Ripley Castle

On 26 April, twenty six members enjoyed a very interesting and entertaining tour of Ripley Castle, home of the Ingilby family. We started in the Georgian House and ended in the Drawing room for cream tea, via the Tudor tower. A combination of saving King Edward III from a wild boar in Knaresborough Forest (and being rewarded with a title) and later marrying into money (and building the Georgian house) means that we can now enjoy these historic buildings. The family’s history included service to Henry VI, Mary Tudor and Elizabeth I. James VI of Scotland stayed overnight on his way to London to become James I of England- the plaster ceiling in the Tower House having been installed in 4 days in honour of his visit. Within a few years the Ingilby family were involved in the gunpowder plot to kill him- and the plotters met in the Tower rooms we visited. The Georgian house is still the family home, and contains lovely examples of the furniture and furnishing fashionable at the time of its construction, including chairs made by Chippendale (who was born in Otley).