Harrogate Neighbours is set to relocate some of its residents to a new home in Boroughbridge.
The not-for-profit organisation, which provides residential and community care, has acquired a new site formerly known as Springfield Garth in Boroughbridge from North Yorkshire County Council.
The site is undergoing refurbishment and will see residents from 28-bedroom Heath Lodge on Pannal Ash Road, Harrogate, moved to the new facility.
Sue Cawthray, chief executive of Harrogate Neighbours, said:
“We have been working very closely with North Yorkshire County Council and the local authorities to identify a suitable site that will allow us to offer and deliver excellent quality care to residents and clients now and in the future.
“The site in Boroughbridge will enable us to grow and develop our services into the community, as well as providing job opportunities within the care sector. We are delighted to be moving to the area and we look forward to being part of a supportive and caring community.
“Heath Lodge residents and their relatives have been updated on the relocation and have all been very supportive on the move. We look forward to welcoming them and new residents to the newly named ‘Heath Lodge Community Haven’ in the next few months.”
Harrogate Neighbours said the new building has larger communal areas, wider corridors and improved facilities.
Heath Lodge Community Haven is due to open November 2022.
Cllr Michael Harrison, North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for Health and Adult Services, added:
“Harrogate Neighbours provides much needed services in this part of North Yorkshire and we have been very pleased to help make sure this very positive development could happen.
“It not only brings a building back into use but offers potential for growth and an opportunity to be more sustainable, whilst caring for older people in the local area, which is of paramount importance for our ageing population.”
Temperatures to soar to 30 degrees – but no weather warning for Harrogate district
Temperatures are set to soar close to 30 degrees in the next few days — but today’s extreme heat warning does not include the Harrogate district.
The Met Office has issued a four-day amber extreme heat warning for much of southern and central England from Thursday.
The warning, which predicts temperatures of up to 35C, extends north as far as Leeds.
Although the Harrogate district is not included, it is still set to be very warm for the rest of the week.
The Met office is forecasting temperatures of 29 degrees centigrade in Boroughbridge tomorrow, with the rest of the district a degree or two cooler.
Temperatures are not expected to fall until Monday to Tuesday next week when there could be thunderstorms.
Many farmers are praying for rain.
Yorkshire Water said today average stocks in its reservoirs were 51% last week, which is around 20% less than usual for this time of year.
https://twitter.com/metoffice/status/1556941086316236800
Missing Boroughbridge teen found
A Boroughbridge woman who failed to return home on Friday night has been found.
North Yorkshire Police issued an appeal for help finding the woman after she went missing.
It issued photos and a description and asked people to get in touch with details of possible sightings.
Police said yesterday the girl had been found.
Consequently this article has been updated to conceal the women’s identity.
Battlefield trail to be launched in Boroughbridge this monthCommemorations marking the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Boroughbridge will end this month with the unveiling of a permanent battlefield trail.
The trail will guide people around sites where fighting took place in 1322.
The Battle of Boroughbridge was fought on March 20, 1322, between supporters of King Edward II and a rebellious group of barons led by Thomas, Earl of Lancaster. It ended in defeat for Lancaster, who was the king’s cousin and one of the wealthiest people in England.
A series of events have taken place this year marking the anniversary.
In March, Viscount Hereford, an ancestor of Humphrey de Bohun, who was killed in fighting across the original bridge over the River Ure, took part in a wreath laying ceremony at the Battle Cross in Aldborough.
Medieval combat by 3 Swords re-enactment group and medieval walks also took place on the anniversary weekend.
The trail will tell the story of Boroughbridge’s turbulent past.
On Saturday, August 13, 3 Swords, who make regular appearances at the Royal Armouries in Leeds, will return to give a demonstration of their arms and equipment at Hall Square in Boroughbridge at 10am before a parade to St James’s Square.
At 11am, Boroughbridge mayor Sean Hynes will unveil one of a series of display boards, which form the Battle of Boroughbridge interpretation trail.
