Play reveals Harrogate’s secret royal role in WWII

A new play has revealed the Harrogate district’s little-known role in a secret plan to protect the royal family and Prime Minister Winston Churchill during the Second World War.

The Stray is a two-act drama by playwright Keith Burton with the assistance of Harrogate historian Malcolm Neesam.

It tells the story of Harrogate’s role in the Coats Mission, which was a secret plan to evacuate the royal family from London.

Newby Hall, near Ripon, was identified as a possible home for the royal family and a wing of Grove House on Skipton Road in Harrogate, opposite an RAF bunker, was designated as a possible home for Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

On September 8 1940 Buckingham Palace was bombed and the Coats Mission plans were expedited.

However, the RAF and the Secret Intelligence Service did not want the Harrogate district plans to go ahead as they were building Washington bombers at nearby Yeadon and had a station at Forest Moor in Nidderdale feeding code-breaking intelligence to Bletchley Park.

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Then on September 12 a Junker 88 attacked the Majestic Hotel in Harrogate. These were the only bombs to fall on the town in the war.

Newspapers at the time reported “a stray” bombing by a plane and said it was part of a bigger raid on “northern industrial targets” without naming where the other bombs had fallen.

But the intelligence agencies did not regard it as a stray bomb and two days after the attack on Harrogate the Coats Mission was dropped.

The Stray is based on what might have happened in Harrogate during the week commencing September 8 1940.

Newby Hall.

Cllr Jim Clark, who is the chairman of North Yorkshire County Council and commissioned the play, has a long history of involvement in theatre. He said:

“There have always been stories about Harrogate’s part in the war so I thought this was a unique way of capturing the drama of it. I wanted to be able to make a contribution to help drama groups at schools and amateur dramatic groups. I will have the rights to the play for five years so anybody can perform it within reason.

Mr Clark has approached Harrogate Dramatic Society and Harrogate Theatre with the play. He hopes that it will start in Yorkshire and spread further afield.

New Tesco could open in Killinghall next year

The new Tesco Express in Killinghall is unlikely to open until late next year at the earliest.

The store is due to be built on the site of The Three Horseshoes pub on the main Ripon Road in the middle of Killinghall.

The pub posted a message on its Facebook page on Saturday saying it will close on September 27. But it could be some time before the Tesco Express opens.

In July, Harrogate Borough Council approved plans by Ilkley developers Dynamic Capital Killinghall to convert the site to a convenience store.

The plans also involve constructing four flats and installing six electric vehicle charging points.

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At a meeting of Killinghall Parish Council last week, Cllr John Moretta said the developers had suggested once work gets underway it is likely to take a year to complete.

Last month Tesco applied for an alcohol licence from 6am to 11pm seven days of the week at the site, which has hosted a pub for 150 years.

Tesco subsequently submitted three more planning applications for signage, lighting and an ATM machine. Work is unlikely to begin until these matters are resolved.

Fellow parish councillor George Novelli told last week’s meeting the store would be “absolutely vital for the village”, which has grown considerably in recent years. A Tesco spokesman said:

“We believe the new store will be a positive addition to the local community and we aim to be serving customers there in 2021.”

The Greyhounds Inn opposite The Three Horseshoes remains closed.

Harrogate urged to continue social distancing as Leeds on watchlist

Public health bosses have urged people in Harrogate to continue to abide by social distancing guidance as Leeds is placed on the government’s coronavirus watchlist.

Dr Lincoln Sargaent, director of public health at North Yorkshire County Council, reassured that cases remain below average in the town and lower than that of Leeds.

It comes as the city was confirmed to be on Public Health England’s watchlist as an “area of concern” earlier today following an increase in cases to a weekly rate of 32 per 100,000 population.

The rate in cases in Harrogate currently stands at 12 per 100,000 with 19 confirmed in the past week.

Leeds City Council bosses said cases are spread across the city, meaning they may be linked to social interaction and leisure actives. 

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Officials added that cases were increasingly found in young people aged 18 to 34.

Dr Sargaent said residents in Harrogate, some of whom commute to Leeds for work and to socialise, should continue to abide by social distancing guidelines which remains as “important than ever”.

He said:

“We all need to continue to play our part in protecting ourselves and others to prevent the spread of covid-19. 

“The advice around hygiene and social distancing remains as important as ever. We must keep washing our hands regularly, avoid touching our faces and keep a safe distance from others.

“If you have symptoms, you must get a test. NHS tests are free and can be booked online via the NHS website or by calling 119.”

 

Meanwhile, Cllr Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council, urged visitors to the city to do their bit following a rise in covid cases.

The city being placed on the watchlist does not mean any further restrictions, but it may lead to further measures in the future if infections do not fall.

