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 AUTHOR: W.R. Mitchell, MBE, D.Litt was an authority on his native Yorkshire whose history and topography he studied for over fifty years. Born in Skipton, he began a career in journalism with the Craven Herald & Pioneer in 1943 and was invited in 1948 by Harry Scott, founder of The Dalesman, to join him on the magazine, which he subsequently edited for many years until he retired in 1988. He was the author of well over a hundred books about Yorkshire and the Lake District, including the bestseller The Story of the Yorkshire Dales. 156 illustrations
