Harrogate was once a major spa town that attracted wealthy Victorian visitors seeking treatments from the town's mineral waters. The documentary explores some of Harrogate's historic spa buildings, including the Royal Baths which offered electric hydrotherapy baths, and the Pump Rooms where the public could drink freely from the town's sulphur well. While no longer a major spa destination, the town has adapted to become a commuter town and center for horticulture, preserving remnants of its history through museums and buildings like the old theatre.

1. Harrogate- The Spa Town That Once Was (Script)
EST. HARROGATE TOWN IN THE DAYTIME, AUTUMN
[Shots of different buildings and places in Harrogate
pop up on the screen, changing from one area to
another. The bus station with buses leaving up the
road. People wandering in and out of shops. The
Victoria Shopping Centre. The stray looking peaceful,
with cars from the road passing by in the distance.
Valley Gardens, the duck pond, and the park. Looking
down on Harrogate Train Station. The Queen Victoria
Statue. These shots establish Harrogate and the areas
around it we may visit]
PRESENTER INTRODUCTION. THE STRAY. MEDIUM SHOT.
PRESENTER:
[WALKS INTO SHOT] HELLO, I’M MADDIE ROSS, AND WELCOME
TO HARROGATE!
QUICK FIRE SHOTS OF FOOTAGE WITH THE WORD “HARROGATE
ON IT”. BUSES, BUSINESSES, CARS, BUILDINGS, POSTERS.
DID YOU KNOW, HARROGATE WAS ONCE CALLED ONE OF THE
QUEEREST PLACES TO LIVE? “WITH THE STRANGEST PEOPLE,
LEADING THE ODDEST LIVES OF DANCING, NEWSPAPER READING
AND DINING”. THE FAMOUS AUTHOUR CHARLES DICKINS SAID
THAT, WHEN HE VISITED IN 1858, THAT WAS 162 YEARS AGO!
THE POSTION OF THE CAMERA CHANGES TO DIRECTLY WHERE
PRESENTER WAS SPEAKING BEFORE. MEDIUM SHOT.
[TURNS AROUND TO LOOK INTO CAMERA] ALTHOUGH HARROGATE
MAY NOT SEEM LIKE IT TO YOU, IT’S MY HOME AND I’VE
LIVED HERE ALL MY LIFE. IT’S A TOWN WITH A RICH
HISTORY, A ONCE MAJESTIC SPA TOWN, AND A JEWL OF THE
NORTH. TODAY, I’M GOING TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THAT
HISTORY, WITH MAYBE A GHOST OR TWO IN THE MIX.
BIRDS EYE ANGLE, PRESENTER LOOKING UP AT THE CAMERA

2. SO, COME AND JOIN ME ON A JOUERNEY INTO THE HISTORY OF
HARROGATE, THE SPA TOWN THAT ONCE WAS!
TITLE SCREEN [HARROGATE- THE SPA TOWN THAT ONCE WAS]
EST. ROYAL BATHS HARROGATE, MULTIPLE SHOTS AT
DIFFERENT ANGLES.
PRESENTER:
[MEDIUM SHOT WITH THE ROYAL BATHS IN THE BACKGROUND]
THIS IS THE BUILDING KNOWN AS THE ROYAL BATHS, A LARGE
TOURIST PULL DURING HARROGATES HAY DAY. DURING THE
VICTORIAN TIMES, THE RICH AND POWERFUL WOULD JOURNEY
TO THE TOWN TO HAVE A DAY HERE, HAVING ALL SORTS OF
WEIRD AND WACKY TREATMENTS DONE TO THEM. SOME
TREATMENTS INCLUDED SOMETHING KNOWN AS THE SCHNEE, OR
THE ELECTRIC HYDROTHERAPY BATH, WHERE THE PATIENT SITS
IN A FOUR CELL BATH, ARMS AND LEGS SUBMERGED, WHILE A
SCARY LOOKING VICTORIAN ATTENDENT CONTROLLED THE
ELECTRIC CURRENTS. THIS TREATMENT WAS SAID TO HELP
THOSE SUFFERING WITH CONDITONS SUCH AS ARTHRITUS AND
RHEUATISM, THE ELECTRO MAGNETIC CURRENTS SOOTHING THE
PATIENTS PAIN.
[TURNING TO THE SIDE AS THOUGH WHISPERING, LOW ANGLE]
I’M NOT GONNA LIE, I WOULDN’T GET INTO THAT THING IF
SOMEONE PAID ME TO, THE VICTORIANS WERE MAD, SERIOUSLY
MAD.
[BACK TO ORIGINAL SHOT]
THE ROYAL BATHS CLOSED FOR THE FINAL TIME IN 1969,
GIVING Its LAST TERRIFYING TREATMENTS, AND CLOSING
IT’S DOORS AS A SPA FOREVER.
NOWADAYS, THE ROYAL BATHS HOLDS ANOTHER PAST TIME, ONE
OF A MORE MODERN STATURE, HOUSING A CHINESE RESTAURANT
POPULAR TO HARROGATES MODERN RESIDENTS AS WELL AS A
NEW WAVE OF TOURISTS.

