Cairn

History of the Cairn

[Extracted from Strathmore Hotels web site http://www.strathmorehotels.com/Cairn+Hotel/History/]

The Cairn began life in the mid-nineteenth century as a large Victorian house set in beautiful gardens, situated on the north side of Harrogate. The house was extended somewhat and graced with fine stained glass windows as it became home for the local vicar.

On Tuesday 3rd June 1890 at 3.00pm precisely, the Cairn came under the hammer the auctioneers, Messrs Hirst and Capes of Harrogate. Advertised as “the estate known as The Cairn – situated on the summit of Ripon Road, along with gardens, tennis courts, stables and a coach house”, the Cairn was sold by it’s then owner, A E Harter Esq. Mr Harter had built the Cairn for his own use and was said to be greatly saddened at the sale of this absolutely splendid property. The property was, and still is, the leasehold of the Duchy of Lancaster, the annual rental of the property at that time being £62.00!

From the ashes!

Only 16 months after the sale, disaster struck as the whole of the east wing was destroyed when a servant ignited a curtain with a lighted candle. Major changes soon took place. Being ideally located in the beautiful spa town of Harrogate (at that time having a worldwide reputation as a health resort) the Cairn became a ‘desirable gentleman’s’ hunting lodge.

Extended to almost the size it is today, the Cairn actually produced it’s own newspaper – The Cairn Times- so naming, The Print Room – known today as the Mountbatten Room, one of our most popular function suites! The Cairn’s own motorbus was also a great attraction, ferrying passengers from the railway station in far less time, than the usual horse and carriage.

Spend a penny for a bath!

In 1898, the price list was as follows:

£3. 17s .0d or £5. 5s. 0d per person per week, depending on the type of room

The charges above included room with attendant, morning bath, breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. Fires in bedrooms cost either 2 shillings per day, 1/6d for the afternoon or only 1shilling for the evening alone!

The bath and spring waters which were then part of what became known as the ‘The Cairn Hydro Hotel’ is still in place today, though sadly not currently in use. It has always been a hope by Strathmore Hotels to restore these rooms to their former glory. Many guests who come to stay with us are fascinated by the original hand painted tiles, still in tact today in the old baths area, and we are always proud to show them off – so please do ask if you come to stay.

2nd World War to Royal Ownership

During the 2nd world war, the Cairn was the Main Post Office for the northern part of England. In the evenings, when possible, dances were held to the ‘big bands’ in the wonderful Promenade ballroom, which to this day is still extremely popular.

Spending it’s first 50years as a ‘hotel in splendour’, hosting many Royal guests, the flavour for “taking the waters” changed, and the Cairn with it. Sold from private ownership to the Prince of Wales Group for £825,000, the hotel became more popular with leisure guests visiting the area to see Harrogate and the surrounding Dales and countryside. With the growth of Harrogate as a major conference venue, the Cairn, as well as welcoming leisure guests, also plays host to many international conferences and exhibitions being held at the famous Harrogate International Centre or indeed the Cairn itself.

Strathmore and the return of dancing!

The Cairn, is now owned by Strathmore Hotels in East Kilbride, Scotland who purchased the hotel from the receivers in 1992. From taking over the hotel in such a very poor state of repair, Strathmore have spent many millions undertaking major refurbishments both internally and externally. Every year, another part of the hotel is refurbished and since 1992 to 2008 the foyer, lounge and public areas have been refurbished twice.

With the revival of dancing – due to popular TV viewing – the Promenade Ballroom with its truly wonderful sprung dance floor proves so popular, it is extremely difficult to book a weekend dancing, less than 18 months in advance. With its reputation as the ‘largest sprung dance floor’ in the north east of England, the hotel has a waiting list of clients wishing to book weekend dancing parties and functions. Most weekends in the year, the hotel hosts a range of dancing, ranging from Modern sequence dancing, line dancing, square dancing, social, ballroom and Latin dancing. Last year, the Cairn was proud to host a ballroom dancing weekend led by Vincent and Flavia from ‘Strictly’ fame. A truly spectacular and colourful weekend!

Harrogate by Malcolm Neesam - 2001

P61 - More substantial was the Cairn Hydro, established in 1889 on a commanding site at the top of Ripon Road, overlooking Low Harrogate's spa. Nearly destroyed by fire in 1891, the Cairn Hydro was originally a fraction of its later considerable extent, and with its Turkish baths, tennis courts, and extensive gardens, proved a formidable rival to its venerable neighbour, the Old Swan.

Harrogate Advertiser – 21st January 1893

Mr A E Harter, who formerly resided at The Cairn, Ripon Road, still remembers in a substantial form the poor people at New Park, who benefited so much by his liberality when he resided in Harrogate. this Christmas a quantity of coal was distributed amongst the poor in that district at his expense, and through the medium of Mr Dobson, of New Park, Bilton.

