(Ripon) The Antient And Modern History Of The Loyal Town Of Rippon Introduc’d By A Poem On The Surprizing Beauties Of Studley Park … Besides Are Added Travels Into Other Parts Of Yorkshire

Author: Thomas Gent
Price: £250
Publisher: Printed at The Printing Office, York
Edition: 1st edition
Publication Date: 1733
Format: 19th century half-calf over marbled boards
Condition: Very good

Description: Octavo. Nineteenth century half-calf over marbled boards. pp. xvi + folding map frontispiece + 167 + 73 + ads + subscriber’s list. A detailed account of Ripon, Fountains Abbey and Studley Park. Binding nice and tight but rubbed and cracked to the hinges. Occasional light foxing and spotting but pages and wood-cut illustrations, some of which are folding, generally very nice and clean. Lacks the folding map of York and St Mary’s Abbey as is so often the case. These appear to have not been bound in. Closed tears to a couple of fold-lines on the folding map. A very good, tight, clean copy. Location: OSR 002836

Thomas Gent’s History Of Rippon: A Short Review

Overview

Thomas Gent’s History of Rippon (commonly styled The History of Rippon) is a significant early example of provincial historiography in eighteenth-century England. First published in 1733, the work is an ambitious attempt to document the ecclesiastical and civic history of Ripon, a cathedral city in North Yorkshire, combining narrative, antiquarianism, and typographic art. Gent, a printer, author, and bookseller, was known for his self-published regional histories and poetic chronicles, and Rippon remains one of his more enduring, if idiosyncratic, contributions.

Though the book does not conform to modern scholarly standards, it offers valuable insight into local identity, historical consciousness, and printing culture in Georgian England.

Authorship and Intent

Thomas Gent was based in York, and his histories—including those of York, Hull, and Ripon—reflect a mixture of civic pride, moral instruction, and literary flair. His History of Rippon was intended not just to inform, but to edify and entertain, appealing to a local readership eager for tales of saints, bishops, battles, and miracles.

Gent’s primary aim was to elevate the status of Ripon, especially its religious heritage centred on St Wilfrid, while weaving in folklore, legend, and his own commentary. As a printer, he controlled every stage of production, and his books are notable for their woodcut illustrations, black-letter headings, and ornate typographic design.

Structure and Content

The book is arranged as a chronological and thematic narrative, covering the following key areas:

1. The Life and Legacy of St Wilfrid

A central portion of the text is devoted to St Wilfrid, the 7th-century bishop credited with founding the first stone church in Ripon. Gent recounts his missionary work, ecclesiastical disputes, and miracles, portraying him as a heroic and saintly figure. This section draws on medieval hagiography, but is filtered through Gent’s eighteenth-century moral lens.

2. Ecclesiastical History

Gent explores the monastic origins of Ripon, the role of the Chapter, and the significance of Ripon Minster, later Ripon Cathedral. He describes clerical disputes, rebuilding efforts, and visits by archbishops and royalty, often with dramatic embellishment.

3. Local Events and Civic Affairs

The narrative includes accounts of:

• Market charters and local governance
• Encounters with invading Scots
• Civil War disturbances
• Festivities, fairs, and the appointment of the Wakeman (a precursor to the modern mayor)

4. Monuments, Epitaphs, and Curiosities

In keeping with antiquarian tradition, Gent includes transcriptions of tombs, inscriptions, and local epitaphs, some genuine, others likely exaggerated or invented. These offer a glimpse into how memory and status were constructed in the town’s built environment.

Style and Tone

Gent’s prose is marked by a florid, occasionally bombastic style, blending factual reporting with poetical language, scriptural references, and moral digressions. He frequently breaks the narrative to address the reader, or to insert a personal anecdote or prayer.

While this makes the text less reliable by modern academic standards, it lends the work a distinct voice and narrative charm. Gent’s enthusiasm for his subject is palpable, and he imbues Ripon with a sense of historical dignity and spiritual depth.

Historical Value and Limitations

Strengths:

• Gent’s book preserves oral traditions, local beliefs, and civic lore that might otherwise have been lost.
• It provides a snapshot of 18th-century antiquarianism, before the rise of modern historical method.
• The text reflects contemporary attitudes to sainthood, national identity, and provincial pride.

Limitations:

• Gent’s sources are rarely cited, and verifiability is inconsistent.
• The book often lacks chronological clarity, with myth and fact intermingled.
• Some sections display anti-Catholic sentiment typical of the time, requiring careful contextual reading.

Typographic and Illustrative Features

As a printer by trade, Gent’s editions are notable for their woodcut embellishments, decorative capitals, and occasional illustrations. His pages are typographically expressive, with gothic lettering used for emphasis and ornamental borders highlighting significant events or persons.

These visual elements were unusual for local histories at the time and speak to Gent’s craftsmanship and commercial flair. They make the book not only a literary work but also a physical artefact of interest to collectors and historians of print.

Reception and Legacy

At the time of publication, Gent’s History of Rippon was well received among local readers, especially within clerical and mercantile circles. It served both as a historical record and a piece of regional storytelling, affirming Ripon’s importance in Yorkshire’s religious and cultural heritage.

In modern times, the book is valued by local historians, genealogists, and bibliophiles, less for its accuracy than for its vivid portrayal of place, piety, and print culture. It continues to be referenced in studies of eighteenth-century historical writing, regional identity, and early modern publishing.

Conclusion

Thomas Gent’s History of Rippon is a fascinating artefact of Yorkshire’s literary and historical landscape. While it falls short of modern standards of historical rigour, it excels as a document of devotion, imagination, and regional celebration. Through its ornate style, moral tone, and typographic creativity, it offers a unique lens into how Yorkshire’s past was remembered—and printed—in the age before professional history.

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