3. [On the screen, a modern image of the Royal Baths
fades to the black and white image taken in the
Victorian/Edwardian period. Over the old picture, we
hear old diegetic sounds of what Victorian Harrogate
could have sounded like. Horses hooves, newspaper boys
shouting. Women laughing together]
EST. HARROGATE STRAY DAY TIME. IN FRONT OF THE EMPRESS
PUB.
PRESENTER:
[LONG SHOT WITH PRESENTER TO THE LEFT SIDE OF FRAME,
MANSFIELD HOUSE, AND THE EMPRESS IN THE BACKGROUND]
HERE YOU JOIN ME OUTSIDE OF THE EMPRESS PUB AND
MANSFIELD HOUSE ON THE HARROGATE STRAY. ON THE
OUTSIDE, THIS JUST LOOKS LIKE A NORMAL STREET, A PLACE
TO HAVE A DRINK, A NICE PLACE TO TAKE A WALK, BUT
WITHIN THESE TWO BUILDINGS IS A RICH HISTORY.
SHOTS OF MANSFIELD HOUSE, PRESENTER WALKING PAST IT ON
THE STREET
TODAY, MANSFIELD HOUSE IS HOME TO MODERN DAY HARROGATE
RESIDENTS, HOWEVER DURING THE RAPID GROWTH OF
HARROGATE IN THE 18TH CENTURY, THIS BUILDING HELD A
TOTALLY DIFFERENT, AND POSSIBLY SURPRISING PURPOSE. IT
WAS ACTUALLY THE FIRST THEATRE IN HARROGATE, KNOWN IN
THE DAY AT THE GEORGIAN THEATRE.
THE THEATRE WAS BUILT BY SAMUAL BUTLER FOR HIS CIRUCIT
IN 1788, WITH THE COST MET BY MRS WILKS OF THE GRANBY
HOTEL, WHOSE BARN PREVIOUSLY HELD THEATRICAL
PERFORMANCES FOR HARROGATE. THE NEW GEORGIAN THEATRE
GAVE A NEW SENSE OF LUXURY TO THE PEOPLE OF HARROGATE,

4. AND BEING ABLE TO WATCH A NEW PLAY WITHIN THE WALLS OF
A BUILDING AND NOT A BARN WAS A RELIEF TO THE
RESIDENTS, AS WELL AS THE NEW TOURISTS MAKING THEIR
WAY TO THE TOWN.
TO CATER TO THESE NEW TOURISTS AND THEATRE GOERS, MRS
WILKS OPENED HER GRANBY HOTEL, WHICH AJOINED ONTO THE
SIDE OF THE THEATRE. AS ALL THINGS DO HOWEVER,
EVERYTHING HAS THEIR TIME, AND THE GEORGIAN THEATRE
CLOSED IN 1830, TO MAKE WAY FOR MORE MODERN VENTURES
IN THE MAIN TOWN CENTRE.
NOW THE MEMORY OF THE THEATRE LIVES ON, ALTHOUGH
HIDDEN, THE WALLS NOW HOUSING A NEW KIND OF AUDINCE,
AND THE GRANBY HOTEL, NOW THE EMPRESS PUB.
CAMERA FOLLOWING THE PRESENTER AS SHE WALKS DOWN THE
STREET AND PAST THE PUB AND THE EMPRESS, AS SHE ADDS
HER OWN COMMENT ON WHAT SHE THINKS ABOUT THIS PIECE OF
HISTORY.
EST. HARROGATE TOWN CENTRE OUTSIDE OF THE
THEATRE.EVENING TIME.
[SHOTS OF HARROGATE THEATRE FILL THE SCREEN; WE HAVE
SHOTS OF THE CAMERA SCANNING UP THE LARGE BUILDING.
SHOTS OF THE WINDOWS, THE DOORS ECT]
PRESENTER
[VOICE OVER]
TALKING OF THEATRES, OUR NEXT STOP IS HARROGATE
THEATRE, OR FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE GRAND OPERA HOUSE, A
GREAT LOVE OF MODERN AND PAST TOURISTS IN HARROGATE.
PRESENTER
HARROGATE THEATRE IS ONE OF THE MOST RECOGNISABLE
PLACES IN HERE, FOR RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS A LIKE.
MOST SCHOOL CHILDREN IN HARROGATE, SUCH AS I, HAVE
SPENT MANY AN HOUR WITHIN THESE WALLS, WATCHING THE
ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PANOTMIME, AS WELL AS POPULAR COMEDY
SHOWS AND EVENTS.

