The first English 'watering place' to be distinguished by the name of 'spa', Harrogate rose to prominence, from a small hamlet to a fashionable retreat for the gentry. The number arriving to take the cure reached 20,000 by 1848, rising to 60,000 by the end of the century.

Local history lovers will be delighted ... a fascinating insight into the town's history ... all vividly brought to life by author Bill Mitchell's narrative and superb collection of illustrations. Harrogate Advertiser