Ripon 2025 - Day 8

Tuesday (5 August) was only slightly less windy than the stormy Monday. It rained in the morning, but by the time we were ready to set off, it had stopped and the wind already dried most of it.

Lawrence House in Studley Roger, the hamlet at the bottom end of Studley Royal and Fountains Abbey

For the second and last time during this year‘s holiday, we walked to Fountains Abbey, arriving at the visitor centre at lunch time. 

We ate at the restaurant; the quiche was nice, but stone cold - when I went back to the counter to ask about that, I was told that we would have had to tell the lady where we ordered our food that we wanted our quiches hot… but couldn‘t she have asked us? We were ordering at the part of the counter with a Hot Food sign and therefore it wasn‘t unreasonable of us to expect hot food without explicitly asking for it, was it? Anyway, it was ok, but next year we know better.

During our previous visit, we saw the installation in Fountains Hall first and found all the background information only afterwards in Fountains Mill. This time, we watched the installation with the benefit of what we‘d learned last week.

 

Fountains Mill from the back

We were both ready for a dose of caffeine and had coffee/coke at the mill before walking on, this time taking the path on the other side of the river, and going up the slope to the part of Studley Royal that has Ann Boleyn‘s Seat, the small open temple and the octagonal tower.

View from Ann Boleyn‘s Seat

For the way back to the gate, we chose the grassy path between large old trees and coming down by the gatehouses.

Knowing that we were not going to be back for another year, I found it hard to tear myself away.

In Ripon, I went to see Mary for a chat while my sister was preparing a meal of pasta, fresh vegetables and grated parmiggiano, all very nice. The vegetables (green beans and courgette) were a lucky find - during one of our evening walks, we‘d spotted a crate outside someone‘s (very nice looking) house, with a handwritten sign that these were for free.

Just before 9:00 pm, I walked over to the market square and watched the Hornblower ceremony, a must see for me once a year. Much to my delight, the Hornblower on duty was Alison, Ripon‘s first and so far only woman in that role. I introduced her to you before; click here for that post.

After she‘d completed the ceremony, told the spectators about the history behind it and answered a few question, we chatted for another 15 minutes or so. It was really nice to see her again.

It was not yet dark on my way to the cottage. Another good day was coming to an end.