Prison & Police Museum

About the museum

The museum occupies the former Ripon Liberty Prison, a house of correction built in the 1680s on land belonging to the Dean and Chapter. It was extended with extra cells in 1816 and closed as a prison in 1878, after which the building was used for storing grain. In 1887 the West Riding Constabulary bought it and used it as Ripon police station until 1958, when it was converted into a private house. The front part was restored in 1972.

Today the building is run by Ripon Museums Trust, a registered charity, and its galleries are in the original whitewashed cells with barred windows. The ground floor tells the history of policing in Yorkshire from Anglo-Saxon times to the professional police force, with uniforms, insignia and vehicles, and visitors can sit on an original police motorcycle. A display on the history of women in policing and the story of the Sinkler brothers add personal stories.

The first floor looks at crime and punishment, with hands-on activities including an empty cell, a crank to turn, the birching chair, a photo-fit challenge and fingerprinting. Outside in the prison yard stand a pillory and a whipping post. The museum is one of three Ripon museums, together with the Workhouse Museum and the Courthouse Museum, and a combined ticket covers all three. The Trust also works with the University of Leeds on research that re-examines the history of policing and justice represented in its collections.

Highlights

• Original prison cells with whitewashed walls and barred windows
• History of policing in Yorkshire with uniforms, insignia and a police motorcycle
• Hands-on crime and punishment displays, including fingerprinting and a photo-fit challenge
• Prison yard with a pillory and a whipping post
• Combined ticket with the Workhouse and Courthouse museums

Permanent exhibitions

• Policing in Yorkshire – Ground-floor galleries trace policing from Anglo-Saxon times to the modern force, with uniforms, insignia and vehicles.
• Crime and punishment – First-floor cells with hands-on activities, including a crank, the birching chair, a photo-fit challenge and fingerprinting, plus a prison yard with a pillory and whipping post.

Founded

1984

Operated by

Ripon Museums Trust

Admission & discounts

Blue Light Card holders receive 10 percent off.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum is on two floors with an access lift (100 cm by 148 cm), but visitors must open a heavy door on the first floor and wheelchair users may need help. The first-floor cell doorways are narrow with a slight step, so most wheelchairs fit but self-propelled chairs may not. Floors are uneven in places, lighting is low in some areas and the worn stone stairs have handrails. An accessible toilet is on the ground floor. Only assistance dogs are allowed in the museums and their grounds. An accessibility guide can be downloaded from the website.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

First-floor displays are hands-on, and regular school-holiday activities such as craft workshops, museum trails and Victorian games are offered at the Ripon museums. Pushchairs are welcome but some floors are uneven and doorways and stairs are narrow. Baby changing is at the Workhouse Museum.

Getting there & parking

The museum is at St Marygate in the centre of Ripon.

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Museum shop

The museum has a gift shop and asks visitors to pay by contactless card where possible. There is no cafe on site; cafes are nearby in the city centre.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit