Knaresborough

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Knaresborough
Image:dot4gb.svg
Statistics
Population: 14,740
Ordnance Survey
OS grid reference: SE302552
Administration
District: Harrogate
Shire county: North Yorkshire
Region: Yorkshire and the Humber
Constituent country: England
Sovereign state: United Kingdom
Other
Ceremonial county: North Yorkshire
Historic county: North Yorkshire
Services
Police force: North Yorkshire Police
Fire and rescue: {{{Fire}}}
Ambulance: Yorkshire
Post office and telephone
Post town: KNARESBOROUGH
Postal district: HG5
Dialling code: 01423
Politics
UK Parliament: Harrogate and Knaresborough
European Parliament: Yorkshire and the Humber
Overlooking the River Nidd in Knaresborough
Enlarge
Overlooking the River Nidd in Knaresborough

Knaresborough is an historic market town and spa town in the Borough of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England, located four miles east of Harrogate town.

Contents

[edit] History

The Bishop of Knaresborough is a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds.

[edit] Attractions and events

Sights in the town include remains of Knaresborough Castle, Mother Shipton's petrifying well and several cave dwellings, one a chapel, dating from the Middle Ages. Knaresborough is also the site of the oldest chemist shop in England, opened in 1720.

Every year the town hosts a number of large social events, chief among them being the Knaresborough Bed Race. Every summer, teams of locals and visitors, comprising six runners and one passenger, decorate special tube frame 'beds' for a parade through the town. Then, once the beds have been stripped of their non-essential decorations, they compete to push the bed on a combination race/time trial through the town. The climax of the race comes when the teams must cross the River Nidd and climb a steep muddy bank to reach the finish line. Beds without sufficient flotation devices have been known to sink. Although most teams are local, competitors often come from across the country and from Knaresborough's German twin town Bebra to compete. Past celebrities who have taken part include James Whale and Peter Duncan, who famously ran the course for his show 'Duncan Dares'.

[edit] Public Open Spaces

The principle areas of public open space in the town are the Knaresborough Castle grounds, the nearby Bebra Gardens (formerly Moat Gardens) named after Knaresborough's twin town in Germany, the Conyngham Hall grounds, Horseshoe Field, the King George V Playing Field. Jacob Smith Park, a 30 hectare parkland on the edge of the town bequeathed to Knaresborough by Miss Winifred Jacob Smith, is planned to open in late 2006. There is currently a project underway to revamp the Bebra gardens

[edit] Famous residents

  • Mother Shipton was a medieval seer who is said to have been born in a cave south of the town. Born Ursula Southeil around 1488, Mother Shipton is now considered to be largely mythical.
  • John Metcalf, otherwise known as "Blind Jack". Blind Jack was born on August 15th, 1717 into a working class family and had a typical upbringing. At the age of six, he lost his sight to a smallpox infection. Losing his sight in childhood did not deter him from carrying on a productive life as he learned to play the violin and guided people around Knaresborough. Later in life he became a roadmaker, building hundreds of roads and bridges in the Northern England. Blind Jack died in 1810 at the age of 92 in Spofforth.
  • Guy Fawkes once lived in Knaresborough
  • Richard II was imprisoned in the town
  • The four knights accused of murdering Thomas Beckett were also said to have taken refuge in Knaresborough.
  • The noted 18th century scholar and murderer Eugene Aram lived here.
  • Lord Inman of Knaresborough (Philip Inman) former Chairman of the BBC was born here
  • Tom Hoy: Former member of Scottish folk-rock groups Natural Acoustic Band and Magna Carta
  • Rory Hoy: Tom Hoy's teenage son. Soon to release a book called Autism and Me from Jessica Kingsley Publications in January 2007.

[edit] Transport

Knaresborough is served by Knaresborough railway station, on the Harrogate to York line. The town lies some four miles from junction 47 of the A1(M) Motorway.

[edit] Sport

Knaresborough Town are the town's predominant football team. Housed at Manse Lane, they are the only club in the town to have an authentic setup. Knaresbrough Town currently play in the West Yorkshire League. However, Knaresborough Celtic also provide youth footaball, with junior teams from Under 6's to Under 17's.

Knaresborough Forest Cricket Club were crowned Nidderdale League Division 3 winners in 2005 then promoted from Division 2 as runners-up in the following season.

[edit] External links

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