Ripon Town Hall

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

Ripon Town Hall GV (formerly listed as Town Hall)

II*

1. 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