Local History
Welcome to the Local History Group
Our meetings take place at 10.00am on the fourth Thursday of the month in the large and comfortable lounge at Ripon Rugby Club, Mallorie Park Drive, Ripon HG4 2QD, where there is ample car parking.
Recent presentations:
March 2024. Sir Thomas Ingilby. ‘The Ingilbys of Ripley Castle’ is a 50 minute talk - with no slides. However, this charismatic international speaker has promised to keep us entertained with both serious and amusing anecdotes about the 27 generations of his family who have lived at Ripley! The refreshment break will be at the end of his presentation. Sir Thomas will be happy to take as many questions as we can fire at him after the break.
25 April 2024 Mike Collins will present 'The Battle of Boroughbridge' - a 45 minutes talk with slides.
It is now over 700 years since it took place. The Battle of Boroughbridge was fought on 16 March 1322 between a group of rebellious barons and the forces of King Edward II, near Boroughbridge. Mike will remind us about the battle and to let us know how the community have left a lasting legacy about the battle for us all to enjoy.
This will follow the refreshments break during which there will be a 'special' sweet treat made by Mike at the Rugby Club.
This months meeting is part social. In the first part we will discuss the future direction of the group, whether to extend our radius to attract speakers on subjects other than purely Ripon, plus anything else brought up by our members.
23 May 2024 Greta Hills (assisted on slides by Peter Hills) 'Tales of Travellers to Ripon' How the visits of travellers to Ripon have affected its history.
27 June 2024 A choice of vists in either Ripon or Pateley Bridge! Both start at 10.00am. We are having two visits because numbers are limited on both of them.
1. At 10.00am former Mayor of Ripon, Mick Stanley, will take a group of 15 or so to look at how Ripon's brick buildings evolved over the centuries! Bricks is a follow-up to the talk he gave to us in 2023 and will involve quite a bit of leisurely walking and will last about 90 minutes. To book a place on this walk please pay £5 at the April or May meetings. N.B. There are only 15 or so places available!
2. Also at 10.00am The Nidderdale Museum in Pateley bridge is opening specially for up to 20 of us to have a leisurely look around this award-winning museum - with an introduction by one of the volunteers who run the award-winning museum. The exhibits focus on rural life, with sections devoted to agriculture, local industries, religion, transport and costume, set out across 11 rooms. Displays include re-creations of a Victorian schoolroom, a cobbler's workshop, a lead mining tunnel, a Victorian parlour, a general store, a 1930s hairdresser's shop and a kitchen. Other displays include historic costumes, agriculture tools and equipment, local industries and transport vehicles. You won't be disappointed. We hope to be able to offer lifts to Pateley for those who need them. To book a place on this visit please pay £5 at the April or May meetings.
N.B. There are a maximum of 20 places available!
About our group:
To fund visiting speakers & pay for the meeting room, we commit ourselves to a membership fee, payable annually and generally non-refundable. The annual fee is currently £10 per person for 8 meetings at the Rugby Club , or pro rata for new members joining part way through the year. This does not include any 'trips out' that may be arranged during the year
Membership fees will usually be collected at the April meeting by our treasurer, Pat Wilson.
Ripon u3a members - who are not members of Local History - may attend as a 'guest' for £2 for individual meetings at the Rugby Club that appeal to them.
We currently also pay £2 per person at each meeting in the Rugby Clubhouse for unlimited tea or coffee and biscuits from our arrival. All refreshment income goes straight into Rugby Club funds.
Most meetings are usually take the form of a slide presentation with a refreshment break at the half way point, followed by any questions, comment, or discussion by members. A typical meeting will end at approx. 11.30/11.45am.
Members are encouraged to suggest future speakers and visits, which will be arranged as funds permit. Several of our members have given presentations of their own - please get in touch with Joyce (jwalmsley2049@outlook.com) or Robert (rj.metcalfe@btinternet.com) if you have any ideas on this score, or if you would like to join the Local History Group.