The boards will be sited at either end of the bridge over the River Ure, on St James’s Square where Lancaster was captured after seeking sanctuary in the original church, on Aldborough Road and near the lock on the canal at Milby.
After the ceremony, Louise Whittaker, of Harrogate, a member of the Battlefields Trust, will lead a tour of the battlefield sites.
The 700th anniversary has been marked by Boroughbridge and District Historical Society, the Battlefields Trust and Boroughbridge Town Council, with funding from Miller Homes, which has built housing on part of the battlefield site.
Medieval artwork designed by the Yorkshire region chair of the Battlefields Trust, Chris Rock, has been incorporated into the display boards and an accompanying leaflet to provide a permanent battlefield trail around the town.
The king’s army was led by Sir Andrew de Harclay, who managed to prevent Lancaster’s forces fleeing north to Dunstanburgh Castle in Northumberland by blocking river crossings at the narrow, timber bridge and at a nearby ford.
After an overnight truce, during which Edward II’s army was reinforced, the royal troops entered Boroughbridge and arrested Lancaster. He was taken to his own castle at Pontefract and sentenced to death after a show trial. Lancaster was beheaded on March 22.
The rebellion had begun after Lancaster, a former member of the royal court, became disillusioned with Edward, whose reign was marked by military failure and constant internal disputes.
The Battle of Boroughbridge raged around a timber bridge crossing the River Ure and a ford, believed to be to the east of the present town, possibly between Milby and Aldborough.
Wreath laying at the battle cross in Aldborough in March.
When Lancaster’s army, which probably amounted to a total of 3,000 men at arms with their followers, arrived at Boroughbridge, Harclay was already in possession of the bridge and the ford, which proved to be a strategic advantage.
The royal army numbered 4,000 men. At the ford its pikemen were deployed in a schiltron formation, a defensive shield, which they had learned from the Scots in the Scottish Wars. The king’s bowmen created mayhem against Lancaster’s cavalry.
The rebels divided into two columns, led by the Earl of Hereford and Roger de Clifford, of Skipton Castle, who attacked the bridge on foot, and Lancaster, who attempted a cavalry charge at the ford. Both ended in chaos.
One chronicle relates how Hereford was killed by a spearman, who thrust into him from below the bridge. Clifford also suffered serious injuries. Heavy archery fire from the bowmen forced Lancaster’s force to retreat before reaching the ford.
Lancaster negotiated an overnight truce with Harclay, but by morning many of the rebels had deserted. When the Sheriff of York arrived to reinforce the king’s army, Lancaster had to surrender.
He was taken to his home at Pontefract Castle where he was sentenced to death, originally to be hung drawn and quartered, but he was given a merciful beheading.
Thirty of Lancaster’s followers were executed in towns around England, including Roger de Clifford, Second Lord of Skipton, who was hung from Clifford’s Tower in York, which now bears his name.
Edward made Harclay the first Earl of Carlisle for his service at Boroughbridge. Only a year later Harclay was accused of treachery for making a peace treaty with Robert the Bruce without Royal approval.
Harclay was sentenced to death at a hearing in Carlisle and he was hung, drawn and quartered. His head was delivered to King Edward at Knaresborough Castle before being hung on London Bridge. Parts of his body were displayed in Carlisle, Newcastle, Bristol and Dover.
Boroughbridge girls savour day to remember at Euro 2022 final
A gamble that the England would get to the final of Euro 22 paid off on Sunday for 70 members of Boroughbridge Juniors Football Club.
Chris Fahy, the club’s chairman and coach, wanted his girls teams to see top level football.
So a year ago he applied for tickets to the Euro 2022 final — and it paid off as they got to see the Lionesses beat Germany 2-1.
He said:
“Seventy from the club went to Wembley for the final, including girls and parents.
“I applied for tickets a year ago. I gambled that England were going to get to the final. Luckily it paid off! Even if it didn’t, I wanted the girls to see top level football.
“It was absolutely fantastic. The atmosphere is different from men’s football – it’s more family orientated. You feel there’s going to be no trouble, no danger, at the women’s game.”
