DISCOVER HARROGATE, Yorkshire
Harrogate is a large town in North Yorkshire, England. It is part of the larger Harrogate local government district.
It lies close to Knaresborough - the urban area of the two towns had a population of 85,128 according to the 2001 census, and is now estimated to be over 90,000.
 HISTORY OF HARROGATE
Prior to the discovery of its naturally iron and sulphur rich water, Harrogate was two minor villages (High Harrogate and Low Harrogate) close to the historic town of Knaresborough.
The first mineral spring in Harrogate was discovered in 1571 by William Slingsby, who found that water from the Tewitt Well possessed similar properties to that from the springs of the Belgian town of Spa, which gave its name to spa towns. The medicinal properties of the waters were more widely publicised by one Edmund Deane, whose book, Spadacrene Anglica, or the English Spa Fountain was published in 1626. Following this Harrogate developed considerable fame as a spa town.
Today the site of the Tewitt Well is marked by a dome within the Stray, an area of open parkland some 200 acres (800,000 m²) in size that runs through the centre of the town. The Harrogate Stray was created in 1778 by an act of Parliament, the nickname being derived from the large amount of stray dogs originally found in the area. The act fixed the size of the Stray at 200 acres (0.8 km²), and even now when part of it is removed, due to road expansion etc, it must be replaced elsewhere. The Stray also used to host a racecourse (horses) during the Victorian period. Other wells can be found in Harrogate's Valley Gardens and the Royal Pump Room museum.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Harrogate was extremely popular among the English élite and was frequented by nobility from around Europe. Its popularity declined after World War I. During World War II, however, Harrogate's large hotels accommodated government offices that had been evacuated from London. This paved the way for the town's current function as a commercial, conference, and exhibition centre. The town hosted the 1982 Eurovision Song Contest.
In 2007, two metal detectorists found the Harrogate hoard, a 10th century Viking treasure hoard near Harrogate. The hoard contains almost 700 coins and other items from as far away as Afghanistan. The hoard was described by the British Museum as the most important find of its type in Britain for 150 years.
HARROGATE'S SITES OF INTEREST
There are many fine examples of building and architecture about the town, including the Royal Hall theatre, a Grade II listed building designed by Frank Matcham. As the only surviving Kursaal in Britain, the Royal Hall is an important national heritage building. Restoration work began in early 2006.
Harrogate is now one of Europe's largest exhibition and conference centres including the Harrogate International Centre and has many guest houses, hotels and restaurants catering for the regular influx of visitors. The town also acts, to some extent, as a dormitory town for commuters working in the cities of Leeds and Bradford. Harrogate is very prosperous and as such has some of the highest property prices in the North of England with many £1 million+ properties in the town and surrounding villages.
Bettys Tea Rooms are a regionally renowned tearooms. They are owned by Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate - the same company that makes the more nationally well-known Yorkshire Tea. Bettys also has cafEs in York (2 tearooms), Ilkley, and Northallerton, and has recently (2005) opened a second one in Harrogate at the Harlow Carr Gardens. It famously has over fifty tea pots located around the tea rooms - and in my opinion, has the best mushrooms on toast for breakfast.
Harrogate hosts the Great Yorkshire Show annually.
AWARDS FOR HARROGATE
Harrogate was the winner of the 2003 Britain in Bloom in the category of 'Large Town'. From there it went on to win the European Entente Florale competition in 2004. This reprises its win in the first ever Entente Florale competition in 1977.
In 2005, a Channel 4 TV show listed Harrogate as the UK's 3rd best place to live. In 2006 it came 4th in the same league; the programme claimed that it placed lower due to "a slight dip in exam results", though presenter Phil Spencer noted that it was his personal favourite.[
SPORTS OF HARROGATE
Rugby union, football, cricket, water polo and hockey are popular sports in Harrogate.
Harrogate Town FC situated on Wetherby Road play in the Conference North division and finished 6th in the season. They have a natural, good-natured rivalry with newly promoted Harrogate Railway Athletic F.C., of the Northern Premier League First Division, located at Station View.
Harrogate RUFC is a National 2 division team and based out of Claro Road. They also have plenty of clubs for cricket, football and rugby union which include schools and also local clubs.
Bilton Cricket Club, situated off Bilton Lane provides opportunities for players of all ages to play in Local League Cricket, Bilton Cricket Club have a good natured rivalry with Harrogate Cricket Club with Bilton defeating Harrogate in their last clash at St Georges Road in the Black Sheep Trophy in 2006. Harrogate cricket club is one of the strongest clubs in the Yorkshire league. Until 1995 the town hosted one Yorkshire county game per year at the St George's cricket ground.
Running is also a popular sport at Nidd Valley Road Runners, who share the premises of Harrogate Railway Athletic FC and at Harrogate Harriers, who run from Harrogate Squash Club on Harlow Hill. Members compete in road races, cross-country and fell races or simply run for fun and to keep fit.
CONNECTIONS TO HARROGATE
The town is served by four railway stations: Harrogate railway station, Hornbeam Park railway station, Pannal railway station (towards Leeds) and Starbeck railway station on the Harrogate Line to Knaresborough and York. Harrogate is strongly connected to Leeds. Road transport to Leeds is via the A61 road.
From Wikipedia
 HARROGATE HOTELS & ACCOMMODATION
ENGLAND TOURS, TRAVEL & ACTIVITIES
HOME •
ENGLAND •
DISCOVER •
North Country •
Yorkshire •
Discover Harrogate
|
Looking for something specific?
Quick Links for your Magical Journey ...
|
ENGLAND HOTELS:
NORTH COUNTRY HOTELS:
YORKSHIRE HOTELS:
Bradford,
Brighouse,
Doncaster,
Harrogate,
Huddersfield,
Kingston Upon Hull,
Leeds,
Rotherham,
Scarborough,
Sheffield,
Wakefield,
Whitby,
York,
... see all Yorkshire Hotels
|
ENGLAND TOURS:
NORTH COUNTRY TOURS:
YORKSHIRE TOURS:
York Tours,
Short Breaks in Yorkshire,
Holiday Packages,
... see all England Tours & Travel
|
DISCOVER ENGLAND:
THE NORTH COUNTRY:
YORKSHIRE:
Harrogate,
Leeds,
Scarborough,
Whitby,
York,
Fountains Abbey,
National Railway Museum,
York Minster,
|
Street Scene with Cars, Harrogate, Yorkshire County, England, United Kingdom
Photographic Print
Buy at AllPosters.com
Harrogate, LNER Poster, 1925
Giclee Print
Buy at AllPosters.com
|