5. HARROGATE OPERA HOUSE WAS FIRST OPENED IN 1900, WITH A
CHARITY GALA IN AID OF THE BRITISH SOLDIERS FIGHTING
THE BOER WAR. IT WAS A COMPLETE SUCCESS, AND THE TOWNS
PEOPLE WERE PLEASED TO HAVE A NEW PLACE TO WATCH PLAYS
AND SHOWS.
CUE SATIRICAL SPOOKY MUSIC. PRESENTER IS NOW HOLDING A
TORCH UNDER THEIR FACE, MOCKING SPOOKY STORIES AROUND
A CAMP FIRE.
ALTHOGH IT LOOKS PRETTY ON THE OUTSIDE, NOTHING BUT A
PLACE TO ENTERTAIN THE WEALTHY, INSIDE THE REALITY IS
MUCH SPOOKIER.
HARROGATE THEATRE HERE, IS SAID TO HARBOUR ITS VERY
OWN GHOST, AN APPARIATION BY THE NAME OF ALICE!
[THUNDER CRASH] THE VICTIM OF A TERRIBLE LOVE AFFAIR
THAT ENDED IN ALICE FALLING TO HER DEATH FROM THE
BALCONY, SHE IS SAID TO ROAM THE HALLS OF THE THEATRE,
HAUNTING THE STALLS, AND LEAVING THE DISTICNT SMELL OF
PEPERMINT AS SHE GOES. ALICE IS LINKED WITH STRANGE
SIGHTINGS OF LIGHTS AND ORBS WITHIN THE THEATRE, BUT
ONE QUESTION REMAINS ABOUT HER DEATH. DID ALICE JUMP
FROM THE BALCONY, OR WAS SHE PUSHED? [THUNDER CRASH]
THE PRESENTER TURNS OF HER TORCH AND THE SCREEN IS
SUBMERGED IN DARKNESS, THE CAMERA SCANNING TO THE
BUILDING SEEPED IN DARKNESS.
TRANSITON SHOTS TO INDICATE A NEW DAY/TIME
[LIGHT TRAIL PHOTOGRAPHY, SUN COMING UP/GOING DOWN.
BLACK AND WHITE FOOTAGE OF AREAS IN TOWN. CENOTAPH,
BETTY’S, VALLEY GARDENS. TIME LAPSE OF PEOPLE WALKING
AROUND HARROGATE.]
EST. HARROGATE PUMP ROOM, DAYTIME.
[WE START WITH THE OLD VICTORIAN IMAGE OF THE PUMP
ROOM, WITH A VICTORIAN SOUND SCAPE OVER THE TOP. THE
WIND BLOWING TO GIVE A COLD FEELING TO MATCH THE
IMAGE, SOUNDS OF HOOVES, OLD BELLS RINGING, KIDS
RUNNING THROUGH THE STREETS. SOUNDS OF THROWING
SNOWBALLS.

