Harlow Carr Gardens
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| Type | Garden |
| Proprietor | Royal Horticultural Society |
| Size | 27.5ha |
| Main feature | Annual and perennial planting |
| Other features | Gardens Through Time |
| Public access | Yes |
| Exhibition | Yes |
| Country | England |
| Region | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| UK Grid square | SE2754 |
| Address | Cragg Lane, Harrogate, North Yorkshire |
| Postcode | HG3 1QB |
| Refreshments | Yes |
| Parking | Yes |
| Shop | Yes |
| Co-ordinates | Coordinates: |
The Royal Horticultural Society's garden Harlow Carr near Harrogate in the English county of North Yorkshire is one of four public gardens run by the Society.
The garden is the most recent addition to the RHS, acquired by the merger of the Northern Horticultural Society with the RHS in 2001. It had been the Northern Horticultural Society's trial ground and display garden since they bought it in 1946.
Contents |
[edit] Location
The Garden is situated on Crag Lane, off Otley Road (B6162) about a mile and a half from the centre of Harrogate. [1]
[edit] Features
Harlow Carr has:
- Rose Revolution Borders
- Winter Walk
- Kitchen Garden
- Gardens through Time
- The Queen Mother’s Lake
- Woodland
- Streamside
- Wildflower meadow & bird hide
- Arboretum
- Humus-rich Terraces
- Winter Garden
- Scented Garden
- Foliage Garden
- Annual & perennial displays
- Ornamental Grasses Border
- Alpine Houses
- Herb Garden
It also has a shop and plant centre in addition to the legendary[2] Bettys Cafe Tea Rooms.[1]
[edit] History
The gardens are situated in an area that was once part of the Forest of Knaresborough, an ancient royal hunting ground. Springs of sulphur water were discovered here in the 18th century but development of the site as a spa did not take place for over a hundred years. In 1840, the owner of the estate, Henry Wright, cleaned out and protected one of the wells and four years later built a hotel and a bath house. People were charged 2s 6d (12.5 new pence) to bathe in the warm waters. The gardens were laid out around the bath house and in 1861 the site at Harlow Carr springs was described as:
'a sweet secluded spot...the grounds neatly laid out, adorned with a selection of trees, shrubs, flowers, walks, easy seats and shady arbours.'
The hotel is now the Harrogate Arms and the bath house now houses the garden study centre. The building was converted in 1958 and contains a meeting room , the library and offices. The six well heads in front of the bath house have been capped off but remain beneath the present Limestone Rock Garden. At certain times there is a distinct smell of sulphur in this area.[1]
The Northern Horticultural Society was founded in 1946 with the objective of:
'promoting and developing the science, art and practice of horticulture with special reference to the conditions pertaining to the North of England.'
The Society leased 10.5 hectares of mixed woodland, pasture and arable land at Harlow Hill from the Harrogate Corporation and it opened the Harlow Carr Botanical Gardens in 1950. The chief aim of the venture was to set up a trial ground where the suitability of plants for growing in northern climates could be assessed. The original 10.5 hectares has been extended to 27.5 .[1]
Geoffrey Smith, writer and broadcaster, was Superintendent of Harlow Carr from 1954-74
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e RHS Garden Harlow Carr (pdf). Royal Horticultural Society (2008). Retrieved on 2008-03-20.
- ^ Britains Best: Bettys Cafe Tea Rooms. UKTV History. Retrieved on 2008-03-20.
