Ripley is a village
in North Yorkshire that is famous for its ice cream, but less well known is the
fact that the town also has a castle in spectacular condition that is well
worth a visit.
The UK is one of
those places that oozes history. It seems like every town and village in the UK
is proud home to a building or ruin that has a story to tell and contributes to
the rich history of the country. Ripley is no different.
Ripley Castle is
owned by the Ingilby family and has been handed down between 26 generations of
the same family for over 700 years. The Ingilbys’ ancestors had high
connections, with Henry Ingilby collecting taxes for King Edward III and
William Ingilby serving King Henry VII.
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| Ripley Castle, Yorkshire, UK |
Their affiliation
with the royal family turned on its head however when nine of the eleven
conspirators of the gunpowder plot were found to be friends and relatives of
the Ingilby family. Oops!
Lots of
information is available about the Castle that tells many stories about the
life of the family in the castle and also other adventures such as having held
Oliver Cromwell prisoner in the Library. The rooms are beautifully preserved
and there is also a priest hole to explore.
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| Ripley Castle Lake, Yorkshire, UK |
The Castle stands
in beautiful grounds that feature a lake, walled garden, herb garden and are
also home to a group of deer.
Ripley village is the quintessential cute little English village. It is
home to about 260 people and centres around a cobbled market square. The Boar’s
Head is the village pub and inn. There is a picturesque church, Hotel de Ville
and a small school. There are also several small shops.
A visit to Ripley
is great fun for both history boffins and those who are passionate about the
great outdoors. Have you been?
