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Harrogate's Civic Pride Restored
Congratulations to all those who fought to save the Royal Hall in Harrogate, which was re-opened by HRH The Prince of Wales this week after an extensive restoration programme.
Built by Frank Matcham and Robert Beale, the Royal Hall in Harrogate is one of the best surviving examples of the Edwardian kursaal, or amusement hall, in Britain. Opened in 1903, it played host to a galaxy of stars, including Elgar and the Beatles, throughout much of the twentieth century.
But by 1997 the future of the Royal Hall looked bleak: a restoration scheme was desperately needed after the old clinker concrete, which made up much of its structure, began to disintegrate. Joining with local campaigners, the Victorian Society urged Harrogate Council to pledge the funding to secure the future of the hall. This, together with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and a heroic £2.6 million raised by the Royal Hall Restoration Trust, headed by Lillian Mina MBE, paid for the hall to be overhauled, repaired and lovingly restored.
‘We’re delighted to see the Royal Hall restored to its former glory,’ said Dr Ian Dungavell, Director of the Victorian Society. ‘The hall is a tribute to all those who have worked so hard over the last ten years. It shows how much historic public buildings mean to local people. Now the Royal Hall is the jewel in Harrogate’s crown once more; we hope it will be used and enjoyed for many years to come.’