Harrogate Herald - 7th July 1915

The demise took place last week, at Epsom, of Alfred E Harter. The deceased gentleman, who was 72 years of age, was some twenty-six years ago a familiar figure in Harrogate, and built as a residence a house on the site of the present Cairn Hydro, to which he gave the name of The Cairn. This was before the development of the Duchy Estate, and there were no houses on that side of Ripon Road between the Cairn and where the present weigh-house stands. Though Mr Harter took no part in municipal affairs, he was a good supporter of the various charitable institutions in the town, and especially in the Harrogate Infirmary, or as it was then called Harrogate Cottage Hospital. He was one of its first trustees, and gave a handsome donation when it was first extended. This interest was maintained up to his death, and his patient recommendations were annually sent to be used for the poor in Bilton.

Mr Harter, together with his first wife, were regular attendees at Bilton Church, and did much good work amongst the people of New Park. The mortal remains of the late Mr Harter were conveyed to Harrogate and deposited in Bilton Church on Wednesday morning last.

[Short description of service then follows]

The interment took place in a vault by the side of his first wife, who died October 16th, 1889.

Harrogate Herald – 3rd March 1915

Mrs Baker, for 16 years manageress at the Cairn Hydro, Harrogate, has been presented with a purse of gold. The pleasing event took place at Southlands, Harrogate, on Saturday evening.

Yorkshire Evening Post - 13th April 1990

Crown Hotels has appointed Mr Greg McGary, 32, manager of its 135-bedroom Cairn Hotel in Harrogate.

Mr McGary was previously deputy manager at the company's Royal York Hotel in York and held various managerial positions with hotels in Scotland.

Harrogate Advertiser - 23rd October 1992

One of Harrogate's biggest and best-known hotels - the Cairn off the Ripon Road - has found a new owner nearly 18 months after going into receivership.

Plans are already being made for an immediate programme of repairs to the 18th Century building, bought by newly-formed Strathmore Hotels of Glasgow.

But the company's other major priority, would be "to get customers, and confidence, back", said managing director Mr Ronnie Rickard.

The Cairn was purchased in 1979 by the Price of Wales Group for £850,000 but the hotel has been on the market since last summer, with its last asking price in the region of £250,000. The sum paid by Strathmore has not been revealed.

The company - only formed this year - has also bought the Cairn's former sister hotel, the Cumbrian Grand in the Lake District, and two others in Scotland.

"Our attention was brought to the fact that IF the Cairn was still in receivership," said Mr R, Rickard.

"We were looking for hotels in the major 1' tourist areas and The Cairn made a very comfortable fit."

Although a range of repairs are now to be carried out, major interior refurbishment is not immediately on the cards.

"Last year, despite the uncertainty, The Cairn actually traded very well indeed with a£1.25 million turn-over," said Mr Rickard.

"Our intention now is to bring further business and confidence back, reinstate people's affections and memories of The Cairn and make it good value and comfortable. Then, after about a year, we can look further."

Staffing, currently mostly on an agency basis, is also likely to increase as business picks up.

News of the purchase should also provide a confidence boost for Harrogate's hotel trade in general.

As at June of this year, 400 of the 1,500 three and four-star hotel beds in the town were in receivership.

Still up for sale after going into receivership are the Granby, Imperial and independently-run Grants of Swan Road.

Chairman of Harrogate's A-Group of Hotels, Mr Andrew Gore yesterday commented: "We're delighted that the Cairn has at last been sold. It's good news for the whole of the town and reduces the number of beds in receivership. Hopefully some decisions will soon be taken about the others. Our fingers are crossed."

Harrogate Advertiser - 6th June 1997

[Photo]

Neglected lawns and flower beds at a Harrogate hotel have been given a major overhaul - do-it-yourself style.

Mr Adrian Fytche, resident manager at The Cairn Hotel, hired a JCB digger to help clear the driveways and overgrown grounds, so determined was he to see the gardens in full bloom.

Now spare time for Adrian and a team of helpers is spent re-landscaping, returning the grounds to the former glory of their pre-war days when the croquet lawns and tennis courts were a favourite with guests.

Harrogate Advertiser - 21 November 2008

[Photo]

THE Cairn Hotel was the venue for a special evening of celebration of nearly 30 years service for Head Porter Brian Willoughby, 65.

To mark Mr Willoughby's retirement from the hotel, he was the subject for 'The Big Red Book' when a This Is Your Life style farewell reunited him with several members of his family and also many former colleagues and guests of the Hotel. More than 100 people from all over Britain celebrated with a buffet and drinks well into the evening. There were messages and video links from guests unable to attend the evening from as far away as Japan.

The highlight of the evening was a message via video link from Brian's younger sister who lives in Sri Lanka. They have not seen each other for ten years and as Brian and the guests watched her video, she walked into the room as the surprise visitor of the evening!

Colleagues described the party as an amazing and emotional night for everyone, and a complete surprise to Brian.