Historic Yorkshire Hotels: Swan, Nidd, Guy Fawkes

It is thought that the origins of the estate date back to at least the fourteenth century, and there was certainly a manor house built here during the reign of Elizabeth I. The existing house, however, is a comparative youngster, having been constructed in 1830.

Set in 45 acres of landscaped gardens, Nidd Hall is very much the country retreat. No wonder, therefore, that it developed a reputation for its lavish house parties which attracted the great & good from not only Yorkshire, but all across the UK.

Indeed, it is said that the future King Edward VIII first met Wallis Simpson at a gathering at Nidd, starting a chain of events that would famously lead to his abdication.

This grand old Regency hotel is a landmark in Scarborough, and the theme continues inside with its impressive staircase. Its splendour, though, is unsurprising � built in 1830, the hotel opened at a time when the town was in its holiday heyday, and thus needed to stand out from the crowd.

Its reputation certainly attracted many wealthy and powerful visitors, not least Winston Churchill � a man not known for checking in to any average hotel.

Doing a Runner... She wrote.

In December 1926 an abandoned car was found at a chalk pit in Surrey. The discovery resulted in one of the biggest man hunts of the time.

The owner, suffering from a nervous breakdown, had then travelled to London and boarded a train to Yorkshire (allegedly having seen a poster advertising the destination on the platform). Several hours later the 36 year old woman arrived at The Swan Hotel in Harrogate and checked in under the name of Theresa Neale.

This, of course, wasn�t her real name - it just happened to be that of the woman with whom her husband had been having an affair. But, then again, nor was Agatha Christie, although that�s the pseudonym for which Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller was, and remains, most famous.

Her disappearance prompted a nationwide search involving over 1,000 police officers while, for ten days, she remained unnoticed in her room of the then Swan Hydro. In fact, it wasn�t until a local banjo player recognised the author that the search was called off and her husband travelled north to meet her.

It is still debated whether the affair was merely a publicity stunt or, as she always maintained, the genuine results of amnesia caused by the accident. But whatever the real reason, the hotel was the location of the film 'Agatha' starring Dustin Hoffman and Vanessa Redgrave in 1977.

No Mome Raths Allowed.

Built upon the site of the former monastery of St. Wilfrid, The Old Deanery itself dates as far back as 1625.

Extensively refurbished in 2003, the property is said to have once accommodated Lewis Carroll (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson) for a fair while during the early 19th century. It is known that the author wrote part of Through The Looking Glass while staying in the town. His father also became a residentiary canon of Ripon Cathedral in 1852.

The Guy Fawkes Hotel
25 High Petergate, York, YO1 7HP

Just What It Says On The Keg.

This popular 16th century town house hotel benefits greatly from its position at the heart of the famous city of York - the hotel is overlooked by the city�s magnificent Minster.

Unsurprisingly, the name gives away the historic connection. But, in this case, Guy Fawkes was no mere visitor - he is reputed to have been born in the small cottage at the rear of the hotel.

The Three Tuns
Thirsk

Bachelor Party.

Constructed in 1698, the building was at one time home to the Lords of the Manor prior to its transformation into a coaching inn in 1740 - the accommodation for coach horses is still in its original condition.

One well-known figure to have stayed at The Three Tuns was William Wordsworth. It is said that the poet rested here in 1802 en route to his marriage to Mary Hutchinson.