions: £9.00

  • Under 6 years: Free

Tickets are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase and provide unlimited entry to the Ripon Museum Trust's three museums: the Workhouse Museum, Courthouse Museum, and Prison & Police Museum.

Exploring the Workhouse Museum

1. Introduction to the Workhouse System

  • Location: Main Entrance Room

  • Description: Begin your visit by learning about the workhouse system's origins. This introductory exhibit provides a historical overview of the Poor Laws, the Victorian attitudes towards poverty, and how workhouses were meant to serve as a deterrent against idleness and poverty.

2. The Receiving Ward

  • Location: Ground Floor

  • Description: Experience the first steps of admission. Visitors were stripped of their clothes, bathed, and issued workhouse uniforms. See the original reception room and learn about the process of how inmates were assessed and categorized upon arrival.

3. The Master’s Office

  • Location: Ground Floor

  • Description: This room showcases the authority of the Workhouse Master. Learn about his role, daily responsibilities, and how he enforced rules to maintain strict discipline among the inmates.

4. The Dining Hall and Kitchen

  • Location: Ground Floor

  • Description: Discover what meals were provided for inmates and the differences between the diets of men, women, and children. Explore the original kitchen where meals were prepared, and learn about the monotonous and meager diet that workhouse residents endured.

5. The Infirmary

  • Location: Upper Floor

  • Description: This exhibit offers insights into the healthcare facilities available to workhouse residents. Although treatment was basic, the infirmary was often the only form of medical care that many poor people could access. Discover the stories of inmates who spent their final days in the workhouse.

6. The School Room

  • Location: Upper Floor

  • Description: Children were not only housed but also educated here. Learn about the strict education provided to young inmates and how they were trained in skills deemed useful for employment outside the workhouse. Discover the Victorian approach to education and discipline.

7. The Vagrants’ Cells

  • Location: Ground Floor (Separate Block)

  • Description: Experience the harsh reality faced by "tramps" or "vagrants," who were often treated as criminals. These cells, with their stark, unwelcoming atmosphere, showcase how the workhouse system differentiated between the “deserving” and “undeserving” poor.

8. Work and Daily Life

  • Location: Throughout the Museum

  • Description: Discover the grueling tasks inmates were required to perform in exchange for their keep. Exhibits highlight typical work activities, such as stone breaking, oakum picking, laundry, and other menial tasks designed to instill discipline and prevent idleness.

Special Exhibitions and Events

  • Interactive Living History Sessions: The museum frequently hosts reenactments where volunteers portray real-life workhouse characters. These sessions offer a vivid look into the daily lives of the workhouse inmates.

  • Workhouse Crafts: Engage in activities like rag-rug making, spinning, and other crafts that would have been performed by inmates.

  • Lecture Series: Regular talks by historians on subjects such as Victorian workhouses, Poor Laws, and healthcare.

Check the events calendar on the museum's website for details on dates and times.

Facilities and Amenities

  • Gift Shop: Offers a range of souvenirs, books, and gifts related to Victorian history and the workhouse experience.

  • Café: Enjoy light refreshments, tea, coffee, and snacks in the museum’s café, which offers a selection of treats inspired by Victorian recipes.

  • Accessibility: The museum is partially wheelchair accessible. The main building has a lift, and ramps are provided where possible. Please contact the museum in advance for assistance with accessibility needs.

Guided Tours

  • Self-Guided Tours: Available using the free audio guide app, which provides in-depth information and personal stories.

  • Guided Group Tours: Offered by experienced guides who bring the history of the workhouse to life. Advance booking is recommended.

Educational Visits

The museum welcomes school groups and provides tailored educational sessions designed to meet curriculum requirements. Children can experience what life was like in a Victorian workhouse through interactive activities and hands-on learning.

  • Booking: Please contact the museum's education team in advance to arrange your visit.

Nearby Attractions

Your ticket allows you to explore two more historical sites managed by the Ripon Museum Trust:

  1. Ripon Courthouse Museum: Discover the history of law and order in Ripon.

  2. Ripon Prison & Police Museum: Learn about the history of crime, punishment, and policing.

How to Get There

  • By Car: There is parking available in the city center, a short walk from the museum.

  • By Bus: Local bus services connect Ripon with nearby towns and cities.

  • By Train: The nearest train station is Harrogate, with regular bus services to Ripon.

Tips for Your Visit

  • Allow around 1.5 to 2 hours to explore the Workhouse Museum fully.

  • Dress comfortably, as some areas of the museum are outside.

  • Photography is allowed but please avoid using flash.

  • The museum is kid-friendly but contains some exhibits that may be unsettling for younger children. Parental guidance is recommended.

Contact Information

Thank you for visiting the Ripon Workhouse Museum! We hope you leave with a greater understanding of this important part of social history.