Ripon Museums is excited to announce the launch of "Fractured Soles: In the footsteps of Workhouse Families” an NEW immersive audio exhibition that brings to life the often-overlooked stories of Victorian workhouse families.

The project is the result of extensive research by museum staff, who explored original newspaper reports, workhouse censuses, and court records to uncover these hidden narratives.

Award winning playwright and theatre artist Helena Fox, in collaboration with community co-creators, transforms these stories into powerful audio performances that deepen our understanding of the Victorian welfare system and draw parallels with modern-day societal challenges.

The "Fractured Soles" exhibition presents seven distinct family experiences and explores the fracturing of family units and harsh realities of a system that separated children from parents and wives from husbands during the most vulnerable times of their lives.

The exhibition is open until April 2025 and is included in your admission tickets and annual passes to the museum.