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The Visitor, for whom these pages are intended, is
little likely to be come engrossed in the history of Harrogate.
What she now is and can offer in the way of attractions to those
who come hither in search of health, or change conducive to
health, alone interests them. Nevertheless our work would be
incomplete without some outline of Harrogate's early days, and the
reader retains the option of passing over that which does not
concern him.
The source whence Harrogate derives its name is
always the first detail of its historical life ; yet, strange to
say, we have nothing authoritative to offer under this head, for
the reason that the subject is enshrouded in uncertainty.
Antiquarians, like physicians, have too much inventive faculty and
originality of thought to agree upon any minor particular,
therefore we find one contending that Harrogate is derived from
the ancient British of Heywray–gate, i.e., Hey a forest,
park, or moor–wray, a brook or stream - and gate,
a road. Another fixes the derivation as Harw–gate, the
road of robbers. There is a depth in the conception of the latter
which prepossesses us favourably. The days of dry meters,
tabulated cab fares, and sound stocks were not then, so there may
be force in a contention founded so long prior to the advent of
adjustable honesty as applied to modern civilization. The robbers
of mythology took the road and themselves beyond return ; hence we
have an honest people kindly, intelligent, and progressive ; and a
town so favoured with natural advantages that it has made its own
name, loops neither to the right, the left, or the past, but
towards a future of world–wide distinction and usefulness. The
titles with which Harrogate has been credited are so innumerable,
as to suggest imperfect orthography as their source. The name may
still be found in some old established railway guides as "
Harrowgate ; " though the w is fast losing its hold upon the
heretofore confident railway tabulators. It may not be
uninteresting to state that the following, besides the above
mentioned, are said to have done duty in turn: "Harloo–cum-Bylton
Banks," " Harlowgate," " Harrogat,"
" Harry-gate," and " Harrowgait." Not a few
signposts of the district still bear the w, but time is fast
rectifying the error.
From an insignificant beginning of a few scattered
farm houses and humble cots, the wonder is that a spot so deserted
should have required a name, early Harrogate having barely reached
the modest dignity of even a hamlet. The year 1200 affords the
first acknowledgment of Harrogate's existence, though it is
referred to as "Harelow," and its medicinal waters were
yet secrets of the earth. It was probably approaching 1600 when a
Slingsby, then residing at Bilton Hall, between Harrogate and
Knaresborough discovered the first of our medicinal springs. He
has been variously referred to as "Captain William
Slingsby," " Mr. William Slingsby," and " Sir
William Slingsby." At the time of his discovery, we are
inclined to think, he was simply Captain," and later became
Sir William, for he was knighted in 1603. He was an ancestor of
the lamented Sir Charles Slingsby of Scriven Hall, Knaresborough,
the tragic story of whose death is still repeated at the fireside
by those who were associated someway or other with the
participants in the fatal mishap. The scene was the Ferry which
crosses the Ure near Newby Hall. A crowded boat on a hunting
morning, filled with aristocratic sportsmen and spirited horses. A
restive steed, a capsized boat, and six deaths. This, in brief is
the story, Sir Charles Slingsby had nearly reached the shore,
swimming a powerful stroke, when his famous hunter " Saltfish"
stunned the unfortunate baronet, who sank to rise no more. This
however, era passant. The first spring discovered was called
"The old Spa," and is now known as "John's
Well." It is to be found in High Harrogate, on the upper
portion of the Stray, opposite the Granby and near the Empress
Hotels, on the fringe of the Wetherby Road. The discoverer, who
had experience of the continental waters, promptly sought
protection for the valuable chalybeate spring.
The next is supposed to be the Tewit Well, found
by Dr. Stanhope, in 1632. Hargrove speaks of John's well as the
first and the Slingsby discovery; whilst Grange in his excellent
History of the Forest of Knaresborough reverses the order and
fixes upon the Tewit Well as the Slingsby find. Lord Chancellor
Loughborough in 1786 appears to have taken some interest in the
Harrogate waters, for at his own expense he caused a dome to be
erected over John's Well, and further laid out picturesque
plantations of richly diversified trees on his estate (the
Woodlands), close at hand, where the visitors found many pleasant
walks. These plantations have long been closed to the public, yet
may still be found, the first approach being near "Wedderburn
House," the large, square–fronted homestead which stands so
prominently across the Stray at its south–east corner and near
John's Well. A terrace sixty yards square formerly surrounded this
spring, but no longer exists, whilst the dome has been replaced by
a more commodious and complete structure.
The most famous of all Harrogate's healing springs is
undoubtedly the "Old Sulphur," found anterior to 1661,
though the precise date of its first recognition is enveloped in
uncertainty. In 1651 Dr. French issued a treatise abundant in
curative experiments with this water: Some time previous, however,
the few farm houses and cottages constituting Harrogate were
besieged by the aristocratic families of the kingdom, who
compelled building enterprise, especially as regards inn
accommodation. During 1687 the" Queen's Head" –
afterwards the – Queen Hotel " - was erected. The
"Royal Oak," now the " Granby," the"
World's End," now "Grove House" followed in the
same century, and others succeeded later, viz., the historical
"Crown" and the "Dragon," the home of Frith,
R.A., some of whose early efforts, by the way, are now in the
Granby Hotel. Inn accommodation in Harrogate has always been
abreast of the times, if we except the earlier stages of its
life.
In 1770 the legislature recognised the value of Harrogate's
medicinal waters so far as to set apart the Stray of over 200
acres for the enjoyment and unrestricted use of the public - such
Stray to remain for ever unenclosed. Unfortunately the gaits or
pasturage of cattle were granted to adjoining property owners,
whose rights of herbage have gradually and insidiously developed
into an authority as aggressive as ownership, and which has done
much to defeat the primary object of the Crown in its laudable
concession. The first place of worship, "St. John's
Chapel," was erected in 1749 by subscription, chiefly amongst
the visitors, just to the north of where Christ Church stands, in
High Harrogate. After sundry enlargements it was sold to the
Independents, in 1831 pulled down and re–erected in James
Street, where it was ultimately known as Victoria Hall, and
devoted to entertainments. It is now used as business premises, in
the rear of the Prospect Hotel, and abuts on James Street.
Speaking of entertainments reminds us that, in 1788, a theatre was
built opposite the Granby Hotel, by one Samuel Butler, where the
stars of the day, unrecognised at court, followed their calling
with less éclat than does the first walking gentleman of to–day.
The theatre did not pay, as Butler found to his cost. In 1793 a
racecourse existed in South Park. |
