Upcoming Events

After the over-subscribed private events for Harrogate Civic Society members at Ogdens' James Street premises last September, we are delighted to welcome Robert Ogden to give an illustrated talk.

Ogden of Harrogate, one of the oldest and best-known family jewellers in the country, have created beautiful items for many prestigious clients within their Harrogate Workshop, among them Winston Churchill, the Roosevelts, King George VI and Princess Marina.

Their history began in 1893, when James Roberts Ogden opened ‘Ogden's Little Diamond Shop' in Harrogate. At the time, Harrogate was entering its heyday as 'The World’s Greatest Spa', and visitors to the town included royalty, aristocracy, and society names.

By all accounts James R Ogden was a charismatic figure and popular with his customers. He also rose to prominence in the jewellery industry and also followed his passion for the growing arts of archaeology and anthropology, becoming advising goldsmith to the British Museum and assisting the renowned archaeologists of the day including Leonard Woolley and Howard Carter. One of his more notable tasks was to value and test the gold work found in Tutankhamun's tomb.

Robert Ogden, who now runs the business alongside his brother Ben, will bring the founder to life, and provide some insights into the inner workings of the jewellery industry.

Wine, juice, tea and coffee will be available from 7:00pm and the talk will begin at 7:30pm.

Our very popular annual social gathering will take place at St Wilfrid's Church Hall (off Duchy Road) on Sunday 15th December 2.30-4.30. As usual there will be wine, soft drinks and mince pies, but most importantly the chance to chat with fellow members. This event is free for members but if you want to bring a guest (or anyone interested in the Society) please let us know and pay £5 cash on the day.

Bookings please, to assist with mince pie purchasing, to events@harrogatcivicsociety.org
BY DECEMBER 8TH.

We will also have, as in the past, a book stall but this year we are adding a charity sale and ask that members ransack their book shelves in search of books (and maps) relating to Harrogate's history to donate.
Proceeds from the charity sale will go to St Michael's Hospice and any left over books (we hope there won't be any!) will be donated to the Oxfam book shop in Harrogate. Society member Paul Jennings has kindly
offered to organise this but please contact him to arrange drop off or if you have any questions.
paul.jennings@cantab.net 7 Valley Road, Harrogate, HG2 0JQ Tel. 01423 506509

It will be a busy day for Paul as he will also be giving a short talk at about 3.30 on the history of Gin, and copies of his "hot of the press" new book Gin and the English- an illustrated History will be for sale at
a "members' special" price of £26.

Book stall payment can be by cash or cheque. And there is more.....

On the same day there is a Christmas Fair in the Church, and a performance of a traditional candlelit Santa Lucia service by the Swedish choir Chorus Pictor at 5pm (free admission, lasting about 30 minutes). They will be performing at York Minster on December 16th. Ideally, book your place for this to get the best seats by contacting bookings@stwilfrid.org

There is some parking in the church car park (accessed from Duchy Road) and unrestricted parking on Duchy Rd and side roads. Watch out for uneven surfaces in the car park please. s

This will be an illustrated talk by Chris Dicken, who leads the HCS Plaques sub-group.

Back in 2019, after seeing a report about a plaque unveiling in the local press, Chris decided to go on a mission to see all the plaques in Harrogate. This led on to him cataloguing and recording them all and eventually to producing the plaques website. Interested in making the plaques more accessible to local residents and visitors alike, Chris also devised the now popular walking trails and maps and then persuaded his son to develop an Android App for the trails.

The talk will give an insight into the history of the plaques, how each new plaque comes into being and will illustrate many of the plaques and the themes therein. Perhaps even a few nuggets of knowledge about Harrogate that you may not know. Chris is no historian, so it won't be a in depth look at Harrogate's history, but rather a pointer to some of the interesting places and people of our town.

Elizabeth Smith, Public Engagement Coordinator (North East) for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, will give a talk and presentation to members about the history of the CWGC and its work today. Elizabeth has in the past welcomed members on tours at Stonefall Cemetery and is a regular host of Heritage Open Days events there.

The presentation starts with how the Commission began and its work during the First and Second World Wars, and concludes with its work today in maintaining and preserving its historic estate around the world. The presentation will also mention some of the war graves closer to home and tell the stories of some of those that the Commission commemorates.

Teas and coffees will be available from 7:00pm and the presentation will begin at 7:30pm. There will be an opportunity for members to make a donation to support the work of the Commission.

Please note change of date from previously advertised 25th Feb.

A talk by Nicola Pullan:
Assistant Curator of Leeds and Social History, Leeds Museums and Abbey House Museum Kirkstall

Based on research from her archive held at Leeds Museums and Galleries, the talk will be a chance to explore the life of Suffragette Leonora Cohen. It will be a chance to learn more about her early life, her suffrage activity in Leeds, her move to Harrogate, and what she went on to do after winning the vote.