HARROGATE, a watering-place and township, joint
with Bilton, in the parish of KNARESBOROUGH,
lower division of the, wapentake of CLARO, West
riding of the county of YORK, 3 .miles (S. w.) from
Knaresborough, 15 (N.) from Leeds, 21 (W. by-N.) from
York, and 200 (N.N.W.) from London, containing,
with Bilton, 1934 inhabitants. This place, originally
called Heywragate, derives its appellation from being situated
on the direct road from Knaresborough to Heyward
park. It comprehends the two villages of High
and Low Harrogate, which are half a mile apart,
both standing on part of what was formerly the Forest
of Knaresborough, now enclosed and cultivated. High
Harrogate occupies an eminence which commands the
view of an extensive landscape, diversified with woods,
fields, towns, and villages, and bounded by the mountains
of Craven, Hambleton hills, and the wolds of
Yorkshire. Low Harrogate is pleasantly situated in a
valley, and is adorned with many handsome stone
houses, erected principally for the accommodation of
visitors. The rapid increase of buildings renders it probable
that the two villages will at no distant period
become united. The mineral waters, which have long
rendered Harrogate a place of fashionable resort from
May to October, are of three kinds, chalybeate, sulphureous,
and saline chalybeate, similar to the Cheltenham
waters. In High Harrogate is the old spa, a chalybeate
spring, which was discovered in 1571, by Captain
William Slingsby, surrounded by a -terrace sixty
yards square in 1656, the sides of which furnish an
agreeable promenade, and surmounted by a handsome
dome, in 1786, at the expense of Lord Loughborough.
About three quarters of a mile to the westward is the
Tewit well, the water of which possesses similar proper
ties. These were the only chalybeate wells known for
a long time; but in 1819 a saline chalybeate spring was
discovered, which is daily increasing in repute.: the
water is called Cheltenham water, from the similarity of
its properties to those of the purgative waters of Cheltenham
j and being private property, persons are admitted
to the spa on subscribing two shillings and sixpence
a week, and also to the grounds, in which are
pleasant walks, a large sheet of water, and various ornamental
plantations. In Low Harrogate is the old
sulphur well, situated at the foot, of a hill which rises to
the south-west, the water of which is received in a circular
stone basin, surmounted by a large cupola covered with
lead and supported on stone pillars. In the grounds adjoining
the Crown Hotel is a new sulphur well, enclosed
in a Chinese octagonal building, and surrounded by walks
and shrubberies tastefully arranged; the water is raised
by a pump, and resembles the former in its medicinal
qualities. The sulphur wells are numerous, but only four
are used; and their sanative properties were not discovered
till several years after the wells at the upper village
were generally frequented. A sulphureous chalyheate
spring, called the Crescent water, discovered in
1783, is situated in the garden of the Crescent: it is private,
property, and the.terms of subscription are half a
guinea for the season. The medicinal quality of the
chalybeate waters is principally tonic and alterative 5
that of. the sulphureous strongly purgative; the latter
are used externally and internally, and are considered
particularly serviceable in scorbutic complaints, and dis-
prders of the skin. The principal place of public resort
is a large and elegant room near the sulphur wells, called
the Promenade room, which is supplied with periodical
publications, an appropriate library, and an organ, on
which, during the season, an organist plays every morning
and evening, and on Sunday evenings there is a performance
of sacred music: the terms of subscription are
moderate. In High Harrogate are also a good library
and a theatre, the latter being open during the months
of July, August, and September. Assemblies are held at
the different hotels three or four nights in the .week
during the season; and there are races in summer.
A chapel, dedicated to St. John, was erected in High
Harrogate in 1749, by subscription, Lady Elizabeth
Hastings having been a liberal contributor; it is a neat
edifice of freestone, containing several marble monuments
to the memory of visitors who have died here 5
and it has lately received an addition of two hundred
and forty sittings, of which one hundred and eighty-six
are free, the Incorporated Society for the enlargement of
churches and chapels having granted £200 towards defraying
the expense. The living is a perpetual curacy,
in the archdeaconry of Richmond, and diocese of Chester,
and in the patronage of the Vicar of Knaresborough.
In Low Harrogate is a small church or chapel, erected
in 1824, and containing about seven hundred and fifty
sittings, of which five hundred are free, the Incorporated
Society having granted £ 500 for that purpose. The living
is. a perpetual curacy, in the archdeaconry and diocese
of York, and in the patronage of the. Crown. There is
a place of worship for Independents in High Harrogate,
and one for Methodists midway between the two, villages.
There is also an endowed school for the children
of the poor of Bilton cum Harrogate. The Bath hospital
was erected by subscription in 1826, upon a plot of
land near the bogs, granted for that purpose by the Earl
of Harewood; and here the poor may obtain the benefit
of the mineral waters free of expense; at present only
twenty-four patients can be accommodated, but it is in
contemplation to enlarge the building, and extend the
benefits of the institution.