Description

SE 3171 RIPON MARKET PLACE
1/14 (south side)
27.5.49

Ripon Town Hall
GV (formerly listed as
Town Hall)

II*

1799. Architect: James Wyatt. Stucco. Hipped slate roof. Two storeys. Entablature
to eaves with friez inscribed "EXCEPT YE LORD KEEP YE CITTIE YE WAKEMAN WAKETH IN
VAIN". Rusticated ground floor, and continuous plain sill band to first floor. Five
bays, of which centre 3 break forward slightly and take a first floor order of Ionic
half-columns, with pediment. Sashes with glazing bars, round-arched on ground floor,
and with moulded architraves. First floor windows have balustrades, stone with vase-
shaped balusters and moulded handrail to outer bays; and delicate cast iron to central
bays.

Interior. Entrance hall is a corridor, redecorated circa 1880 with polychrome tiles
to dado height, and mosaic pavement. Landing has 2 Tuscan columns supporting a
partition wall. Contemporary staircase with moulded balusters, mahogany handrail with
spiral curtail and fluted columnar newel. On the semi-landing is a marble bust of Mrs
Allanson (the patron of the building) protrayed as a Roman matron.

Various chimneypieces in other rooms: for instance, one (in ground floor north-west
room) with fluted pilasters, regularly fluted frieze, "EA" (for Elizabeth Allanson) on
raised central die, and dentilled cornice. One (in Mayor's parlour) and more
elaborate ornament, including high festoons and relief panel depicting mythological
figures. Two larger ones (in Council Chamber) with fluted pilasters, fluted frieze,
badges of Ripon, crossed floral sprays and dentilled cornice. Equally large and more
elaborate one (possibly slightly later) in first floor rear room. Two ornamental
plaster ceilings, one conventionally neo-classical in Council Chamber, one more
elaborate in first floor rear room. Two paintings in Council Chamber, one of Ripon
circa 1730, one of Mrs Allanson painted in 1804 by Henry Milbourne, but copying a
portrait of her at an earlier age.

History. The Town Hall was built by Mrs Elizabeth Allanson of Studley Royal (daughter
and heir of William Aislabie), for the use of the Corporation, and was presented to it
in 1897 by her eventual heir, the First Marquess of Ripon to commemorate his mayoralty
(1895-6). A marble tablet placed inside the hall by Mrs Allanson's sister and heir,
Miss Elizabeth Sophia Lawrence, in 1808, records the benefaction.

Listing NGR: SE3121071216

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Ripon Town Hall at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q17536445

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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