Harrogate Station Square
Here is Station Square appearing as its architects intended, an open airy town centre piece. The gardens in the foreground are the Coronation Gardens of c.1953, which complimented the Victorian square admirably. Just as this picture was being taken, the lovely old and deliberately 'low roofed' railway station was being totally ruined by the new overscale Station Tower and new station foyer. Looks like Checks' Cafe in the background is boarded up and it wouldn't be too many years hence that the Market Hall and the Coronation Gardens (and their useful public conveniences) would be swept away in the name of progress, with the gross criminal loss a bit later of the re-buildable Victorian Lowther Arcade and the West Yorkshire Road Car Co bus station, where we all met our dates on a Saturday night under the clock. Harrogate needs to move with the times but didn't deserve this onslaught. These are some of the fond memories of a 1950-born Harrogate child coupled with a heavy heart!
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RE: RE: Harrogate Station Square
I moved away from Harrogate in 1975, having lived there since 1960.
The last time I visited was about 1997 and I was so sad to see the change opposite the station.
Harrogate always seemed to be so untouched by "progress" through my childhood and teenage years and this new shopping centre was so wrong!
It was such a privilege to grow up in Harrogate and I don't think I have ever quite got over leaving!
Comment from Ruth Oughton on Friday, 6th March 2009.
RE: RE: Harrogate Station Square
I remember Checks Cafe, I used to frequent it quite often. I am also a woman who was born and raised in Harrogate. I emigrated to the U.S.A. in the 1960s but miss my hometown. Check my memories above in my maiden name, Muriel Currie.
Comment from Muriel Grasso on Friday, 12th February 2010.