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'{{Use British English|date=October 2011}} {{Infobox UK place |static_image_name = Knaresborough view.jpg |static_image_caption = <small>View of the [[River Nidd]] from the ruins of [[Knaresborough Castle]]</small> |country = England |official_name = Knaresborough |latitude = 54.0084 |longitude = -1.467 |population = 14,740 |shire_district = [[Harrogate (borough)|Harrogate]] |region = Yorkshire and the Humber |shire_county = [[North Yorkshire]] |constituency_westminster = [[Harrogate and Knaresborough (UK Parliament constituency)|Harrogate and Knaresborough]] |post_town = KNARESBOROUGH |postcode_district = HG5 |postcode_area = HG |dial_code = 01423 |os_grid_reference = SE350570 }} '''Knaresborough''' is an old and historic [[market town]], [[spa town]] and [[civil parishes in England|civil parish]] in the [[Harrogate (borough)|Borough of Harrogate]], [[North Yorkshire]], England, located on the [[River Nidd]], four miles east of the centre of [[Harrogate]]. ==History== <!--to be written?--> Knaresborough is mentioned in the ''[[Domesday Book]]''<ref name="domesday">{{cite web|title=A Brief History|work=Harrogate council|url=http://www.harrogate.gov.uk/pdf/HBCDatafile04_pt2.pdf|year=2004|accessdate=24 July 2007}}</ref> as Chednaresburg or Chenaresburg. [[Knaresborough Castle]] dates from [[Normans|Norman]] times;<ref name="KO">{{cite web|title=Knaresborough Castle|work=Knaresborough online|url=http://www.knaresborough.co.uk/castle/history.htm|year=2005|accessdate=24 July 2007 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070927043253/http://www.knaresborough.co.uk/castle/history.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 27 September 2007}}</ref> around 1100, the town began to grow and provide a market and attract traders to service the castle. The present parish church, St John's, was established around this time. The earliest name for a Lord of Knaresborough is from around 1115 when [[Serlo de Burgh]] held the 'Honour of Knaresborough' from the King.<ref>Turner, Dr Maurice. (1990). ''A Brief History of Knaresborough''</ref> [[Hugh de Morville, Lord of Westmorland|Hugh de Morville]] was granted the Honour of Knaresborough in 1158. He was constable of Knaresborough and leader of the group of four knights who murdered Archbishop [[Thomas Beckett]] at [[Canterbury Cathedral]] on 29 December 1170. The four knights fled to Knaresborough and hid at the castle. Hugh de Morville forfeited the lands in 1173, not for his implication in the murder of Thomas Becket, but for "complicity in the rebellion of young [[Henry II of England|Henry]]", according to the [[Early Yorkshire Charters]]. The Honour of Knaresborough then passed to the [[Stuteville]] family. When the Stuteville line was broken with the death of [[Robert de Stuteville]] the 4th in 1205, [[John of England|King John]] effectively took the Honour of Knaresborough for himself.<ref>http://www.knaresborough.co.uk/history/family/stuteville.asp</ref> The first [[Maundy Money]] was distributed in Knaresborough by [[John of England|King John]] on 15 April 1210.<ref name="HK">{{cite book |first=Arnold |last=Kellett |year=1991 |title=Historic Knaresborough|isbn=978-1-870071-66-6}}</ref><ref>Kellett, Arnold. ''Knaresborough'' (2003) The History Press Ltd. ISBN 0-7524-3017-3.</ref> Knaresborough Forest, which extended far to the south of the town, is reputed to have been one of King John's favourite hunting grounds. Although a market was first mentioned in 1206, the town was not granted a Royal Charter to hold a market until 1310, by [[Edward II]]. A market is still held every Wednesday in the market square. During Edward II's reign, the castle was occupied by rebels and the curtain walls were breached by a siege engine. Later, Scots invaders burned much of the town and the parish church. In 1328, as part of the marriage settlement, [[Queen Philippa]] was granted "the Castle, Town, Forest and Honour of Knaresborough" by [[Edward III]] and the parish church was restored. After her death in 1369, the Honour was granted by Edward to their younger son, [[John of Gaunt]]. During the [[English Civil War|Civil War]], following the [[Battle of Marston Moor]] in 1644, the castle was besieged by Parliamentary forces. The castle eventually fell and in 1646 an order was made by Parliament for its destruction (but not carried out till 1648). The destruction was mainly done by citizens looting the stone. Many town centre buildings are built of 'castle stone'. The [[Bishop of Knaresborough]] is a [[suffragan bishop]] in the [[Diocese of Ripon and Leeds]]. The impressive Knaresborough House on the High Street is the home of Knaresborough Town Council and of The Yorkshire Federation Of [[National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs|Young Farmers Clubs]].