RIPON GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL
Ripon, North Yorkshire, England
June 2020
HISTORY
Ripon Girls High School opened on 21st July 1909. It was originally known as Ripon Girls' Secondary School, but the name was soon changed as the word 'secondary' was thought by some of the faculty at the time to be derogatory. Although the building was built and maintained at public expense, it was the understanding from the start that parents would pay fees for their daughters to attend the school. As well as these fees, parents were also expected to provide the books and any other equipment.
The timetable for the opening year of operation consisted of four morning lessons of academic subjects with ten minutes drill, and a 15 minute break in the middle. After a dinner break from 12.30 to 2.15pm, the afternoon subjects were usually less academic and included needlework, singing, cookery, drawing and games. By the end of the opening year there were only 33 pupils enrolled. The schools headmistress, Minnie Davie, apparently disapproved of examinations. Her attitude led to some disagreements with the Mayor of Ripon and residents.
Ripon Girl’s High School remained open for 53 years until it merged with Ripon Grammar School in 1962. It would then be known as Ripons Old Lecture Block and later became the Ripon Lifelong Learning Centre in 2003, before closing soon after.
Ripon Civic Society have campaigned vigorously against the number of proposals for the buildings demolition over the years, as property developers want to pull down the century old school and build new residential homes on the site. The developers have also been accused of intentionally causing damage to the buildings roof to speed up its deterioration,
an accusation they have strongly denied.
Ripon Girls High School in 1909.
Ripon Girls High School in 2020.
EXPLORE
Not many explores have ever been done in Ripon, so I'm proud of this one. As a former Ripon resident, I've known about this building for a long time and have always wondered what it looked like inside. I was hoping to find perfectly preserved classrooms with textbooks still open on desks and lesson plans still etched onto the boards. Sadly, it's an absolute mess and has been stripped of most everything.
This huge building has now clearly become a hang out for the local Ripon youths, as was evident with the amount of bottles of pop, packets of crisps and empty weed baggies.
Hopefully this building can be restored back to its former glory.
Thanks for looking.
Ripon, North Yorkshire, England
June 2020
HISTORY
Ripon Girls High School opened on 21st July 1909. It was originally known as Ripon Girls' Secondary School, but the name was soon changed as the word 'secondary' was thought by some of the faculty at the time to be derogatory. Although the building was built and maintained at public expense, it was the understanding from the start that parents would pay fees for their daughters to attend the school. As well as these fees, parents were also expected to provide the books and any other equipment.
The timetable for the opening year of operation consisted of four morning lessons of academic subjects with ten minutes drill, and a 15 minute break in the middle. After a dinner break from 12.30 to 2.15pm, the afternoon subjects were usually less academic and included needlework, singing, cookery, drawing and games. By the end of the opening year there were only 33 pupils enrolled. The schools headmistress, Minnie Davie, apparently disapproved of examinations. Her attitude led to some disagreements with the Mayor of Ripon and residents.
Ripon Girl’s High School remained open for 53 years until it merged with Ripon Grammar School in 1962. It would then be known as Ripons Old Lecture Block and later became the Ripon Lifelong Learning Centre in 2003, before closing soon after.
Ripon Civic Society have campaigned vigorously against the number of proposals for the buildings demolition over the years, as property developers want to pull down the century old school and build new residential homes on the site. The developers have also been accused of intentionally causing damage to the buildings roof to speed up its deterioration,
an accusation they have strongly denied.
Ripon Girls High School in 1909.
Ripon Girls High School in 2020.
EXPLORE
Not many explores have ever been done in Ripon, so I'm proud of this one. As a former Ripon resident, I've known about this building for a long time and have always wondered what it looked like inside. I was hoping to find perfectly preserved classrooms with textbooks still open on desks and lesson plans still etched onto the boards. Sadly, it's an absolute mess and has been stripped of most everything.
This huge building has now clearly become a hang out for the local Ripon youths, as was evident with the amount of bottles of pop, packets of crisps and empty weed baggies.
Hopefully this building can be restored back to its former glory.
Thanks for looking.
LPFF
