This story is sponsored by Elizabeth Finn Homes.

Older people looking for a safe and comfortable place to live in care should look no further than Hampden House in Harrogate, a national care provider says. 

Elizabeth Finn Homes operates nine care homes across England and Hampden House, on Duchy Road, is the only one in the North of England. 

The purpose-built home has 56 rooms, all with en suite facilities and views over the landscaped gardens or courtyards. 

General manager Jane Hooren, who is a Registered Nurse and has been in the health and social industry her entire career, said: 

“At Hampden House, we provide the highest level of service and facilities, including award-winning restaurant-style dining, a beauty salon, fully-licensed bar and industry-leading social engagement.  

“We strongly believe that residents should retain as much of their independence as possible, and the importance of staying both physically and mentally active is key to achieving that.” 

Elizabeth Finn Homes attract the very best staff.

Hampden House, which is rated ‘good’ by the Care Quality Commission, provides both nursing and personal care, on a permanent or short-stay basis, as well as offering end-of-life care. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Turn2us, a national charity providing practical help to people who are struggling financially. 

The home, which enjoys 24-hour-a-day security in one of Harrogate’s most exclusive areas, encourages residents to lead full and active lives, and even offers trips in a specially adapted minibus to places of interest and entertainment, or simply to the local shops – all facilitated by excellent care staff. 

At Hampden House, residents are encouraged to remain mentally active.

Jane said: 

“We seek to employ the best, so we can provide the best, and our employees regularly achieve awards recognising their achievements in customer care and service delivery. 

“Along with our excellent staffing levels, Hampden House is equipped with the very best equipment to help my team go about their duties and ensure the comfort and safety of our residents.” 

Find out more: 

If you or a loved one would like to know more about life at Hampden House, contact Elizabeth Finn Homes on 01423 209 049, or visit our website.

A house once owned by Harrogate’s wealthiest family was up for auction last week, but failed to find a buyer. 

Pineheath, a 17,000 sq ft, 40-room house on Cornwall Road, went for sale on Thursday with a guide price of £3.5 million, despite being in a derelict condition. 

The house has planning permission for conversion into 12 flats, and the lot included the adjoining former chauffeur’s cottage, which has been refurbished into a pair of semi-detached coach houses yielding rent of £51,000 a year. 

A 0.545-acre parcel of land behind the site, on Rutland Drive, is believed to be the last undeveloped parcel on the Duchy estate and was for sale as a separate lot with a guide price of £1.85 million, but also failed to sell. 

Simon Croft, partner at estate agent FSS, said: 

“We had lots of interest in both lots from developers across the north of England, but they didn’t quite reach the reserve the vendor was prepared to accept. Perhaps we shouldn’t be too surprised, given the economic headwinds developers are facing. 

“We’re now having discussions with the registered bidders to see if can cut a deal that works for everyone. We’re very close, so we’ll be trying to strike while the iron’s hot and make the sale over the next few days.” 

Pineheath was built in the 1890s and from 1927 was the Harrogate home of Sir Dhunjibhoy Bomanji, an extremely wealthy Parsee shipping magnate who divided his time between India, Windsor and Harrogate. A generous philanthropist, he was knighted in 1922 having apparently donated £1 million to the war effort. 

In its heyday as a family home, Pineheath was fully staffed and had gold-plated taps, a centrally-heated garage of Rolls-Royces, and its distinctive glazed cupola is said to have been covered in gold leaf. 

Following Sir Dhunjibhoy’s death in 1937, his charitable works were continued by his widow, Lady Frainy Bomanji, who threw herself into civic life, becoming became vice president of the Harrogate Festival of Arts and Sciences, president of the Harrogate Friendship Club and president of the Friends of Harrogate.

Affectionately known as Lady Harrogate, she was made an Honorary Freeman of the Borough by Harrogate District Council in 1984. She died in 1986 and the couple’s legacy was continued by their daughter, Mehroo Jehangir, who herself died in 2012. 

Pineheath was sold the following year for £2 million to Jason Shaw, who planned to renovate the house and return it to its former glory as a luxury family home. But by that time, it was in need of a lot of work. 

Mr Shaw cut down protected trees at the property and was fined £24,000 by a court. He later applied to build two five-bedroom homes in the grounds of the site, but was refused permission three times by councillors, who felt the proposed properties were too big. 

He finally obtained the planning consent currently in place, for conversion to apartments, in 2016; it can be viewed online.

Read more:

• Historic Harrogate house to be auctioned next month
• Latest plan to convert Harrogate’s Windsor House into 94 flats approved
• Developers lodge fresh plan to convert Harrogate office block into flats

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss breezed into Harrogate today as part of her campaign to be the next Prime Minister.

Local Conservative Party members paid £10 to take part in an Ask Liz event at a private house on the Duchy estate. Attendees didn’t receive the address until this morning.

Those who arrived early made the most of the sunshine by sitting on a wall in front of the property, many dressed in their finest attire.

One woman said Ms Truss had “come across very well” at a recent hustings in Leeds, another said she was there to “see what she’s got to say”.

And there were mutterings that there was no support from MPs in the district, including Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones and Skipton and Ripon MP  Julian Smith. Both are backing rival leadership candidate Rishi Sunak, the former Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Instead Alec Shelbrooke, MP for Elmet and Rothwell, hosted Ms Truss’s visit. He could be seen with other prominent members of the party waiting at the large black metal gates to greet Ms Truss.

Graham Swift thanks people for attending.

Harrogate Borough Council deputy leader Graham Swift, who the house is believed to belong to, was also spotted at the event.

Read more:

• Liz Truss set to speak to Conservatives in Harrogate tomorrow
• Rishi Sunak ‘warmly received’ in Masham

Stickers and signs emblazoned with the words ‘In Liz we Truss’ and ‘Liz for Leader’ were given out to visitors, as they were directed to a garden at the back of the house.

The press weren’t invited to attend, however the Stray Ferret captured a video of Ms Truss arriving in a black Range Rover, before she was whisked into the property by security, which included the Metropolitan Police.

Although the event was billed for 90 minutes, Ms Truss left after about 30 minutes and then made a fleeting visit to Harrogate town centre.

Liz Truss leaving the venue with her security entourage.

After a walk up Montpellier Parade, she was shown the sights of the Stray and the town’s war memorial, which was surrounded by people enjoying the 25 degree heat.

From there, the leadership hopeful headed into Bettys Tea Rooms armed with her entourage, before swiftly leaving to head down Parliament Street.

Passing the queue at Bettys. Pic: The Stray Ferret

With that she was gone on to the next leg of her campaign to defeat Sunak when party members vote to choose the next leader.

The result of the race to replace Boris Johnson will be announced on September 5.