Friends of Kirkgate Park is pleased to share our new mandate.
KIRKGATE PARK has been described as a green lung in the centre of the city of Ripon. It sits in the most historic part of the city and is situated north of the Cathedral. It is surrounded on all four sides by listed buildings which include the Cathedral, the Old Deanery, the Courthouse and the Old Courthouse. Previously called Courthouse Gardens, Museum Gardens and Minster Gardens, The Park’s history can be traced back to St Wilfred’s time in Ripon during the 7th century. Since then it has housed a monastery which pre-dated the Cathedral, has been used as a burial ground, had a palace in its grounds for the Archbishop of York, and more recently in the 18th and 19th centuries, used as a bowling green. The Park now contains many established trees, shrubs and plants including a 200 year old veteran beech tree which is known affectionately as “Betty Beech”. The Park is part of a larger area around the Cathedral that is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 with an amendment that states “it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance”. The Park has also recently been registered as an Asset of Community Value.
Within the park there is also a fountain, currently dry, to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, a Rotary Centenary Garden together with a commemorative stone laid in 2006, and a Memorial Garden cared for by the Royal British Legion.
The Park is a publically-owned protected greenspace that provides a safe and attractive amenity for residents and visitors alike and the FRIENDS OF KIRKGATE PARK has been formed to ensure it stays that way. Last year the Cathedral applied for planning permission to build an annexe on the Park but that was withdrawn following strong local opposition with the support of several public bodies and celebrities.
Our aim is to ensure that Kirkgate Park together with its many mature trees and memorials remains in public ownership for the use and enjoyment of all Ripon residents and visitors, both now and in future years. Improvements that are being proposed to enhance the public’s enjoyment of this open space include signage, lighting, seating and planting.