Cllr Blake said the city was approaching a “tipping point” and it was important for people to follow social distancing guidance.

She said:

“We have been working tirelessly with our partners and communities, doing everything within our power to keep the spread of this virus under control and to ensure Leeds stays open.

“However, we can’t accomplish that alone and this rise in infection rates means that inevitably, our window of opportunity is shrinking by the day and the city is rapidly approaching a tipping point.

“We completely understand that these past six months have put a tremendous strain on everyone in Leeds and that being able to get out, socialise and enjoy ourselves has provided a massive lift.

“But it is absolutely crucial that if we want to continue to do that, we all do it sensibly and responsibly and follow the latest guidance which is there to keep us all safe.”

Harrogate district gets £2m discount with Eat Out to Help Out

Diners in the Harrogate district who took part in the Eat Out to Help Out scheme got a discount of more than £1.9 million in August.

New figures out today from HM Treasury also revealed that people in the Harrogate and Knaresborough and Skipton and Ripon constituencies ate 314,000 meals in the scheme.

The scheme was designed to help the struggling hospitality sector get back on its feet. The Stray Ferret reported that many cafes and restaurants saw a big spike in interest last month.

Some restaurants were fully booked and were forced to turn some diners away who were trying to take advantage of the Eat Out to Help Out discount.

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In Harrogate and Knaresborough 153 restaurants signed up compared with 205 restaurants in Skipton and Ripon.

Some restaurants across the Harrogate district have seen such a boost that they have extended the discount without any government backing to fund it.

Lydia Hewitt-Craft, supervisor at So! Bar and eats Harrogate, said:

“It’s been massively helpful and it’s a relief because it was hard at the start when everyone was worried about coming out but this has been great for us.”

Nertil Xhallo, manager at Sarando on Station Bridge, said:

“It has been really busy, we’ve had a lot of bookings. Most people have returned which is good. The offer has been helpful for the business.”

Sara Ferguson, acting chair of Harrogate BID and owner of two Harrogate restaurants, said:

“I think it’s been a massive help, everyone I have spoken to says it’s been worth doing. I think with the uncertainty going forward its given all those places a boost.”

District’s house building sites hotspots for burglaries

North Yorkshire Police is urging for vigilance following an increase in burglaries on new home development sites across the district.

During the past 24 hours, two incidents have been reported. One at a new site one in Langthorpe, near Boroughbridge, and the second in Penny Pot Gardens in Harrogate.

Boilers are the main item to be stolen. The perpetrators are cutting the gas and water pipes before removing the boilers, meaning some of the homes are left flooded.

Other targeted locations in the district include Knaresborough and Ripon. Furnishings valued at £70,000 were stolen from two show houses at a site in Knaresborough. In Ripon, a dumper truck was stolen from a site in the nearby village of Markington.

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The police are asking local residents to keep an eye out and report any suspicious activity.

It has also asked if any CCTV overlooking any of the targeted sites is checked for activity such as large vans driving around the sites.

Information can be reported using the 101 number, dial 1 and pass the information onto the Force Control Room.

Harrogate’s Crown Hotel under new management

The Crown Hotel in Harrogate has had its operations taken over by a new management company.

RBH has added the historic building to its portfolio of 45 other hotels in the UK.

The Crown is one of the oldest hotels in Harrogate, dating back over 300 years. It has 114 bedrooms and seven conference rooms.

The hospitality sector was hit hard during lockdown, with hotels having to remain closed. But London-based RBH is optimistic booking levels will resume now that lockdown restrictions have eased.

Andrew Robb, RBH’s chief business development officer, said it was “an exciting new chapter for this unique venue”, which is owned by Singapore-based developer the Fragrance Group.

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Mr Robb added:

“Our ethos is very much based on developing and nurturing our people, and this will be extended to The Crown as we look to maximise the potential of the team and in turn offer an outstanding experience to guests.

The covid pandemic has resulted in an exceptionally challenging time for the hospitality sector, however RBH has emerged from lockdown in a strong position and we are eager to help guide The Crown through this period and on to continued success.”

Harrogate police treatment centre reopens

The police treatment centre in Harrogate will reopen on Monday.

The centre, which provides physiotherapy and psychological rehabilitation services for police officers, has been closed since March due to coronavirus.

The St Andrews treatment facility in Harrogate, previously known as the Northern Police Convalescent Home, has operated on the same site on Harlow Moor Road since 1903.

It is one of two sites run by the Police Treatment Centres charity. The other is located in Perthshire. 

The charity supports the recovery of both serving and retired police officers. Its patients primarily serve in the forces of northern England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. 

The organisation is funded by a voluntary levy of £1.80 a week by police officers.

