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Victorian kids didn’t have it easy – and that’s putting it lightly. If you weren’t lucky enough to be born into a wealthy family, your childhood would probably be defined by overcrowded living spaces, child labour and gruel. Thank god you were born in the twenty-first century, eh! But if you ever wondered what those kids saw, smelt and felt 200 years ago, then head to Ripon Workhouse Museum, which has just reopened following a major £2.8m redevelopment.
The makeover, made possible by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, involved fixing a leaky roof and rotten windows, revamping rooms and opening up an original workhouse cellar for the very first time. It has also made the attraction much more immersive.
As its name suggests, the museum focuses on the story of Victorian workhouses or poorhouses, and occupies what once was an actual workhouse, built in 1855. Britain’s workhouses were created as a solution to poverty and homelessness but were reputed for child labour, malnutrition and abuse.
To bring the past to life, sound effects have been installed in several rooms such as the washroom, kitchen and dining hall. In the cells, you can hear the unpleasant sound of people groaning and coughing.
Now, visitors to Ripon are invited to see if they have what it takes to survive a Victorian workhouse. They can take on the role of vagrants (people who were only allowed short stay as they weren’t locals) or paupers (the longer-term residents) and feel what life would have been like for them.
Kids can dress up in work clothes, help do laundry, sew garments and even sample gruel. There are also Victorian baking workshops every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the summer holidays from which you’ll leave with a fresh batch of baked goods.
Elsewhere, there are wall panels throughout the museum that highlight the trauma faced by children and parents who would be separated upon entry to the workhouse, and by disabled and elderly residents. You also learn about the masters and mistresses that worked there and lived in accommodation on-site.
Alexa Vernon, the director of Ripon Museums Trust, told the Museums Association: ‘We’ve transformed the workhouse into a powerful, immersive experience where visitors can step into the shoes of real people who lived through extraordinary hardship. Their stories challenge us to think about fairness, dignity and opportunity, both in Victorian Britain and today.
‘This project is about much more than restoring a historic building. It is about preserving important heritage, creating opportunities for communities and young people to engage with history, and inspiring visitors to reflect on how we can build a fairer future.
‘We want people to leave feeling not only informed, but also more compassionate, thoughtful and connected to the stories of those who came before us.’
An annual ticket for the museum costs just £11 for adults and £7.50 for kids. Find out more on the museum website.
Ripon Workhouse Museum, HG4 1LE.
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