"Why Not Get Involved"

Although our existing team has already started work, we are looking for more volunteers to join us.

No previous experience is necessary. The existing team started out as complete novices and have picked up the necessary new skills as they went along.

Other Ways of Helping

We also want to make contact with anyone who has something interesting to say about the area - life here, how it has changed, the personalities, etc.

Have you any old photographs or documents you could donate or lend for copying?

Our Meetings

We meet at Bilton Community Centre, Bilton Lane on Tuesday mornings from 9.00am to 12.00pm. If you wished to join in but wasn't available on a Tuesday morning perhaps you might wish to make alternative arrangements
Welcome to Bilton Historical Society

Bilton Historical Society is a local historical society based in Bilton, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England. We exist to record, investigate and promote an awareness of Bilton's heritage and future. (Research Area Boundaries)

We were formed in 1996 to unravel the secrets of Bilton’s past, its people, buildings, railways, coalmines, the royal hunting park and a lost way of life. Our projects have resulted in four publications which summarise the work we have done so far. (Projects)

Well we couldn't rest after all that, our appetite suitably whetted, more folk wanting to get involved - we quickly turned to a new project.

"Bilton with Harrogate - Forest, Farms and Families"

The project will continue on from our previous work, but with a very different emphasis. We will examine the changes in the area - from the Forest of Knaresborough and Bilton Park, through the development of farming and the rural community, to urbanisation and the rise of the built up area. there will be a strong theme of the social history of the area, including reminiscences of both long-term and recent residents.

Thanks for visiting our web site. If you feel you can contribute to our research in anyway, reminiscences, photographs or documents then please contact us. All documents and photographs will be copied and returned quickly and unspoilt.

Follow this link to see how we started as a group (link)

We would like to acknowledge the help, support and encouragenment recieved from many quarters not least the Local Heritage Initiative (www.lhi.org.uk)who have funded our work and Kevn Cale our local archaeologist and inspiration (www.communityarchaeology.co.uk)

The Gardners Arms, part of Old Bilton
The Old Vicarage

 

© Bilton Historical Society 1996-2007