It will restart its psychological wellbeing programme next week. Physiotherapy services will also recommence but at reduced capacity. 

A new wing, scheduled to open in spring 2021, will offer 20 new beds and space for group activities.  

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The Stray Ferret recently reported that assaults on police officers and police staff in North Yorkshire rose by almost 60% during lockdown. 

In 2019, the charity supported 215 officers from North Yorkshire. 

Harrogate house sales fall by 50%, but ‘manic’ market now rebounding

House sales in Harrogate virtually halved in the first six months of the year but estate agents say a “manic” July and August means 2020 will end strongly.

The Stray Ferret analysed Land Registry data, which shows when and where houses with a Harrogate postcode were sold.

From 1 January 2020 to 30 June 2020, 442 homes were purchased, compared with 872 in the same period in 2019. This represents a decline of 49%.

Estate agents were forced to close from 23 March until 13 May and the figures show how lockdown hit the previously buoyant sector hard.

However, Alex Atkinson, sales manager at Linley & Simpson estate agent in Harrogate told the Stray Ferret that despite the sluggish figures for January to June, it had experienced a “manic” July and August, with several homes sold for above the asking price.

He said this has been driven, in part, by the stamp duty holiday that was announced in July.

Mr Atkinson said:

“The market has been brilliant. I cannot remember the last time we agreed five sales above the asking price in one week.”

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UK house prices are at a historic all-time high but Mr Atkinson said it’s unlikely the housing boom will last into 2021 as the long-term economic impact of coronavirus deepens.

He said:

“The furlough scheme is still yet to end and there will probably be an economic downturn with redundancies, then the stamp duty holiday will end after Christmas. It won’t last forever but my hope is it will quieten down for a little while before picking back up next year.”

Mr Atkinson said about 30% of people currently buying a home in the Harrogate district are from out of the area. He said people from cities like Leeds were being tempted by the large gardens that houses in the district can offer, especially after being cooped up indoors during lockdown.

He added:

“Since lockdown we’ve seen a massive shift in our village and rural properties. Anything with land or outdoor space is selling like hotcakes at the moment.”

New Harrogate travel agent opens

A new travel agent has opened in Harrogate’s Montpellier Quarter.

The Travel Journal opened yesterday on the site of the former Isles of Wonder gift shop.

It has started trading at a time when quarantine rules are playing havoc with many people’s holiday plans.

However Ben Poole, the owner is buoyant about prospects.

Although some travel agents have seen bookings plummet during lockdown, as more customers turn to staycations, Mr Poole said bookings were bouncing back. He said:

“Business has been great for the past few weeks and green shoots are certainly appearing for our industry.

“The surge of high quality last minute bookings to places that remain on the government’s safe quarantine list has been a very welcome surprise as I had written off summer 2020 but I have probably done more business this summer last minute than I would have done any previous year.

“Yes there is a worry destinations could be added to the quarantine list without much prior notice but all my clients are made aware of the risks.”

Offices at the Travel Journal shop in Harrogate.

This new shop is set alongside multiple other independent shops recovering from months of lockdown.

Mr Poole, who has been in the travel industry for 21 years, began his new venture at home in January and has been forced to cope with the impact of lockdown.

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He hopes the pandemic will encourage more people to use travel agents after hearing stories of people unable to get refunds from some online companies.

 

Harrogate dog rescue worried about post-lockdown pets

Lockdown led to a huge increase in demand for puppies. But as people start to return to work, there is concern that  ‘lockdown buyers’ will no longer have time to care for their new furry friends.

Karen Moss, who has fostered over 50 dogs for the Harrogate-based charity Miss Mollies Rescue, told the Stray Ferret she was concerned there could be an increase in owners returning adopted dogs. She said:

“There was definitely an increase in people wanting dogs during lockdown. People found they had more time on their hands and wanted to get out and about walking and found it the perfect opportunity to get a dog, which in most cases they have always wanted but working full-time was not ideal and never would be.

“There are rescue centres that are now having to take back dogs and puppies that people adopted during lockdown. We have been ok so far but when lockdown hit we had to close our charity shop, which impacted us financially so if we do get an increase in dogs it will be a worry.”

Karen Moss told us that she spends up to 18 months getting dogs ready to go to new homes.

“No dog is the same, I have to figure out how to get them to respond, some come quickly others take a lot of time. I have one dog at the moment that is now ready for a new home after 18 months… he couldn’t look at me when he first came, but now when someone comes to visit he will practically sit on their knee.”

Miss Mollies currently has a range of dogs looking for a new home for life. The Stray Ferret will be running a monthly ‘Lonely Pets’ page where you can find a wide variety of animals that are looking for a loving home.