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21
Nov 2021
A Harrogate historian has written a book about the lives of working-class people during the Edwardian period in Harrogate.
This will be the fifth book by Dr Paul Jennings, who has lived in Harrogate for 25 years.
He said Harrogate's rich and lavish past is often documented but the lives and names of people who helped to build the town are lost to history.
The book, 'Working-Class lives in Edwardian Harrogate', looks at the lives of numerous working-class professions including servants, hospitality staff, rail workers and industry workers.
Around 3,000 women worked as servants in Harrogate during the Edwardian period, 1901-1914, which was a lot more than other sectors.
The book also looks at education for poorer people, local amusements and some of the rich families they worked for.
Anyone interested in local history may know the name Samson Fox, he was mayor of Harrogate three times between 1890 and 1892 an also brought Harrogate with its first steam fire engine, built the Grove Road School, funded the Royal Hall and provided affordable social housing.
Another local life examined in the book is Richard Ellis who funded the Queen Victoria statues which still stands across from the train station.
Dr Jennings said:
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