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Old Magnesia Well Pump Room

Old Magnesia Well Pump Room, Valley Gardens, Royal Parade, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG1 2SZ

  • Multiple dates available
  • In person
  • Pre-booking not required

The Old Magnesia Well Pump Room is a listed building designed by architect John Stead in 1858, to serve magnesia water to Harrogate Spa visitors. Inside is a working recreation of the pump and an exhibition of the history of the gardens

At the heart of The Valley Gardens is a unique geological area called Bogs Field because of the 36 different mineral water springs that emerged in this area, no other place on earth has such a variety of waters so close together.
In 1841 wellheads were built and Bogs Field was drained, then as part of the improvements in 1858, the small pump room was built to serve one of the most popular drinking waters, the Magnesia Water.
After the opening of the Valley Pleasure Grounds in 1887 and the increase in visitors, a larger Magnesia Pump Room was needed, the New Magnesia Well Pump Room was built in 1895, which is now the cafe and the Old Magnesia Well Pump Room was closed.
The Old Magnesia Well Pump Room was unloved, forgotten and overgrown until the restoration by the Friends of Valley Gardens started in 2011. By 2015, the Friends had created an education and information centre and restored the adjacent Peat Garden and the rockery with a reservoir hidden underneath.
The Friends Of Valley Gardens have also restored the Japanese Garden which existed in the 1930s and was reopened by the Japanese Ambassador in 2018 and have recovered and restored the gates from the Rose Garden on Kings Road where the Harrogate Convention Centre now stands, these now form the Valley Drive entrance and have been named the King Edward VII Memorial Gates.

Timings & Tours

Saturday 07 September:
1030-1400
Sunday 08 September:
1030-1400
Saturday 14 September:
1030-1400
Sunday 15 September:
1030-1400

Location & directions

Old Magnesia Well Pump Room, Valley Gardens, Royal Parade, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG1 2SZ

Contact on day:
Andrew Jordan 07504251905
Telephone number:
+447504251905

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:
Pre-booking not required

Accessibility details

Disabled parking on Cornwall Road near the Sun Pavilion. Public toilets in the proximity of the Pump Room

Additional information

Other attractions in the Valley Gardens include;- Skateboard Park, Tennis Courts, Crazy Golf, Pitch and Putt, Children's Playground, Cafe. Sun Colonnade, Sun Pavillion and Shell Band Stand (concerts on most Summer Sunday afternoons) Pleasant walk to RHS Harlow Carr through the Pine Woods.

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