6. WE FADE TO A MODERN-DAY IMAGE OF THE PUMP ROOMS,
FILMED TODAY AND IN FULL COLOUR.]
CHANGE LOCATION TO IN FRONT OF THE PUMP ROOM, WHERE
THE SINK THAT DISPERSIS THE WATER IS. MEDIUM LONG
SHOT.
PRESENTER
HERE WE ARE OUTSIDE THE FAMOUS HARROGATE PUMP ROOMS.
THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST RECOGNISABLE BUILDINGS IN
HARROGATE, EVEN FEATURING ON THE BOTTLES OF THE
HARROGATE SPRING WATER COMPANY. DUE TO THE FAST GROWTH
OF TOURISTS COMING TO TAKE THE WATERS, MORE SPA
FACILITIES HAD TO BE BUILT TO MEET DEMAND, AND ONE OF
THESE WERE THE ROYAL PUMP ROOMS.THE BUILDING OPENED IN
1842 TO REPLACE THE EARLIER BUILDING THAT HAD COVERED
THE POPULAR OLD SULPHUR WELL.
FREE FROM THE ELEMENTS, AND AT A CHARGE, THE WATER WAS
SERVED IN A GLASS, AND CUSTOMERS AND TOURISTS COULD
ENJOY BANDS AS THEY TOOK THE WATER.
A FEATURE WAS ALSO ADDED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE
POOR, A TAP OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING WHERE THE WATER
WAS PROVIDED FREELY.
[KNEELING DOWN AT THE TAP, MEDIUM CLOSE UP]
TODAY WE CAN STILL SEE THE TAP, AND IF YOU WERE HERE
YOU WOULD NOTICE THE DISTINCT EGGY SMELL OF THE
SULPHURE. IT’S NOT RECOMMENDED YOU DRINK THE WATER,
HOWEVER ITS UP TO YOU, THE VICTORIANS WOULD CERTAINLY
DRINK UP.
[SHOT OF THE TAP BY ITSELF, CLOSE UP]
[MEDIUM CLOSE UP] I THINK ILL JUST STICK TO MY SPRING
WATER THANK YOU.
INSIDE NOW, IS THE ROYAL PUMP ROOM MUESEUM, THE
BUILDING REPURPOSED FOR A NEW TYPE OF TOURIST
ATTRACTION. INSIDE YOU CAN FIND EXHIBITIONS ON
EGYPTOLOGY, AS WELL AS THE HISTORY OF THE TOWN AND THE
ORIGINAL SULPHUR WELLS THAT STILL RUN BELOW IT.

7. EST.QUEEN VICTORIA STATUE.
PRESENTER
[MEDIUM CLOSE UP]
HARROGATE HAS CHANGED A LOT SINCE IT’S INITIAL SUCCESS
IN THE 18TH CENTURY, BUT LOT’S OF THINGS HAVE ALSO
STAYED THE SAME. SINCE THE DELCINE IN POPULARITY OF
SPA TOWNS AND “TAKING THE WATERS”, HARROGATE HAS HAD
TO ADAPT AND CHANGE. IT IS NOW A PLESANT COMMTER TOWN,
WITH PEOPLE SETTING UP HOME HERE DUE TO IT’S
CONNECTIONS TO YORK AND LEEDS. ALTHOUGH IT ISNT THE
SPA TOWN IT ONCE WAS, THE PULL OF TOURISM IS STILL
THERE, WITH EXHIBITIONS AND FUNCTIONS HELD ALL YEAR
ROUND, AS WELL AS THE POPULAR HARROGATE IN BLOOM IN
SUMMER. ITS NO LONGER THE SPA CAPTIAL, BUT THE FLOWER
CAPITAL.
I HOPE YOU’VE ENJOYED OUR JOURNEY THROUGH THE HISTORY
OF HARROGATE, AND THAT YOU MIGHT TAKE A TRIP HERE
YOURSELF ONE DAY, BUT THAT’S ALL WE HAVE TIME FOR NOW.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME IN HARROGATE- THE SPA TOWN
THAT ONCE WAS.
CREDITS
[OVER THE CREDITS, WE HAVE OLD VICTORIAN IMAGES FLASH
AND FADE FROM THE SCREEN. WE ALSO HAVE OLD FOOTAGE
FROM THE MID CENTURY. OVER THE TOP WE HAVE A PLESANT
TUNE THAT IS NOSTALGIC OF THE TIME]