Ripon Millenary Festival

[note 1] The late 19th century saw a rise in interest in medieval history, and especially in the rituals of the Middle Ages.

D'Arcy Ferris's motivation was broader than just historical interest, he saw reviving the medieval sports and pastimes as a way to lighten the life of the poor that might even break down class prejudices.

By 26 February 1886, the Mayor received a request signed by leading figures in the town to convene a public meeting to discuss a celebration of the millenary.

[6] In the event, D'Arcy Ferris was paid £68 10s, bring his fee of 30 guineas, his profit share, and a gratuity of £15 from a grateful committee.

[1] Festival activities began at 5am on Wednesday 25 August 1886 when a team of bell-ringers ascended the cathedral belfry and rang a peal of 5,000 changes for three-and-a-quarter hours.

The service was followed by a luncheon for more than a thousand guests in Victoria Hall,[9] presided over by the mayor of Ripon.

The dignitaries then proceeded to the Market Square, where there was a succession of speeches, and the dean of the cathedral presented a horn to the corporation.

The pageant marshalled at the high stables near Studley Royal House, the home of Lord Ripon,[note 3] and then proceeded through the grounds to the Fountain Abbey where two choirs dressed as Benedictine monks and Cistercian monks sang appropriate music.

The play Robin Hood and ye Curtall Friar by Augustin Dawtrey, was performed on both Friday and Saturday.

It had been selected from 17 submissions, and was specifically designed for an open-air performance, in that there was a minimum of dialogue and a great deal of singing.

It was based on a traditional ballad describing an encounter between Robin Hood and a cleric at a stream near Fountains Abbey.

The knightly sports then began with tilting, the riding with a lance at a mark,[14] in this case a ring.

[15] This is all the more extraordinary as there would have been people, such as coachmen, police, railway workers and the like, who played a supporting role without taking part.

There was a reception at the New Public Hall to commemorate the conclusion of the festival, for all those who had taken part in the procession or otherwise assisted.

In the final activity of the festival, there was a venison supper for the Foresters at the White Horse Hotel in Ripon.

Marshall notes that The play, the revels, and the procession were an enormous success and were repeated, under Ferris's direction ten and twenty years later.