History Harrogate

royal pump room

the name harrogate first attested in 1330s harwegate, harougat , harrowgate. origin of name uncertain. may derive old norse hǫrgr heap of stones, cairn + gata street , in case name presumably meant road cairn . possibility name means way harlow . form harlowgate known 1518, , apparently in court rolls of edward ii.

in medieval times harrogate place on borders of township of bilton harrogate in ancient parish of knaresborough, , parish of pannal, known beckwith rossett. part within township of bilton developed community of high harrogate, , part within pannal developed community of low harrogate. both communities within royal forest of knaresborough. in 1372 king edward iii granted royal forest son john, duke of lancaster (also known john of gaunt), , duchy of lancaster became principal landowner in harrogate.

harrogate s development owed discovery of chalybeate , sulphur rich spring water 16th century. first mineral spring discovered in 1571 william slingsby found water tewit in high harrogate possessed similar properties springs in belgian town of spa, gave name spa towns. medicinal properties of waters publicised edmund deane. book, spadacrene anglica, or english spa fountain published in 1626.

in 17th , 18th centuries further chalybeate springs discovered in high harrogate, , both chalybeate , sulphur springs found in low harrogate. 2 communities attracted many visitors. number of inns opened visitors in high harrogate in 17th century (the queen s head, granby, dragon , world s end.) in low harrogate crown open mid 18th century, , possibly earlier.

in accordance enclosure act of 1770, promoted duchy of lancaster, royal forest of knaresborough enclosed. enclosure award of 1778 clarified ownership of land in harrogate area. under award 200 acres (81 ha) of land, included springs known @ time, reserved public common, stray, has remained public open space. enclosure award facilitated development around stray. during 19th century, area between high harrogate , low harrogate, until had remained separate communities mile apart, developed, , central area of harrogate built on high ground overlooking low harrogate. area north of developing town reserved duchy of lancaster, , developed residential building. provide entertainment increasing numbers of visitors georgian theatre built in 1788. bath hospital (later royal bath hospital) built in 1826. royal pump room built in 1842. site of tewit marked dome on stray. other wells can found in valley gardens , royal pump room museum.

in 1870, engineering inventor samson fox perfected process of creating water gas, in basement laboratory of grove house. after constructing trial plant @ home on skipton road, making first house in yorkshire have gas lighting , heating; built town-sized plant supply harrogate. after parliament street became world s first route lit water-gas, newspapers commented: samson fox has captured sunlight harrogate. after donating town s first fire engine, , building town s theatre, elected mayor 3 years, unbroken record.

during late 19th , 20th centuries, harrogate popular among english élite , frequented nobility mainland europe. popularity declined after first world war. during second world war, harrogate s large hotels accommodated government offices evacuated london paving way town become commercial, conference, , exhibition centre.

in 1893 harrogate doctor george oliver first observe effect of adrenaline on circulation.

former employers in town central electricity generating board (cegb), milk marketing board , ici occupied offices , laboratories @ hornbeam park crimplene invented in 1950s , named after nearby crimple valley , beck.

in 2007, 2 metal detectorists found harrogate hoard, 10th-century viking treasure hoard, near harrogate. hoard contains 700 coins , other items far away afghanistan. hoard described british museum important find of type in britain 150 years.