[http://www.yfyfc.org.uk/] ==Attractions and events== Sights in the town include the remains of [[Knaresborough Castle]], [[Ursula Southeil|Mother Shipton]]'s [[petrifying well]], The House in the Rock, and several cave dwellings, one a chapel, dating from the [[Middle Ages]]. Knaresborough is also the site of [[Ye Oldest Chymist Shoppe in England]], opened in 1720. There is also the [[Courthouse Museum]] in the castle grounds. [[File:KnaresboroughDroppingWell.jpg|thumb|right|The Dropping Well in 1985, showing a selection of petrified toys]] [[File:Knaresborough castle.jpg|thumb|right|Knaresborough Castle]] Every year the town hosts a number of large social events, chief among them being the "Knaresborough Bed Race". Every summer since 1966, teams comprising six runners and one passenger, decorate special tube frame 'beds' for a parade through the town. Then, once the beds have been stripped of their non-essential decorations, they compete to push the bed on a race through the town. Although most teams are local, competitors often come from as far as Germany and the United States have taken part. The 2011 event attracted 25,000&nbsp;people to the town.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/9080279.Knaresborough_bed_race_attracts_25_000_people/ |title=Knaresborough bed race attracts 25,000 people |newspaper=[[The Press (York)|The Press]] |date=13 June 2011 |accessdate=16 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{citation |url=http://www.knaresborough.co.uk/bedrace/rules.htm |title=Bed Race Rules |publisher=Knaresborough.co.uk |accessdate=16 August 2011}}</ref> There is also a yearly arts festival, FEVA (Festival of Entertainment and Visual Arts), which has been running since 2001. This takes place in the summer in various parts of the town centre.<ref>[http://www.feva.info/ FEVA – Knaresborough Festival of Entertainment and Visual Arts<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The town was used to film the opening election sequence in the first episode of the ITV comedy series ''[[The New Statesman]]'' and some exterior shots for the series were also filmed around Knaresborough. The Borough Bailiff Pub is known to be the oldest pub in Knaresborough. It is currently under ownership of Samuel Smiths Brewery ===Public open spaces=== The principal areas of public open space in the town are the [[Knaresborough Castle]] grounds, the nearby Bebra Gardens (formerly Moat Gardens) named after Knaresborough's twin town in Germany, the Conyngham Hall grounds, Horseshoe Field, the [[King George's Fields|King George V Playing Field]] and Jacob Smith Park, a 30-hectare parkland on the edge of the town bequeathed to Knaresborough by Miss Winifred Jacob Smith. There is currently a project underway to [http://www.knaresborough.co.uk/bebragardens/pressept06.htm revamp the Bebra gardens] ==Transport== Knaresborough is served by [[Knaresborough railway station]], on the [[Harrogate Line]] to [[Leeds]] and [[York]] and is serviced by [[Northern Rail]]. The town lies some four miles from junction 47 of the [[A1 road (Great Britain)|A1 (M)]] Motorway (Great North Road). It is further served by the [[Harrogate and District]] bus company. ==Sport== [[Knaresborough Town F.C.]] are the town's predominant [[association football|football]] team and are based at Manse Lane; they play in the [[West Yorkshire Football League]]. Knaresborough Celtic also provide youth football with junior teams from Under 6s to Under 17s. [http://www.kfcc.co.uk/ Knaresborough Forest Cricket Club] were crowned Nidderdale League Division 3 winners in 2005 then promoted from Division 2 as runners-up in the following season. Another club, Knaresborough Cricket Club, have a ground along Aspin Lane. Various adult and junior teams play in the Nidderdale Cricket League. Coaching and net practice facilities for juniors (7 – 15 years age groups) are available on Friday evenings from late April to late July every year. There are bar facilities and rooms available for hire. ==Notable people== <!