Ribston Hall

Slide 1- In a beautiful part of the valley of the winding Nidd stands the historic house of Ribston Hall. The house is picturesquely situated on the elevated ground, more than half encompassed by the River Nidd, and the Park is widely extended and richly wooded. It is a region of great natural beauty, and of high historic interest. Here in ancient times was founded by Robert-de-Roos a commandery of that powerful order of military monks, known as ‘The Knighthood of the Temple of Solomon’ or Knights Templars. The chapel dedicated to Saint Andrew (shown at the extreme end of the south front of the house) existed at Ribston in 1220. At the Dissolution Ribston was granted to that historic personage, Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk. In 1545 he sold the Manor of Ribston to Henry Goodricke of Wisbeach in the Isle of Ely. The Goodrickes converted their ecclesiastical possessions into a residential domain, and there was built a manor house in which they dwelt for more than a century before the present edifice arose upon the site.