Workhouses in Britain were stereotypically for the poor, but we know that many people had no choice but to come here. People here would be given work to do in exchange for a bed and food. Not many people left the workhouse on their own accord, unless they had a place to go and live - this often meant people spent their lives in these places. The youngest person to be admitted into Ripon was just 2 weeks old. There are over 70 recorded deaths here, although another workhouse also existed on the site prior to the Victorian workhouse being built in 1854. Its no suprise that this place is said to have many ghosts. Full sightings, ghostly voices and poltergeist activity have been experienced here.