Grove House, Harrogate
Encyclopedia
Grove House is a Grade II* listed manor house
, located in Skipton Road, Harrogate
, North Yorkshire
, England
. Built in 1745-54 as World's End Inn, and the first house in Yorkshire to have gas lighting and heating, today it is a convalescence and old aged persons rest home, owned and operated by the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (RAOB)
.
, the original World's End Inn was constructed in 1752-4 as a square shaped hostelry around an inner quadrangle. There is evidence to suggest that it served as coaching inn and staging post, for passengers and mail from London
to York
.
In 1805, it was purchased by a Mrs. Holland for use as a boarding school
. In 1809 it was purchased by Yorkshire-born authoress Barbara Hofland
, who developed it as a ladies finishing school
, a forerunner to what is now Harrogate College
. But she kept it only until 1811, when she moved to London. Purchased by the Reverend T.T. Wildsmith in 1822, he converted it into a school for boys. After being unoccupied for some years, it was converted to a private house by new owner, Captain Heneby.
. A self-made man, he had created the Leeds Forge Company
, and through his invention of the corrugated flue, had made himself a multi-millionaire. His descendents include the actor Edward Fox
, and his daughter the actress Emilia Fox
.
Samson Fox built himself a fully equipped workshop in the basement, and added the Royal Stables, which included a Turkish bath for his breeding stock. The stables clock tower, and much of the interior panelling, stained glass and pasterwork to create new rooms in the house, were all recovered from the recently demolished Dragon Hotel, formerly over a bridge on the opposite side of Skipton Road. Fox extended the estate footprint through purchases of land when they became available, eventually creating an estate just in excess of 40 acres (16.2 ha). This included the provision of grazing land for sheep by the gatehouse, so that they could rest on their way to Knaresborough
market.
Experimenting after a trip to the United States
, he refined the process for producing water gas
in his basement laboratory, and began constructing a trial plant in the grounds of the property. This made Grove House the first gas light and gas heated house in all of Yorskhire. He later built the first of three new town-scale plants across the UK in Harrogate, creating a light so bright that it was written that: "Samson Fox has captured the sunlight for Harrogate."
This success allowed him in 1870 to add the west wing, designed to provide a suite of rooms for his friend the Prince of Wales
(later King Edward VII
), and his party when visiting Yorkshire, including: a library; billiard room; and small gallery. His commercial efforts to extended water gas production across the UK were blocked by the commercial and political efforts of the existing coal gas companies, plus an article written by consumer safety champion and fiction writer Jerome K. Jerome
. This was released to the press and printed on the day that Fox formally presented the final cheque to the Prince of Wales, completing his full under writing of the £45,000 construction cost of the new home for the Royal College of Music
.
Denied his knighthood, Fox funnelled his efforts into his new home town. He provided Harrogate with its first Fire Service, and built Grove Road School. After clearing his name from the water gas scare, he eventually he became Mayor of Harrogate for three successive years, a feat never equalled since.
From 1898 to 1902, Fox built the east wing on the site of the former winter garden. It provided a music and ballroom, and an extensive art gallery on the first floor. During renovations in 1998/9, builders found a number of dragon-patterned ornate plaster panels above the music room, probably incorporated from the former Dragon Hotel, which were part of Fox's original renovations. Carefully removed, they now reside in Lesser Hall, the Grand Staircase and first floor landing. Those in the Lesser Hall alone have been valued in excess of £40,000 by the Royal Pump Room Museum
.
Ater Fox's death on a visit to Walsall
in 1903, his executors maintained the house and estate, retainining staff to keep the house clean and the gardens in order. During World War I
, like many great houses, Grove House became a convalescence hospital, used for troops from the Battle of the Somme and Battle of Flanders
.
, over which they had clear ownership. Led by Lord Alston to raise funds to build and furnish a new orphanage, "Buffs" were urged to "buy a brick" or yard of turf at a cost of One shilling 1/- (around 5p), with each donor presented with a certificate.
RAOB agreed a deal to purchase Grove House for £10,000 in 1926, which also facilitated the move of the Grand Lodges offices from Sheffield. The orphanage opened during Easter 1927, with an opening march by donor members taking three hours to travel from Harrogate railway station
, accompanied by four brass band
s. During World War II
, the orphanage continued in operation, alongside facilitating the stationing of some British
and United States Army
units.
With the introduction of the national welfare state, the orphanage closed in 1947, with the RAOB returning the final resident children to members of their original families, together with supporting cash funds. After converting Grove House, the RAOB sold its convalescent home in Valley Gardens.