Mr Fahy said the girls had an amazing time at the game, which saw the Lionesses clinch victory in extra time.
He said:
“The girls loved it. We were all really excited going down. We had a fantastic view – we were behind the goal where England scored twice.
“We stayed until the celebrations were more or less finished, about half an hour afterwards.”
The club is holding free taster sessions throughout August for girls aged five to 15, with the first session at Boroughbridge Football Club, on Aldborough Road, starting at 10.15am this Saturday, August 6.
Plan for new home to increase council’s social housing in Boroughbridge
A new two-bedroom house could be built at the end of a terrace in Boroughbridge if Harrogate Borough Council gets planning permission.
The authority’s housing department has applied for permission to create the home, which would provide social housing, at the end of Springfield Drive, adjacent to number 22.
It would be built on what is currently garden land, which the department described as “under-utilised”.
In its planning application, it said:
“The proposal involves the redevelopment of under-utilised housing revenue account land and property, including existing gardens into affordable homes. The new property would become part of the Harrogate Borough Council (HBC) housing portfolio and subsequently managed by HBC.
“The property will have two bedrooms, one double and one single room, providing a home for a small family. The dwellings also meet the nationally prescribed minimum space standards.”
The existing driveway at number 22 would be retained and assigned to the new home, while a new driveway would be created on the garden in front of number 22.
The planning department will deal with the application, which will go before the planning committee rather than being decided by an officer because it is an application from the authority itself.
A date for the decision has yet to be set, but comments must be received by Monday, August 15.
To view or comment on the application, visit the Harrogate Borough Council planning website and use reference 22/02759/FUL.
Another record month for the Stray Ferret as readership soarsThe Stray Ferret has set new monthly records as it continues to reshape the face of local news in the Harrogate district.
Articles on our website attracted just over one million page views from 218,000 site users in July.
A further 574,000 page views were made by almost 4,500 people on the Stray Ferret app, which was launched at the end of last year.
The combined total of 1.6 million monthly page views is a new record, as is the number of people visiting the site.
Page views have more than doubled in the last year as increasing numbers of people tune in to our lively combination of rolling news, human interest stories and political analysis. Our social media engagement is also leading the way in the district.
Last month we ran live blogs at the Great Yorkshire Show and during the heatwave. We led on coverage of plans to reduce the number of fire engines in Harrogate at night time to one, reported on Harrogate-born England footballer Rachel Daly’s ascent to international superstar, showcased businesses such as the re-opened Coach and Horses pub in Harrogate, covered visits to the district by celebrities including Alan Carr and Helen Skelton, and provided live footage on our Facebook page of St Wilfrid’s Procession in Ripon.
We also published daily business news a well as traffic and travel bulletins, and provided unparalleled scrutiny of our local MPs, councils and courts.
Tamsin O’Brien, managing director of the Stray Ferret, said:
“The Stray Ferret has become an unmissable read for anyone interested in the Harrogate district.
“Thank you to all our readers in Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge, Pateley Bridge, Masham and all points in between.
“We will continue to strive to bring the best daily news and hold those in power to account.”
You can download the Stray Ferret app by clicking on the banner below.
Ripon teacher dies after falling on hike in Italian Dolomites
A schoolteacher from near Ripon has died after falling 100ft while hiking in the Italian Dolomites.
Louise Atkinson, 55, of North Stainley, reportedly found herself on a difficult route in the Rosengarten massif in northern Italy after taking a wrong turn.
Ms Atkinson, who was with her partner John Dickinson, had found herself at high altitude while hiking on Sunday.
A mountain rescue spokesman told the MailOnline that the couple ‘ended up on a more challenging route’ in the early afternoon after heading out on a hike.
They added that they had ‘turned back’ after realising they did not have the correct equipment to continue.
On the way back down, Ms Atkinson slipped and fell. She was pronounced dead when found by the authorities.
Tributes have been posted on social media to Ms Atkinson, who was a teacher at Roecliffe Church of England School near Boroughbridge and St Wilfrid’s Catholic School in Ripon.
