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Historic Ripon Workhouse Set for £3.3m Transformation

Victorian building to undergo major restoration as part of Heritage Lottery-funded project

Ripon Museum Photo: Courtesy Ripon Museum Trust

Ripon Museum Trust has appointed Dobson Construction Ltd to begin an ambitious £3.3 million redevelopment of the Victorian Ripon Workhouse Museum & Garden.

The Inspiration For A Fairer Futures project, made possible through funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and other major donors, will breathe new life into one of the UK's most complete surviving workhouses dating from the 1850s.

Ilkley-based Dobson Construction Ltd will lead extensive conservation work to restore the historic buildings, opening up previously unseen rooms and significantly improving accessibility for visitors.

The redevelopment includes essential structural upgrades, such as a new roof, replacement window frames, and enhanced insulation, all designed to reduce the Trust's carbon footprint while preserving the building for future generations.

Beyond physical restoration, the project will deliver a transformed visitor experience, featuring new exhibitions and digital storytelling that connect the experiences of those who lived, worked, and endured the workhouse system.

Alexa Vernon, Director of Ripon Museum Trust, said: "For many years, critical repairs and restoration work have been deferred due to limited resources. Thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and other generous funders, we can now conserve the workhouse's historic fabric and transform how communities experience and connect with its history."

Bryan Atkinson at Dobson Construction Ltd added: "We are delighted to have been chosen to work on this important and ambitious project. Dobson's specialises in heritage works, so we understand the degree of sensitivity required on projects of this nature."

The project has received support from the UK government through the Shared Prosperity Fund, alongside grants from the Wolfson Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, The Headley Trust and the Foyle Foundation.

Redevelopment work began yesterday, with a small section of the site temporarily closed. All three of Ripon's museums remain open until the end of November, when the season ends.