In 1966, to mark the centenary of the RAOB Grand Lodge of England, Grove House was adapted to provide permanent residential care for aged members without family or dependants. In 1980 female dependents of members were admitted as convalescent patients. In 1988 joint husband and wife convalescent patients were admitted for rest and recuperation, together with fee paying holiday guests to help offset the costs of maintaining the premises.
Since this time, extensive renovations have maintained the structure and history of Grove House, whilst providing all residents with en suite bathrooms.
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
, located in Skipton Road, Harrogate
Harrogate
Harrogate is a spa town in North Yorkshire, England. The town is a tourist destination and its visitor attractions include its spa waters, RHS Harlow Carr gardens, and Betty's Tea Rooms. From the town one can explore the nearby Yorkshire Dales national park. Harrogate originated in the 17th...
, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Built in 1745-54 as World's End Inn, and the first house in Yorkshire to have gas lighting and heating, today it is a convalescence and old aged persons rest home, owned and operated by the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (RAOB)
Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes
The Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes is a Fraternal, Benevolent and Social Organisation in the United Kingdom. It has no Royal patronage; it was founded after the Flood, it is not a recognised Order of chivalry and has no connection with buffaloes...
.
World's End Inn: 1752-1850
Built when Harrogate was expanding as a spa townSpa town
A spa town is a town situated around a mineral spa . Patrons resorted to spas to "take the waters" for their purported health benefits. The word comes from the Belgian town Spa. In continental Europe a spa was known as a ville d'eau...
, the original World's End Inn was constructed in 1752-4 as a square shaped hostelry around an inner quadrangle. There is evidence to suggest that it served as coaching inn and staging post, for passengers and mail from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
.
In 1805, it was purchased by a Mrs. Holland for use as a boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
. In 1809 it was purchased by Yorkshire-born authoress Barbara Hofland
Barbara Hofland
Barbara Hofland was an English writer of some 66 didactic, moral stories for children, and of schoolbooks and poetry.-Life:...
, who developed it as a ladies finishing school
Finishing school
A finishing school is "a private school for girls that emphasises training in cultural and social activities." The name reflects that it follows on from ordinary school and is intended to complete the educational experience, with classes primarily on etiquette...
, a forerunner to what is now Harrogate College
Harrogate College
Harrogate College is a further education college in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England. It traces its origins to the University Extension movement, which began in 1873 under the auspices of Cambridge University. It offers several levels of qualifications, including further- and higher-education...
. But she kept it only until 1811, when she moved to London. Purchased by the Reverend T.T. Wildsmith in 1822, he converted it into a school for boys. After being unoccupied for some years, it was converted to a private house by new owner, Captain Heneby.
Grove House: 1850-1926
In 1850, the house was bought by engineering inventor, Samson FoxSamson Fox
Samson Fox was a British engineer, industrialist, and philanthropist.-Life and career:Samson Fox was born in Bowling, Bradford, Yorkshire, England, to Jonas and Sarah Fox , and the family moved shortly afterwards to live in nearby Leeds...
. A self-made man, he had created the Leeds Forge Company
Leeds Forge Company
The Leeds Forge Company manufactured corrugated furnaces for marine boilers and later, pressed steel railway vehicles, in Leeds, England.- Early history :The company was founded by Samson Fox, who was born in Bradford in 1838...
, and through his invention of the corrugated flue, had made himself a multi-millionaire. His descendents include the actor Edward Fox
Edward Fox (actor)
Edward Charles Morice Fox, OBE is an English stage, film and television actor.He is generally associated with portraying the role of the upper-class Englishman, such as the title character in the film The Day of the Jackal and King Edward VIII in the serial Edward & Mrs...
, and his daughter the actress Emilia Fox
Emilia Fox
Emilia Rose Elizabeth Fox is an award-winning English actress, known for her role as Dr. Nikki Alexander on BBC crime drama Silent Witness, having joined the cast in 2004 following the departure of Amanda Burton. She also appears as Morgause in the BBC's Merlin beginning in the programme's second...
.
Samson Fox built himself a fully equipped workshop in the basement, and added the Royal Stables, which included a Turkish bath for his breeding stock. The stables clock tower, and much of the interior panelling, stained glass and pasterwork to create new rooms in the house, were all recovered from the recently demolished Dragon Hotel, formerly over a bridge on the opposite side of Skipton Road. Fox extended the estate footprint through purchases of land when they became available, eventually creating an estate just in excess of 40 acres (16.2 ha). This included the provision of grazing land for sheep by the gatehouse, so that they could rest on their way to Knaresborough
Knaresborough
Knaresborough is an old and historic market town, spa town and civil parish in the Borough of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England, located on the River Nidd, four miles east of the centre of Harrogate.-History:...
market.
