A look at the history of The Old Jail, Ripon, with Dr Emma Wells

The Old Jail in Ripon, now home to the Prison and Police Museum, has a long and layered history that reflects the development of the English penal system. The site’s origins can be traced back to the late 17th century, when a House of Correction was established around 1684 in the adjacent building to the museum. These early institutions were intended to discipline the poor through confinement and hard labour, and Ripon’s House of Correction was part of this wider national movement.

In 1816, a new building, known as the Liberty Prison, was constructed as an extension to the original House. This prison became the core of the present museum and introduced a more formalised regime of incarceration; its interiors were stark and utilitarian, with whitewashed cells and heavily barred windows. During the 19th century, the site was enlarged and adapted to reflect changing ideas about punishment and reform. Workrooms could be found on the ground floor and nine cells above, alongside a chapel to encourage religious instruction.

Further additions included a women’s wing, work cells, a “dark cell” for solitary confinement, and a sick ward. Despite these developments, the prison itself closed in 1878, following national reforms that rationalised the system of local prisons.

The story of the building did not end there, however. In 1887, it was repurposed as the local police station, shortly after the Ripon City Police Force was merged into the larger West Riding Constabulary. It remained in use as a police station well into the 20th century before falling into private ownership. In 1984, the building was reopened to the public as a museum, with major refurbishment taking place in 2004.

The overall layout reflects the principles of Victorian penal architecture: control, segregation, and austerity. Though grim, the Old Jail offers a valuable historical record of shifting attitudes towards justice, punishment, and policing over more than three centuries.

Address: Prison & Police Museum, St. Marygate, Ripon HG4 1LX

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Books by Dr Emma Wells