Upcoming Events

The impact the war had on Harrogate and the impact Harrogate had on the war.

A talk by Guy Wilson.

Guy was educated at New College, Oxford, and Manchester University and spent 30 years working in the Royal Armouries before establishing his own consultancy business. For the last 15 years of his museum career he served as Master of the Armouries and led the transformation of the museum to a multiple site organisation and the creation of a new museum for the bulk of the collection in Leeds. He has published widely in the field of arms and armour studies and is currently Chair of Ripon Military Heritage Trust.

His talk about Harrogate in the Second World War will look at how the war changed Harrogate and how what happened in Harrogate helped change the course of the war. Many civil servants were relocated to the town
along with large numbers of RAF personnel. But why did they come to Harrogate, what were they doing
here, and what did they think of Harrogate? The War also brought many changes, dangers and opportunities for local residents and helped make Harrogate the town we know today.

Harrogate’s Bilton Grange Estate, roughly bounded by Skipton Road, Bilton Lane, the Mere’s (or Mire’s) Lane public bridleway and Woodfield Road, was largely undeveloped until the start of the 20th century. In 1901, Harrogate Borough’s boundary was extended north-eastwards towards Old Bilton village and large tracts of farmland became available for development. Much of this land was bought by the Bilton Grange Estate Company from Nidd Hall’s Mountgarret family. This newly formed Company divided the area into a large number of smaller plots which were then sold to builders. Construction took place in several phases over many years and was only completed in the late 1960s.

This often-overlooked part of Harrogate fulfilled an important role in supporting the town’s exploitation of its mineral waters, in the early part of the 20th century, by accommodating the necessary large workforce for its hotels and essential services.

This illustrated talk presents the history and development of the area from the 1778 Enclosure Award to the present day.

Speakers (Bilton Historical Society): Anne Richards (a founder member) and Alan Gould.

Our annual Christmas Social. Always a great time to meet other members and chill out before Christmas.

Nearly 4 years on from the formation of our unitary authority, Richard Flinton, the Chief Executive of North Yorkshire Council, will talk on how has it developed, what has it achieved and what are the priorities going forward.

Jeremy Burton will talk about the life and achievements of his grandfather Sir Montague Burton from his arrival in England as a refugee from Russian oppression in 1900 until his burial in Harrogate in 1952.

Harrogate’s urban landscape is unique, unusual and fascinating. This illustrated talk by Harrogate born geographer Michael Goodliffe will look at the history, layout and architecture of this still thriving northern town.

Speaker: Peter Holmes

The Silent War has raged continuously since the end of WW2. But what is Espionage and how does it operate? Peter, who has served as an electronic warfare operator, will also explain the role bases such as Menwith Hill play in supporting the UK’s defence and intelligence related priorities.

This beautiful house near Masham in Wensleydale, bought with its surrounding estate by the Bradford industrialist Samuel Cunliffe-Lister in the 1880s, also has a Harrogate connection as Harrogate College (later the Ladies' College) spent the years 1939 to 1946 there when the school was requisitioned by the Air Ministry.

We will have a guided tour of the house, now a country hotel, by the present owner, Mark Cunliffe-Lister, and look at an exhibition of photographs of the girls' time there.

The cost of tour and refreshments is £22.50 per head. You will need to make your own way to Swinton, about three-quarters of an hour's drive from Harrogate, car sharing where possible.

Booking arrangements will be circulated nearer the time as there are limited numbers.

Speaker: Jason Maxwell; Harrogate BID
Harrogate BID - making Harrogate the best it can be

Harrogate Business Improvement District was formed on 1st January 2019. The work of the BID aims to support, safeguard and improve Harrogate for businesses, visitors and residents alike, to make the town the best it can be.

Jason Maxwell was appointed as Chief Executive Officer in March 2026 having spent more than seven years leading Stockton BID and most recently working within the Economic Growth team at Hartlepool Borough Council.

Speaker: Harry Satloka

Join Harrogate’s resident wally in a waistcoat, Harry, to discover the crucial role Harrogate played in cycling history, where these contraptions came from; and how it resulted both in the greatest British cyclist of all time and a drunken brawl through the hotels of Harrogate.