HAUNTED HARROGATE
You may be asking yourself why there has never been a ghost walk in Harrogate before. I know when I moved to Harrogate I was thinking the same thing. The problem is that the town is fairly new and therefore has had less time to accumulate the same amounts of hauntings as somewhere like York.
In the 17th century, Harrogate was a quiet hamlet. It was the discovery of the healing spa waters that turned the tide and popularity of the town.
In 1631 Dr Michael Stanhope discovered what is now known as St John’s Well known locally as the Sweet Spa. By the mid 17th century bathhouses and inns were built to accommodate the ever-growing interest in the sulfurous healing waters.
By the 1800s Harrogate had a population of around 4,000. By the end of the century, it grew to around 25,000. By the 19th century, Harrogate was still dependent on its spas as the public maintained their interest in the ever-growing spa town.
Harrogate grew during the 20th century and continues to do so to this day. As you see, the history of the town is dwarfed by the likes of York, which goes back much further than that of Harrogate.
So a town like Harrogate which has a short history comes with it a lack of ghosts, or so one would think! A lot of research has gone into the making of this ghost walk, speaking to local residents and business owners has been key as well as historical research. So thank you to everyone who has submitted their story. Come along and see if your story has been included.