Experimenting after a trip to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, he refined the process for producing water gas
Water gas
Water gas is a synthesis gas, containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen. It is a useful product but requires careful handling because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. The gas is made by passing steam over a red-hot hydrocarbon fuel such as coke:...
in his basement laboratory, and began constructing a trial plant in the grounds of the property. This made Grove House the first gas light and gas heated house in all of Yorskhire. He later built the first of three new town-scale plants across the UK in Harrogate, creating a light so bright that it was written that: "Samson Fox has captured the sunlight for Harrogate."
This success allowed him in 1870 to add the west wing, designed to provide a suite of rooms for his friend the Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
(later King Edward VII
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
), and his party when visiting Yorkshire, including: a library; billiard room; and small gallery. His commercial efforts to extended water gas production across the UK were blocked by the commercial and political efforts of the existing coal gas companies, plus an article written by consumer safety champion and fiction writer Jerome K. Jerome
Jerome K. Jerome
Jerome Klapka Jerome was an English writer and humorist, best known for the humorous travelogue Three Men in a Boat.Jerome was born in Caldmore, Walsall, England, and was brought up in poverty in London...
. This was released to the press and printed on the day that Fox formally presented the final cheque to the Prince of Wales, completing his full under writing of the £45,000 construction cost of the new home for the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
.
Denied his knighthood, Fox funnelled his efforts into his new home town. He provided Harrogate with its first Fire Service, and built Grove Road School. After clearing his name from the water gas scare, he eventually he became Mayor of Harrogate for three successive years, a feat never equalled since.
From 1898 to 1902, Fox built the east wing on the site of the former winter garden. It provided a music and ballroom, and an extensive art gallery on the first floor. During renovations in 1998/9, builders found a number of dragon-patterned ornate plaster panels above the music room, probably incorporated from the former Dragon Hotel, which were part of Fox's original renovations. Carefully removed, they now reside in Lesser Hall, the Grand Staircase and first floor landing. Those in the Lesser Hall alone have been valued in excess of £40,000 by the Royal Pump Room Museum
Royal Pump Room, Harrogate
The Royal Pump Room is a museum and former spa water pump, located in the town of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England.-Background:Debate continues to this day over whom and when the waters of Harrogate were discovered. Generally believed to be Sir William Slingsby who discovered Tewit Well, the...
.
Ater Fox's death on a visit to Walsall
Walsall
Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
in 1903, his executors maintained the house and estate, retainining staff to keep the house clean and the gardens in order. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, like many great houses, Grove House became a convalescence hospital, used for troops from the Battle of the Somme and Battle of Flanders
Battle of Flanders
The Battle of Flanders is the name of three battles fought Flanders region in northern France and Belgium during the First World War.*First Battle of Flanders - The First Battle of Ypres - a battle fought during the Race to the Sea.*Second Battle of Flanders - The Battle of Passchendaele - an...
.
RAOB Grove House: 1926-present
In 1926, the RAOB needed a new orphanageOrphanage
An orphanage is a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable or unwilling to care for them...
, over which they had clear ownership. Led by Lord Alston to raise funds to build and furnish a new orphanage, "Buffs" were urged to "buy a brick" or yard of turf at a cost of One shilling 1/- (around 5p), with each donor presented with a certificate.
RAOB agreed a deal to purchase Grove House for £10,000 in 1926, which also facilitated the move of the Grand Lodges offices from Sheffield. The orphanage opened during Easter 1927, with an opening march by donor members taking three hours to travel from Harrogate railway station
Harrogate railway station
Harrogate railway station serves the town centre of Harrogate in North Yorkshire, England. It is located on the Harrogate Line north of Leeds railway station. Northern Rail operate the station and provide all passenger train services except a daily East Coast service to and from London Kings...
, accompanied by four brass band
Brass band
A brass band is a musical ensemble generally consisting entirely of brass instruments, most often with a percussion section. Ensembles that include brass and woodwind instruments can in certain traditions also be termed brass bands , but are usually more correctly termed military bands, concert...
s. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the orphanage continued in operation, alongside facilitating the stationing of some British
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
and United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
units.
With the introduction of the national welfare state, the orphanage closed in 1947, with the RAOB returning the final resident children to members of their original families, together with supporting cash funds. After converting Grove House, the RAOB sold its convalescent home in Valley Gardens.
In 1966, to mark the centenary of the RAOB Grand Lodge of England, Grove House was adapted to provide permanent residential care for aged members without family or dependants. In 1980 female dependents of members were admitted as convalescent patients. In 1988 joint husband and wife convalescent patients were admitted for rest and recuperation, together with fee paying holiday guests to help offset the costs of maintaining the premises.
Since this time, extensive renovations have maintained the structure and history of Grove House, whilst providing all residents with en suite bathrooms.