Hugh Ripley and William Chambers green plaque

This green commemorative plaque records: No 37 Market Place On this site once stood the home of Hugh Ripley, the last Wakeman (1604) and the first Mayor of Ripon (1605). In the 1730s the celebrated architect Sir William Chambers spent his boyhood here. It was the main Post Office from 1860 to 1906 and later for about 30 years it became the popular Lawrence Restaurant and Ballroom. Recorded plaque organisation: Ripon Civic Society.

Hugh Ripley served as the last Wakeman and first Mayor of Ripon, marking a significant transition in local governance. Sir William Chambers, a renowned architect known for his work on Kew Gardens and Somerset House, spent his boyhood in this location, highlighting its historical importance in nurturing architectural talent.