Knaresborough Chronicles

The Charter Day of the Duchy of Lancaster is marked on October 14, 1399, when King Henry IV issued the Charter of Duchy Liberties. This ensured the Duchy’s estates were kept separate from the Crown, making it the monarch’s personal inheritance rather than part of state property.

📜 #OTD 7 Oct 1825 | Thomas “Noisy Tom” Collins, Conservative MP for Knaresborough & Boston, was born. Known for his loud & combative style in debate, he was both admired & mocked in the Commons. A barrister & Yorkshire magistrate, he served several terms before his death in 1884.

Died #OTD 15 Aug 1369: Queen Philippa of Hainault, aged 54. Her bond with Knaresborough was personal and profound — she honeymooned here in 1328, received its Honour in 1331, restored it’s parish church, and helped spark England’s wool industry by bringing skilled Flemish weavers to our shores.

Cecil Naden (16 Oct 1916 – 31 Jul 1976) was a monumental mason who sculpted the Market Cross in Knaresborough in 1953, commemorating the Queen’s coronation. After his passing, he left £34,837, with part of his estate going to the Knaresborough Old People’s Welfare Committee.

On 14th July 1910, the foundation stone was laid by Chairman Thos. Stead Esq. for Knaresborough UDC. Decades later, in 1974, the town’s history shifted again with the boundary reorganization, moving Knaresborough from West Riding to North Yorkshire

Rev. Thomas Collins, a prominent Knaresborough figure, passed away on 7 May 1870 at age 89. A champion of education and church restoration, his legacy as a scholar, priest, and benefactor left a lasting mark on the town. The family’s residence was Knaresborough House.

Sir Isaac Holden, 1st Baronet (7 May 1807 – 13 August 1897), was an inventor known for developing the Square Motion wool-combing machine and for inventing the lucifer match (unpatented). He served as a Liberal MP for Knaresborough from 1865 to 1868.

Remembering Blind Jack of Knaresborough, aka John Metcalf, who passed away on April 26, 1810. As the first professional road builder, he paved the way for the Industrial Revolution. Blind from age six, his viameter and fiddle are on display at the Courthouse Museum.

The distribution of alms on the Thursday of Holy Week goes back hundreds of years, and the Royal Maundy can be traced back in England to the 13th century.

The first recorded Royal Distribution was at Knaresborough, North Yorkshire by King John in 1210.

Ely Hargrove (19 March 1741 – 5 December 1818) was a prominent local historian from Knaresborough, known for his meticulous research on the area’s heritage. He is interred in the grounds of the parish church, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inform local history today.

On March 11, 1848, as the Knaresborough viaduct neared completion, it dramatically collapsed into the River Nidd, the noise echoing for five minutes. Poor workmanship and heavy rain were blamed. A temporary station was set up while a new viaduct was built.

Henry Meysey-Thompson, 1st Baron Knaresborough (30 Aug 1845 – 3 Mar 1929), was a notable Liberal, later Liberal Unionist, politician. He served in the House of Commons from 1880 to 1905, before being raised to the peerage as Baron Knaresborough.

John Carr (1723–22 Feb 1807), renowned English architect from Horbury, West Yorkshire. He designed Knaresborough House, Harewood House (1771), Buxton Crescent (1780), and Constable Burton Hall (1768).

Isaac Shutt, born on 21 February 1818 in Harrogate, was a notable architect who made significant contributions to the region. He designed the Knaresborough Workhouse and the Royal Pump Room in Harrogate. He passed away on 14 March 1879 at the age of 61.

After his surrender in 1399, Richard II spent a night at Knaresborough Castle before being taken to Pontefract, where he met his uncertain fate on this date 1400.

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8 February 1745: Pioneering but pennyless philologist Eugene Aram murders a wealthy Knaresborough wastrel

Lady Evelyn Anne Innes-Ker, born 7 February 1882, was the daughter of the 7th Duke of Roxburghe & cousin of Winston Churchill. She married Colonel William Fellowes Collins, was appointed O.B.E & served as a J.P. and resided in Knaresborough House. She died on 25 September 1957.

Niklaus Pevsner (30 Jan 1902 – 18 Aug 1983) was a renowned architectural historian known for *The Buildings of England*, which transformed UK architectural study. He famously called the Knaresborough Viaduct “one of the most notable railway crimes of England.”

On this day, 25 Jan 1328, 15-year-old Edward III married Philippa of Hainaut, nearly 14, at York Minster. The young royals celebrated their union with feasts and music before honeymooning in Knaresborough. A love story that shaped history.

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On 29th December 1170, after assassinating Archbishop Thomas Becket, Sir Hugh de Morville fled to Knaresborough Castle. This murderous act was no doubt prompted by King Henry II’s infamous remark, “Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?”

Sir Harold Mackintosh (8 June 1891 – 27 December 1964), the Halifax toffee magnate, leased Conyngham Hall and its grounds from 1925 to 1942. In 1936, he conceived the Quality Street product, first made in Halifax and named after a play by J. M. Barrie.

Royalists defending Knaresborough Castle under siege, surrendered on Dec 20th 1644 to Parliamentarian forces. Though largely demolished by 1648 to prevent further Royalist use, locals petitioned to save the castle Keep and Courthouse, halting complete destruction. #380th #anniversary

‘Noisy’ Tom Collins MP was the eldest surviving son of Rev. Thomas Collins of Knaresborough. He was educated at Charterhouse & Oxford. He was a magistrate, deputy-lieutenant for West Yorkshire & returned 5 times as Knaresborough MP. The family home was Knaresborough House.

This Day in History (1843): Knaresborough MP W.B. Ferrand led a public meeting in Leeds calling for the release of reformer Richard Oastler. Oastler, a champion for workers’ rights and critic of the cruel New Poor Law, inspired widespread support and donations.

Festive Frumenty Recipe
1. Wash & soak 1 lb wheat overnight in water.
2. Drain, then add to a pot with 3 pints each of water & milk, plus ½ tsp salt.
3. Cook for 3 hours.
4. Strain & serve with hot milk or cream.
Optional: Add nutmeg, mixed spice, dried fruit, rum, or brandy for a festive twist!

Warm up your holidays with Frumenty or Fluffin! 🌾 A traditional Yorkshire dish of wheat or barley, slow-cooked with spices, dried fruit, & cream. Add rum or brandy for a festive twist. Perfect pre-Christmas treat, often paired with apple pie & cheese!

We’d love your suggestions as we shape our 2025 events to reflect our values and the community’s interests. What would you like to see or do? Let us know!

Thank you! Your support in raising awareness about our work and membership makes all the difference.

Looking ahead, we’re planning exciting events: visits to historic sites, guided walks and social gatherings. Our goal? A more diverse, engaging programme that appeals to everyone in the community.

This year, our events tackled contemporary issues and our speaker evenings sparked insightful discussions. But we want to broaden participation—let’s get more residents involved in these enriching experiences in 2025!