Description and History of Site:-
The Ripon Navigation and Canal was originally promoted in as part of plans to improve navigation on the Swale, the Ouse and, by canal, to Ripon. The Act for the Ure Navigation was passed in 1767 and cutting of the Ripon Canal began early in 1770 and it opened early in 1773. The surveyor was William Jessop, supervised by John Smeaton while the Resident Engineer: John Smith (jnr), who was also responsible for the works on the Ouse and Swale. Masonry contractor Joshua Wilson of Halifax.

The canal was enlarged around 1838 and in 1845 it taken over by the Leeds and Thirsk Railway and had effectively closed by 1892. The canal was not nationalised in 1948 and was abandoned 1955. In 1961 a new Ripon Canal Company was set up and the canal was reopened throughout in 1996.

A warehouse was in existence in 1781, so this is most likely to be that building. Hatcher described the buildings as probably canal warehouses. In red stone been cement rendered. Two adjacent buildings of two storeys each with hipped roof very attractive in a decaying sort of way.

Further Reading and References:-
YAS - Hatcher Card Index. Research funded by the Yorkshire Arts Association 1972
Hatcher J, The Industrial Architecture of Yorkshire, Phillimore, 1985
Falconer K, Guide to England's Industrial Heritage, 1980

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Key Words :- canal basin buildings warehouses

Viewing the Site :- Can be viewed from the public footpath and road

Address :- Canal Road, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 1QN
Grid Ref :- SE 31551 70845
Co-ordinates :- Lat 54.13249 , Long -1.518643
Local Authority :- North Yorkshire Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Listed - Grade II
Historic England List No - 1149380,
Site Condition :- Site in alternative industrial use
Site Dates :- 1773 - current
Contributor :- Daniel Balmforth - 5 June 2015

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Daniel Balmforth