The Streets of .... Harrogate with Malcolm Hollingdrakes DI Cyril Bennett

Malcolm Hollingdrake Amazon Author page

Harrogate is a beautiful, old spa town in the Yorkshire Dales and for me, it is the perfect setting for a number of sinister crimes, with its Edwardian architecture, wide streets and proximity to some of the most stunning scenery in the United Kingdom.

The Harrogate Crime Series now comprises eight cases, each one featuring DCI Cyril Bennett and DS David Owen.

             Setting a series here was pure chance. A few years ago I read Harrogate was the happiest place in the UK to live and so I thought introducing some crime would not go amiss; it was also a town I knew well having lived in Bradford for eighteen years and then Ripon for three. It is a location my family has always visited.

Harrogate’s architecture is varied, beautiful and easily identifiable and so the description of specific places and settings within the pages of the books are enjoyed by many of my readers. There are some iconic shops, bars and hotels that make up the many wonderful facets of the jewel that is Harrogate.

           

Wherever you walk in Harrogate you will not stray far from The Stray – two hundred acres of open grassland within the heart of Harrogate, the lungs of the town. The area  changes with the seasons attracting photographers, runners, dog walkers and the occasional character from my books when the light fades and the shadows lengthen.

            So, now let me take you for a walk. We are standing with our backs to the Cenotaph at the top of Parliament Street. Across the road is the world-famous Betty’s Tea Room and the road to the left is Montpellier Hill. As we descend, The Stray is also to our left; an old, green cabman’s shelter, now an ice-cream shop, perches to the by the pavement and is featured in ‘Treble Clef’.

Soon we arrive at the hotel, The Crown Hotel, a Victorian exercise of Italian Renaissance in sandstone. It has a long and distinguished history that reaches back to the early 1600s. Many of the Harrogate hotels owe their existence to the discovery of the chalybeate and sulphur-rich spring water. Now we pass the Royal Pump Room before heading past the Mercer Art Gallery. We don’t have time now but do call in when you visit the town; they have the most beautiful painting by John Atkinson Grimshaw. 

However, we do have time for a swift half in The Old Swan Hotel.

I’d like to mention two interesting facts about this hotel.

            It was here Agatha Christie was discovered after she deliberately and mysteriously went missing for ten days, many fearing she had committed suicide. However, the sharp eyes of a banjo player from the resident band soon alerted the local police and all eyes turned to Harrogate. The hotel now fittingly plays host to the annual Harrogate Crime Writers’ Festival held every July. It always attracts the world’s finest authors. I creep in the back door and along with many writer friends enjoy the warmth that is a ‘murder’ of crime writers all in one place. (Answers to the collective noun gratefully accepted. A signed Bennett book for the most imaginative!)

Leaving The Old Swan we are soon heading through the beautiful Valley Gardens, passing

the Sun Pavilion and the Old Magnesia Well, a Hansel and Gretel style building mentioned in the latest book. Soon we are striding across The Stray to take a look at Cyril Bennett’s favourite pub, the Coach and Horses. No children, pets, music or games machines just a perfect pint and good conversation.

Yards along the road is a small passageway, a ginnel, a snicket and it is through here you will come to Robert Street, the home of DCI Bennett. But we haven’t quite finished. Taking a left turn, you will come to Belford Road. It is here we see The Rogers’ Alms House and the beautiful carving of the wicker bee hive above the door; it was the inspiration for ‘Flesh Evidence’.

           

Not far now. As we leave Belford Road, we see Harrogate’s beautiful library to our right… next time you are here do pop in… they keep every book in the Harrogate Crime Series. We pass Princess Square, Raglan Street and soon we are on Albert Road. Note the historical names. Facing us is the black door of Morphet’s Auction House. Cyril Bennett seems to while away many hours, catalogue in hand searching for his next piece of Northern Art.

            Finally, we are back at the Cenotaph. I do have a treat for your diligence and patience. As we walk down Parliament Street, we soon turn right into one of Harrogate’s oldest Arcades. Cordings, the country clothes store part owned by Eric Clapton, yes, that Eric. Is situated at the entrance of The Westminster Arcade It is here, during the

festival week that they will generously host the book launch of book eight, ‘Treble Clef’. Further along we come to Imagined Things Bookshop. Georgia has always supported the series and stocked my books. I am very proud to say, ‘Only the Dead’ was their bestselling book of 2018!

           

But it is upstairs where you will be rewarded with afternoon tea at The Harrogate Tea Room… there is nowhere finer. Just mention Cyril Bennett and they will point out his favourite seat.

            

I do hope you have enjoyed this brief trip around the streets of Harrogate. The series features many beautiful locations from Ripon, Richmond and Ramsgill as well as Leeds and Bradford. For me, they make the perfect settings for crime.

            If we can meet again I would love to take you on a trip around the Dales and enjoy a few more of the wonderful places within the pages of my books… thank you for joining me.