Ripon Courthouse Museum

Step inside one of Ripon’s most atmospheric historic buildings and discover what justice looked like almost 200 years ago.

Built in 1830, Ripon Courthouse remains remarkably unchanged, giving you the chance to experience an authentic Georgian courtroom and imagine the tension of waiting to hear your fate. Stand in the dock, take your place in the witness box and decide for yourself: guilty or not guilty?

Explore the stories of the real men and women who appeared before Ripon’s magistrates and discover the punishments they faced, from fines and hard labour to transportation thousands of miles away to Australia. In the Jury Room and Justices’ Retiring Room, uncover the people and processes behind the court and learn about the historic Liberty of Ripon, which once had its own system of local government and justice.

The Courthouse Museum is one of three Ripon Museums telling the interconnected story of poverty, crime and punishment. Visit alongside the Workhouse Museum & Garden and Prison & Police Museum to follow the journey from hardship to the courtroom, prison and beyond.

Compact, atmospheric and full of original character, the Courthouse is an unforgettable glimpse into Victorian justice in the heart of Ripon.