Chapel and Hospital of St Anne, Ripon

St Anne's is one of three medieval hospitals built in Ripon by the Normans after their conquest in 1066. Hospitals offered hospitality. They did not cure people as they do today; there were no medical cures. So people who had nothing; no home, no relatives, no food, no clothing, could find accommodation in a hospital at no cost other than a contribution to the working of the hospital community. Travellers could also be accommodated overnight.

St Anne's hospital was built in the C11th and the attached Chapel in the C14th. Very little remains standing of the hospital which was replaced by 8 newly built alms-houses in 1869. The ruins of the chapel are much as they were when it was abandoned about 170 years ago.
The hospital is next to one of Ripon's other very old buildings, Thope Prebend House dating from the C16th. A medieval bridge giving pedestrians access to the township of Ripon from the township of Bondgate and Aismunderby and points east, crossed the river between the two buildings. Locals knew it as the "chain" but it was a wooden bridge. The Normans may well have called it the oak bridge. In Norman/French Oak was "chêne" or "chesne" and the locals would have heard this as chain.

Timings

Saturday 12 September:

0930-1630

Location & directions

6-9 High St Agnesgate, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 1QR

Directions:

There is no parking at or near the site. Nearest parking is in the cathedral car park behind Sainsbury's supermarket. At the far end of the car park by the rear entrance/exit is a path to the cathedral and court house. Walk from the cathedral. Facing the cathedral entrance walk along the south side (your right) to the south door and turn right down the steps and follow the path to the road (High St Agnesgate). Turn right and the St Anne's is a few metres along on the left Avoiding the steps. Facing the cathedral entrance walk down the hill (Bedern Bank) on your right. Part way down the hill you will have a tall stone wall on your left. Follow this wall around to the left and into High St Agnesgate. St Anne's is a steps along on your right.

Contact on day:

Peter Sutton

Telephone number:

+447826068125

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking not required

Accessibility details

There is no parking at or near St Anne's The chapel and alms-houses are on a lawn with flower beds. Entry by a garden gate. The alms-houses are not open to the public. Please do not disturb the residents. Nearest toilets are to the north of the cathedral. Refreshments are available at cafes on Kirkgate to the north of the cathedral and in the city.

Additional information

Max number of people:

12

Estimated duration:

30 minute(s)

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