A workhouse has stood on this same site since 1776, the present building was completed in January 1855. During the Victorian period vagrants become a growing problem.  In 1877a separate block of buildings was provided where, in exchange for work, they received a meal and a bed for the night.

Residents of Ripon would ask to be admitted to the workhouse if they had no other means to support themselves e.g., no job or family.
If granted admission people would be separated into women, men, children, old, less able-bodied and vagrants (homeless people not local to Ripon). They would be given accommodation and meals in return for work. The workhouse was self-sufficient, with its own teacher, chaplain and doctors. Inmates chopped their own firewood, did laundry, grew vegetables to eat, and the workhouse even had its own infirmary.

The walls of Ripon Workhouse hold many secrets, this event will provide you with a great opportunity to see what life in the workhouse was like for the inmates and hopefully experience the many spooky goings on that are reported here by staff and visitors alike.  Many have reported seeing ghostly figures in many parts of the building, unexplained bangs and knocks, doors opening and closing of their own accord, people have also reported being touched or having their clothes pulled, with voices coming from empty rooms. This investigation is one not to be missed.