Knaresborough is a historical market town, spa town and civil parish in the Borough of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England. Typically an area of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it is positioned on the River Nidd, 4 miles east from the centre of Harrogate. The town is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Cenheard's fortress', with the name of the area experiencing various alterations over the next few centuries. The advancement of the town began around 1100, when it started to provide a market and appeal to traders to service the castle. The town was not awarded a royal charter to certify its status as a market town until 1310 by Edward II. A market continues to be held every Wednesday in the market square throughout the year. There are multiple landmarks spread all over the town that draw in frequent visitors. Some examples include the remains of Knaresborough Castle, the House in the Rock, the railway viaduct over the River Nidd, and St. Robert's Cave. Knaresborough is also home to 'Ye Oldest Chymist Shoppe' in England, which opened in 1720, a time in which there was much uncertainty about such establishments. The town is also host to a variety of social and cultural tourist attractions through the year. It has held the yearly Bed Race since 1966, which is arranged by the Knaresborough Lions Club, and the Festival of Entertainment and Visual Arts (FEVA), a yearly arts summer festival in the town centre, since 2001. There are 15 working clubs in the town, along with a wine bar and numerous eateries. For all your home upgrades, make certain to make use of dependable contractors in Knaresborough to make certain of quality.