Visit Masham

Ripon Cathedral

Ripon Cathedral

A stunning medieval cathedral featuring the oldest Anglo-Saxon crypt in England.

Ripon Cathedral sits at the heart of Ripon, just a short drive from Masham. It boasts an intriguing Anglo-Saxon crypt, dating from 672AD which is the oldest structure of any cathedral in England still in use today.

There are little design gems throughout – it is thought that some may have inspired characters and features contained in one of Britain’s most popular children’s books, ‘The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland’. Lewis Carroll, the author, lived in Ripon as a young man. His father was canon of Ripon Cathedral and Carroll spent much of his time in the Cathedral. See if you can spot some of the wood carvings in the Cathedral that seem particularly reminiscent of Wonderland. Enjoy fun and peace in equal measure with a visit to Ripon Cathedral.