Pulling into Knaresborough’s train station, it’s one of the first landmarks visitors can spot, an impressive red brick building that faces down the hill towards the River Nidd.

With its blue plaque displayed proudly by the front entrance, The Mitre is one of Knaresborough’s most well-known pubs.

While its signage proudly proclaims 'established in 1923', it was once the site of another public house, The Wheatsheaf. Both pubs have had a part to play in Knaresborough’s past, acting as a long-standing conduit for channelling the town’s history. 

Bishop William Stubbs

Often referred to as ‘the father of modern history’, historian, clergyman and University of Oxford professor William Stubbs was born on Knaresborough High Street, a short distance from The Wheatsheaf in 1825.

He was educated at Ripon Grammar School, before attending Christ Church, University of Oxford. He graduated with a MA in 1848, obtaining a first-class degree in Literae Humaniores.

Stubbs had two great loves - history and theology. Throughout his lifetime, he would be respected in both fields; after nearly two decades as a professor of history at the University of Oxford, he went on serve as Bishop of Chester between 1884–1889 and Bishop of Oxford from 1889 until his death in 1901.

His research on medieval texts – especially his three volumes of Constitutional History of England - became widely taught in schools in the 19th century and an accepted standard for many generations to come.

He died in Cuddesdon on April 22, 1901, at the age of 75 and is buried in the churchyard of All Saints, next to the palace of the Bishops of Oxford.

Through a modern lens, some of Stubbs’ work is now more closely scrutinised, especially his acceptance of certain medieval chronicles at face value. 

At the time, many of these works would have been written by monastical scribes, which other historians argue would have been influenced by the Catholic Church. However, his impact on shaping a modern framework to history is still undeniable.

The Mitre is actually named in Stubbs’ honour, as a nod to his life’s work – a mitre is a tall headdress typically worn by bishops and senior abbots as a symbol of office.

George A. Moore (CBE, K ScJ)

Another influential Knaresborough resident, George A. Moore was born at The Mitre on July 22, 1928, where his father was the pub landlord.

After leaving school aged 16, Moore established his company, a small joinery business situated in Cottingley. Soon he had found his niche in producing kitchen furniture and joinery for social and affordable housing.

Moores Furniture Group, as it became known, employed residents of the area at his factories at Thorp Arch Trading Estate, near Wetherby.

Perhaps due to his work with social housing projects, as well as a desire to help out staff experiencing financial difficulty, he decided to set up a Welfare Fund in 1970.

After he sold his business in 1987, he turned his attention to expanding this offering, and The George A. Moore Foundation was created as the a grant-making organisation many will know it as today.

Over the years he continued to champion the local area by supporting many charities through funds donated from the foundation. 

Moore was not only awarded a CBE in 1988, but in recognition for his philanthropy he was recognised with the Knight of St John status in 1995 and made a Freeman of Knaresborough five years later.

He passed away aged 88 at his home in the Isle of Man on Friday, September 16, 2016. The George A. Moore Foundation is still in operation to this day and continues to provide generous grants to local causes, a fitting testament to the legacy Moore left in Knaresborough.

Most recently, it donated £410,000 to help create Knaresborough Forest Park, as reported by the Stray Ferret.

The Mitre

The pub building itself has a history as diverse as some of its famous associates; after operating for a century under the moniker, its future was thrown into question at the end of 2023.

Formerly owned since the late 1999s by Market Town Taverns, it was put up for sale in January 2024 after a brief closure.

The Stray Ferret reported earlier this year that independent brewery Brew York acquired the venue, reopening the pub on May 2, 2024.

Speaking on the first day of trading, Brew York managing director Wayne Smith said:

The blue plaque displayed next to the front door was installed by the Knaresborough Civic Society in 2008.

Sources for this article include a blog post on patrickcomerford.com, a post on Knaresborough Civic Society’s website, an article on the History Today website, an article on the Britannica website, an about us section on the George A. Moore Foundation website, George Moore’s obituary first published in The Times on 24, September 2016, The Mitre’s website and two articles published on the Stray Ferret.