Old Magnesia Well Pump Room
Old Magnesia Well Pump Room, Valley Gardens, Royal Parade, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG1 2SZ
At the heart of Valley Gardens is a unique geological area called Bogs Field, named after 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. As part of the improvements in 1858, a 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 Ripley Ice Cream Shop and Cafe.
The Old Magnesia Well Pump Room, closed to the public and used by the gardeners, was unloved, forgotten and overgrown until the restoration by the Friends of Valley Gardens began in 2011. By 2015, the Friends had created an education and information centre and restored the adjacent Peat Garden and 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 13 September:
- 1030-1400
- Sunday 14 September:
- 1030-1400
- Saturday 20 September:
- 1030-1400
- Sunday 21 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, Children's Playground, Cafe. Sun Colonnade, Sun Pavilion and Shell Band Stand (concerts on some Summer Sunday afternoons) Pleasant walk to RHS Harlow Carr through the Pine Woods.
- Max no of people per tour:
- 8