One person posted:
“Heartbreaking news. This is so sad. She taught both our sons at Roecliffe. She was an amazing teacher and a lovely kind lady. Our thoughts are with her family, friends and pupils.”
Another said:
“Such sad news. My son loved her as a teacher and came home every Friday full of stories of what she taught him that day. Condolences to all her family and friends. RIP.”
Four traditional pubs to visit in the Harrogate district
A new generation of drinkers are being drawn to craft beer and cocktail bars, sparking a decline in traditional pubs.
And while many of us love a good Negroni or an IPA, you can’t beat a good old fashioned British boozer.
Fortunately we are still blessed’ with some excellent ones in the Harrogate district.
We asked our readers for their favourites. Here are four of them:
Reputedly, the oldest pub in Harrogate has a history going back to the earliest days of the town’s emergence as a leading spa resort.
Originating as one of the first inns for spa visitors after sulphur wells were first established in the mid-18th century, sulphur springs still flow beneath the cellar and the distinctive odours occasionally percolate up to the bar area.
The premises were rebuilt circa 1827 and known as The Promenade Inn. At this time it was said to be a most successful coaching inn. It was enlarged in 1856 and known as Hodgson’s until 1882, when William Hales became the landlord.
The interior decor is reflective of the pub’s long history, with mirrors and fittings from the Victorian era, including traditional gas lighting and cigar lighters.
Stray Ferret reader Richard Dunston Brady said:
“Hales, is the best traditional pub for charm, atmosphere, friendly staff and a well pulled pint.”
Hales Bar, 1-3 Crescent Road, Harrogate, HG1 2RS
The One-Eyed Rat is a traditional pub, famous for its old fashioned charm.
It can be found on Allhallowgate, one of the oldest parts of Ripon.
A real ale destination over many decades, the One Eyed Rat was refurbished and re-opened under new management in the summer of 2020.
A Grade II listed building set within a terrace of 200-year-old houses, its narrow frontage leads to a warm and welcoming hostelry.
The pub has a long, narrow interior with traditional seating and an open fire, and there is a large garden at the rear, including a covered area.
You can also enjoy a traditional pie and a pint.
The historic building dates back to 1340 and goes back several centuries as an inn.
It was almost certainly known as the Ship in the 17th century, as there is a token copper coin in existence, dated 1671, which shows a ship in full sale with the inscription “John Briggs in Aldborough his half penny”.
Brian Rey and Elaine Howden, the owners of The Ship Inn, have been restoring the pub since January following a fire. They have served many high-profile guests, including Prince William and Harry.
The traditional country pub in the Roman town of Aldborough is well-known for Brian’s Yorkshire puddings and ‘real gravy’.
Low Rd, Aldborough, YO51 9ER
Harrogate firefighters dealt with five field fires on the hottest day of the year today.
On a day when North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service declared a major incident due to the number of call-outs, the crew at Harrogate attended three major fires.
At first they were called to a blaze near Forest Lane in Harrogate at about 1pm where an area of woodland measuring 20m x 20m had caught fire. Harrogate fire station put on Facebook:
“We believe a discarded cigarette, or strong sunlight shining through a broken glass bottle may have caused the fire.”
After extinguishing the fire, one of the Harrogate appliances was sent to a standing crop on fire in a field near Marton cum Grafton, between Boroughbridge and Knaresborough.
The fire station said on Facebook:
“Due to the extremely dry conditions the fire caught hold of four fields very quickly. The wind direction kept changing making the condition challenging.
“Fire crews also came to help from Knaresborough fire station, Ripon, Acom, and the water bowser from Tadcaster.
“Crews worked hard in the extreme heat (nearly 40 degrees!) to extinguish the fire using hosereel jets, main branches and beaters.
“Thanks also goes to the farmers for helping out and putting a fire break in the crop.”
While this was going on, the second Harrogate fire engine was called to a field on fire near Northallerton.
“As you can imagine, the ground is tinder-dry at the moment making it easy for fire to spread quickly.
“So please do be careful if you are out and about. Make sure you discard cigarettes carefully and avoid having barbecues.”
