In 1840, the owner of the estate, Henry Wright, cleaned out and protected one of the wells and four years later built a hotel and a bath house.

[citation needed] The gardens were laid out around the bath house and in 1861 the site at Harlow Carr springs was described as: a sweet secluded spot ... the grounds neatly laid out, adorned with a selection of trees, shrubs, flowers, walks, easy seats and shady arbours.

The Northern Horticultural Society was founded in 1946 with the objective of: promoting and developing the science, art and practice of horticulture with special reference to the conditions pertaining to the North of England.The society leased 10.5 hectares (26 acres) of mixed woodland, pasture and arable land at Harlow Hill from the Harrogate Corporation and it opened the Harlow Carr Botanical Gardens in 1950.

[2] The chief aim of the venture was to set up a trial ground where the suitability of plants for growing in northern climates could be assessed.

The six well heads in front of the bath house have been capped off but remain beneath the present Limestone Rock Garden.

The latter holds a range of gardening-related books, periodicals and DVDs which can be loaned to RHS members and accessed by any garden visitor.

[4] In 2014 the Harrogate Arms and the land surrounding it was acquired by the RHS with plans progressing to restore the building, create new gardens around it and reintroduce its links with the old bath house.

In the upper floor are recessed mullioned and transomed windows with chamfered surrounds and hood moulds, containing casements, and in the gables are blind lancets.