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05
Mar
Harrogate councillors agree to buy cut-price mayoral chain
Harrogate’s historic, gold mayoral chain is to be replaced by a cut-price version.
It follows concerns that soaring gold prices have made mayoral chains a target for criminals.
Last month the mayor of Dewsbury’s chain was stolen from the town hall.
Harrogate’s chain, which dates back to 1884, has been described as “exceptionally high value” but its precise worth has not been revealed.
Last night Harrogate Town Council voted to spend £4,695 on a new silver-coloured chain for the mayor to wear at civic events.
The current chain will only be used twice each year: on Remembrance Sunday and at the annual mayor-making ceremony, although it could also be worn on exceptional occasions, such as a royal visit.
Councillors voting at the meeting on March 4.
Harrogate Town Council voted against ordering a separate chain for the deputy mayor costing £4,425 at a meeting last night.
Councillors also agreed not to spend £3,700 on badges for the mayor and deputy mayor’s consorts who accompany them at civic events.
Had they been approved, the total cost would have been £12,845.
Instead, the mayor and deputy mayor will share use of the chain and the consorts will not receive badges. The gold chain will go on public display if a suitable location can be found.
The town council inherited the chain from Harrogate Borough Council, which was abolished in 2023. The borough mayor was driven to engagements by a chauffeur but the town council mayor does not have that luxury, meaning current mayor Councillor Chris Aldred often travels alone.
With gold prices rocketing by 75% over the last year, Cllr Aldred told last night’s meeting it would cost £11,000 to insure the current gold chain.
He said:
It is tradition and I have always said they are not our chains — they belong to the people of Harrogate and the people of Harrogate need to see them. But maybe they don’t need to see them when the mayor is opening Tesco, McDonald’s, whatever. So maybe this is a compromise where we still have them and put them on show.
We live in a different world to when they were envisaged for daily use by the mayor of Harrogate in 1884. People out there realise the wealth of these things so I do think this is a sensible proposition.
(left to right): Deputy mayor Jenny Taverna, mayor Chris Aldred and clerk Iona Taylor
Cllr Michael Harrison, a Conservative who represents Saltergate, wore the gold chain as charter mayor before Cllr Aldred became Harrogate’s inaugural mayor.
Cllr Harrison proposed doing away with plans to buy a separate chain for the deputy mayor and badges for the consorts, which councillors voted to approve.
The meeting heard the new chain will cost £150 to insure.
You can read about the historic chain in this article, which we published before the meeting.
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