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:IMG 5580 knaresborough.JPG|thumb|right|River Nidd at night]] --> [[File:Knaresborough Viaduct.jpg|thumb|right|River Nidd and Knaresborough]] * [[Robert of Knaresborough|St Robert]], a 12th-century hermit. St Robert's cave can be found near the river Nidd. * [[Ursula Southeil]], better known as Mother Shipton, was a medieval seer who is said to have been born in a cave south of the town. * [[John Metcalf (civil engineer)|John Metcalf]], otherwise known as "Blind Jack". Lost his sight in childhood, violin player, local guide, bridgebuilder and roadmaker. A [[public house]] in the market square bears his name. * [[Philip Inman, 1st Baron Inman]], former Chairman of the BBC, was born here. * [[Guy Fawkes]] once lived in Scotton, near Knaresborough. * [[Richard II of England|Richard II]] was imprisoned in the town. * [[Robert Aagaard]], a Knaresborough manufacturer, founded the youth movement Cathedral Camps. * The four knights accused of murdering [[Thomas Becket]] were said to have taken refuge in Knaresborough. * [[Eugene Aram]], the noted 18th-century scholar and murderer lived here. * [[Squadron Leader James Harry "Ginger" Lacey]] DFM & Bar. One of the top scoring RAF fighter pilots of the Second World War. * [[Terence Alexander]]. English film and television actor, best known for his role as Charlie Hungerford in the TV drama Bergerac. * [[Bill Callahan (musician)|Bill Callahan]], American singer-songwriter, spent eight years of his childhood in Knaresborough. * [[Danny Mills]] former [[Leeds United]] and [[England national football team|England Football]] player spent many years living in Knaresborough * [[Pete Wigglesworth]] A FAGGIT ==Location grid== <br> {{NSEW|[[Boroughbridge]]|[[Wetherby]]|[[York]]|[[Harrogate]]|||||}} ==Gallery== <gallery> File:Chapel of Our Lady of the Crag.jpg|Chapel of Our Lady of the Crag, Knaresborough File:House in the Rock.jpg|House in the Rock File:Kirkgate, Knaresborough.jpg|Kirkgate, Knaresborough File:Knaresborough war memorial.jpg|War Memorial, Knaresborough File:St John's Church, Knaresborough.jpg|St John's Church, Knaresborough File:Knaresborough.jpg|River Nidd, Knaresborough File:Knaresborough railway station - platform 2 in 2008.jpg|Knaresborough railway station File:Knaresborough Castle ruins.jpg|Knaresborough Castle File:Igraine_and_Raven.jpg|Her Majesty's Keeper of Castle Ravens, Igraine File:Knaresborough_Castle_From_River.jpg|Knaresborough Castle viewed through the viaduct File:The Moorings, Knaresborough.jpg|Old riverside buildings File:Knaresborough House.jpg|Knaresborough House, High Street </gallery> ==See also== *[[Knaresborough town mayor]] ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{Commons category inline|Knaresborough}} *[http://www.knaresborough.co.uk/towncouncil/ Knaresborough Town Council] *[http://www.knaresborough.co.uk/ Knaresborough Online] – Knaresborough Community Website since 1998 *[http://www.northyorks.com/knaresborough.htm Knaresborough Mini Guide] *[http://www.knaresboroughonline.co.uk Knaresborough Online] Knaresborough Community Website *[http://www.knaresborough.co.uk/bedrace/ Knaresborough Bed Race] *[http://www.knaresboroughinbloom.co.uk/ Knaresborough in Bloom] *[http://www.knaresborough.co.uk/knaresboroughniddgorge/ Knaresborough Nidd Gorge Conservation Group] * [http://www.exploreknaresborough.co.uk] www.exploreknaresborough.co.uk – Knaresborough Chamber of Trade and Commerce *[http://www.theoldestchemistshop.co.uk/]- visit for more information about the old chemist shop {{North Yorkshire}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2011}} [[Category:Knaresborough| ]] [[Category:Market towns in North Yorkshire]] [[Category:Civil parishes in North Yorkshire]] [[Category:Nidderdale]] [[Category:Spa towns in England]] [[Category:Towns in North Yorkshire]] [[cy:Knaresborough]] [[de:Knaresborough]] [[fr:Knaresborough]] [[it:Knaresborough]] [[nl:Knaresborough]] [[nn:Knaresborough]] [[pl:Knaresborough]] [[ro:Knaresborough]] [[simple:Knaresborough]] [[sv:Knaresborough]] [[vo:Knaresborough]]'