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The Henry Peacock in Starbeck.

Starbeck, a couple of miles up the road from the better-known spa town of Harrogate, actually pre-dates the latter as a spa, with the remains of the old eighteenth century spa facilities still standing on the other side of the railway line from this pub.

Starbeck also had a railway station before its larger neighbour and grew as a major centre for railways after its station opened in 1848.

The Henry Peacock pub was built at about the same time as the station and was originally called the Harrogate Hotel. Situated as close as possible to the rail station (the signal box and level crossing can be seen next to the building), it was a popular haunt for the railway workers until that industry declined in the 1950s.

The pub was renamed in the 1890s after Henry Peacock a former master of the local workhouse, a short distance along the road.

The owners of the pub, which seems to be suffering a decline in trade like many others, sought permission last year to demolish the building but it is currently up for sale.