The Wakeman was appointed by King Alfred the Great to blow the horn each night and watch over Ripon’s streets from dusk until dawn - now known as the Ripon’s Hornblower.
Information on the Hornblowers pictured is mostly unavailable or has been lost over time.
However, the Gazette wanted to share these incredible images and briefly relive the Wakeman’s fascinating tale.
If anyone has any information on any of the photographs featured, please comment and share on the social media post.
However, the Gazette wanted to share these incredible images and briefly relive the Wakeman’s fascinating tale.
![King Alfred the Great warned the city about the savagery of the Vikings and suggested they appoint a “Wakeman” to stay awake and patrol the cities streets during the hours of darkness, between dusk and dawn.](https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjIwNTk3YzRhLThiMWUtNGI0Ni1hZDM4LWM4YzY3MjlmYjg0MTpkNWFkNjY0Ni0wODljLTRiZWEtYjcyOC1jOGI0ZmIwMmM4Nzk=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
5. Ripon's Hornblower
King Alfred the Great warned the city about the savagery of the Vikings and suggested they appoint a “Wakeman” to stay awake and patrol the cities streets during the hours of darkness, between dusk and dawn. Photo: Ripon Old Images
![The concept of the Wakeman is to give the people of Ripon peace of mind, that there is someone watching over them as the city sleeps.](https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjc1YWFhM2Q2LTA5N2YtNGNhOS1hNDRiLTg5ZWU3ZjY4ZmI2MTo3OWM0MWQzNy1lODgyLTRmMjAtOTE4ZC01YTIxZDM5ODc2YjU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
6. Ripon's Hornblower
The concept of the Wakeman is to give the people of Ripon peace of mind, that there is someone watching over them as the city sleeps. Photo: Ripon Old Images
![It was the residents of the city who had decided to put the horn to some use. They decided that the horn would be blown in order to start the clock for the appointed Wakeman as he started his night shift.](https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmQyM2Y1MzhiLTkwODUtNGMzNy1hYmQ5LTNhOGMzZTU5ZjA2MDoyOGE5ZWJjMi02ZmU2LTQ3MTAtOGFjMi1jOWNjYTc0NzQzZjQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
7. Ripon's Hornblower
It was the residents of the city who had decided to put the horn to some use. They decided that the horn would be blown in order to start the clock for the appointed Wakeman as he started his night shift. Photo: Ripon Old Images
![The horn was the be blown at all four corners of the market square at dusk every evening to let Ripon's residents know there was someone to 'watch' over them during the dark hours.](https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjUwYzZkMDIxLWZmNmYtNDZhMS1hMGNjLWNkNGQ4NmIyYjQ4MzpiZmM3OTg1YS03ZWZmLTQ0MGYtODZlZC04YjQ1NDdjNTFjMGU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
8. Ripon's Hornblower
The horn was the be blown at all four corners of the market square at dusk every evening to let Ripon's residents know there was someone to 'watch' over them during the dark hours. Photo: Ripon Old Images