Ripon Cathedral: New discoveries and archaeological recording at the north-east corner

Abstract

Essential conservation repair works carried out in 2015 provided an opportunity for archaeological investigation of the origins and development of the north-east corner of Ripon Cathedral. The archaeological research and recording has provided an important and useful record of an area previously unrecorded. New discoveries include the identification of phases of repair and renewal not recorded in the surviving archives, including reuse of building stone, and the discovery that the battlemented parapet with arrow loops in the north-east corner had no practical defensive function. Experimental archaeology revealed that the battlemented parapet is an example of passive defence, designed to overawe an enemy rather than to be used as a practical defensive feature.

Keywords:

• Ripon Cathedral
• battlemented parapet
• fourteenth century rebuilding

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Dean and Chapter at Ripon Cathedral for commissioning this work. Simon Johnson (Mayfield CA Ltd) worked with Liz Humble during the recording phase of the project and this report is a summary of their joint findings. The illustrations were prepared by Simon Johnson and Dave Pinnock (Humble Heritage Ltd). Photographs are by the author (unless otherwise acknowledged). Professor Joyce Hill (Emeritus Professor of Medieval Literature at the University of Leeds and Lay Canon on the Chapter of Ripon Cathedral) made several helpful comments on the text for which assistance the authors are very grateful.