Ripon Museums Trust wins prestigious heritage award for hidden gem

12 December 2012

Ripon Museums Trust in Ripon has been presented with a prestigious Highly Commended Hudson’s Heritage Award for Hidden Gem.

A one of only three workhouse museums in the country it was designed by William Perkin and Elisha Backhouse. The elegant building stands in its own formal gardens and inside provides a vivid insight into recent history.

Hudson’s Media announced the winners of the Hudson’s Heritage Awards 2012, the second staging of the annual awards, during a celebratory luncheon in the stunning gold-leafed splendour of the Livery Hall at Goldsmiths’ Hall, London on 29th November.

The awards, judged by an expert panel, are designed to celebrate business and creative achievements in the UK heritage industry and help to further promote the UK tourism industry. Chaired by Norman Hudson guests at the awards were greeted by celebrity hosts Lucinda Lambton and Loyd Grossman, this year saw awards to a total of 20 heritage locations, with the award of 11 winners and 9 Highly Commended across the 11 categories and also a Special Judges’ Award.

Described by one past winner as ‘the Oscars of the UK Heritage world’, the awards highlight excellence in the heritage leisure industry across a range of categories – from ‘Picnic Spot’ to ‘Wedding Venue’, and ‘Hidden Gem’ to ‘Accommodation’. In the spirit of recognising quality, achievement and expertise right across the UK heritage leisure market, new categories introduced this year included ‘Best New Discovery’ and ‘Beyond the Call of Duty’, which rewards individual contributions.

 

Richard Taylor (RMT) alongside Lucinda Lambton, Loyd Grossman and David Thelwall (RMT)
Richard Taylor (RMT) alongside Lucinda Lambton, Loyd Grossman and David Thelwall (RMT)

 

In an exceptional award, the Special Judges’ Award was made in recognition of the consistent achievement, commercial innovation and good practice achieved over 60 years by Beaulieu. The Hon Mary Montagu-Scott attended the ceremony and received the Special Judges’ Award on behalf of Beaulieu.

Ben Tagg, Hudson’s Media, explained the ethos of the awards:

These awards are designed to help us to recognize the very best of the UK’s remarkable diversity of excellent heritage destinations. Despite the challenging economic climate we received a fantastic response from the industry, with all our winners and nominees reflecting the amazing work being done in our heritage leisure industry. The awards celebrate the very best of the excellent heritage destinations found in the UK and we were delighted to reward the Ripon Museums Trust for their creativity, commitment and enthusiasm within the UK heritage leisure industry.

Our winners and Highly Commended nominees are beacons of excellence that demonstrate the quality and commitment that will help the heritage leisure industry to thrive. At Hudson’s Media, we will continue to support the industry with further developments and expansion of our portfolio and in the services we provide to this vital sector.

The awards were developed by Hudson’s Media, already the UK market leader in heritage publishing with over half a century of experience. The company is set to become the leading heritage leisure travel brand in the UK, supported by an innovative range of exciting new initiatives and the continuing success of these specialist industry awards.

The new 2013 edition of the Hudson’s Historic Houses & Gardens launches on 10th December opening the door to historic houses, gardens, museums and heritage sites throughout the UK.

Hudson’s Historic Houses and Gardens is the only comprehensive guide to Britain’s heritage featuring beautiful photography and descriptive detail of many leading historic houses and gardens giving you the ideal reference tool to help plan your visits.

 

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