The Valley Gardens, Harrogate
The Valley Gardens have played a major role in Harrogate’s claim to be a ’floral resort’. Before 1886 the valley running down from the Bogs Field, the site of many springs, was used as a park known as the Valley Pleasure Grounds. In that year the Corporation purchased the site, which was extended by later purchases of Harlow Moor in 1898 and 1926, and Collins Field in 1901, to form the area of the present Gardens. Subsequent embellishments included the building of the Sun Pavilion and the Sun Colonnade in the 1930s.

Valley Gardens, Harrogate: BU00037

Orchestra playing in Valley Gardens, Harrogate: BU00086

The Stray, Harrogate
The Stray is 200 acre half-circle of open grassland south of the town centre from Low Harrogate to High Harrogate. It was secured for recreational use of the inhabitants of the town when the Enclosure Acts in the 1770s were passed, the Stray being set aside in perpetuity as common land with free rights of access to everyone. Control was at first by ’Straygate owners’ who held the grazing rights. In 1893 the Corporation gained control of The Stray by purchase at a cost of £11,780.

The Stray, Harrogate: BU00203a

Harrogate Borough Council minutes in May 1893
concerning the Stray: NYCRO1111

Birk Crag, Harrogate
A favourite walk of about two miles from the town through the Valley Gardens and over Harlow Moor, which all eventually came under the control of the Council. William Grainge described it in 1871 as ’The grandest piece of scenery in the neighbourhood… On a fine day, when the heath is in bloom with the sunshine streaming over it, thick woods rising darkly on the west the brook stealing into view from under an arcade of foliage and winding along the bottom in graceful curves - it forms a picture at once wild, grand and beautiful.’

Oak Beck, Birk Crag, Harrogate: PH47-11

Lady on Bridge, Birk Crag, Harrogate: LS7-39