Builders make a splash when they unearth 200-year-old artesian well

A WELL which is thought to date back 200 years has been unearthed during a major revamp of one of Harrogate’s most historic streets.

Contractors working for Harrogate Borough Council on a 438,000 pedestrian improvement scheme along King’s Road, as part of a 13m redevelopment of Harrogate International Centre, discovered the well last week.

Local historian Malcolm Neesam, who is also a Freeman of the town, claimed that the well, which is more than 12ft deep, could date back to the early 1800s.

He added: “It could be an artesian well and would have been used to serve for household drinking water for the farm originally located here.

“The land was owned by the Ingilby family who farmed here until 1810. There is no record of a mineral well in this location, and there was no hint of sulphur, suggesting that this well was used for drinking water.

“It is an exceptionally well-made, stone-sided well. I look forward to working with the council’s conservation architects to discover its full history.”

The borough council’s cabinet will now consider proposals to incorporate the well-head into the improvement scheme.

A tree-lined boulevard is being introduced along King’s Road, reminiscent of Harrogate’s spa heyday.