The Old Spa, Starbeck

A couple of miles down the road from the famous spa town of Harrogate, Starbeck had discovered a couple of important mineral springs as early as the 1620s, well before Harrogate's rise to fame. On the popularity of the health-giving properties of the Chalybeate (iron) spring and the Sulphur water, hotels were built and a very fruitful trade developed.

By the end of the eighteenth century the wells had fallen into disrepair and Harrogate's popularity was growing. There was a resurgence in the 19th century and in 1828 a modern suite of baths were built (the frontage of which can be seen on the right of the picture).

Unfortunately, whilst sinking a new sulphur well in 1879, the work damaged the important Chalybeate spring and the waters became polluted.

The only remnant of this once proud establishment, besides the old baths frontage, is the 1852 building on the left. These were saved from demolition in the 1970s.