The building currently known as Grove House dates from three identifiable periods, the earliest of which is 1752/4 and can be seen in the "square block" at the centre of the building as viewed from the outside. From the inside, at ground floor level, it is bounded by the four stone arches.

The premises were originally built at the time when Harrogate was developing as a spa town because of the health giving properties of the water found in a large number of springs and wells. Grove House was built as a small hostelry or guest house and was originally called "The World's End." There is some evidence to show that for a while it served as a staging post for passengers and mail from London to York.

Around 1805 it was acquired and used as a boarding school by a Mrs. Holland. Barbara Hoole, a well-known Yorkshire authoress of the time, later purchased it. She used it as a Ladies Finishing School, and perhaps was a forerunner to what is now the Harrogate College.

In 1822 (the year the Order is reputed to have been founded), the Reverend T.T. Wildsmith obtained ownership and used the premises as a School for boys. Much later it was unoccupied for a number of years and it is alleged to have been haunted, although this was proven to be a trick of light, when a Captain Heneby purchased the building. In 1850 Mr. Sam-son Fox, a Civil Engineer from Leeds bought the property and is responsible for much of the splendid building we have today.

Mr. Fox, a direct ancestor of Edward Fox, the actor, and his brother was a great Victorian industrialist and benefactor to the nation and the local community. In 1870 he donated sufficient monies to build the present Royal College of Music in London. He provided Harrogate with its first Fire Service, public street lighting and built Grove Road School, almost opposite our front gates. Eventually he became Mayor of Harrogate for three successive years, a feat never equalled since.

Samson Fox built the extensions to Grove House, being the present east and west wings, together with the Royal Stables with ornate clock which can been seen from the small rose garden at the side of the house. By purchasing small or tiny portions of land in the immediate locality, the estate eventually increased to some forty acres. For example the land that accommodated the gatehouse at the entrance to the estate, where the present bungalow is situated cost a mere £160. It is amusing to note that the patch of grass outside the gate was intended to allow the farmers on their way to Knaresborough market to graze their sheep. The grounds accommodated a private gas works, science laboratory and observatory.

Most of the stained glass and oak paneling came from the old Dragon Hotel on the opposite side of Skipton Road, and just over the bridge. The clock tower for the stables, together with most of the stone used in building the east wing, tower and stables also came from the Dragon Hotel. If you examine, closely, the glass screen by the present dining room, you will find dragons encompassed in the design of the glasswork.

The house was the first in Yorkshire to be equipped with gas lighting and central heating, generated from gas plant within the grounds. The stables are thought to have been the first in the country to provide Turkish Baths for horses. At a time when they were not too well known for humans. (Can this really have been the 1870's?).

The west wing which currently provides bedrooms 3, 4, 5, and 6, the first floor TV lounge and the Grand Secretary's office and Lodge room was originally built to provide a suite of rooms for the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) and his entourage when visiting Yorkshire, dates from 1880, and included a library, billiard room and small gallery.

The east wing, on the site of the former Grove House Winter Gardens was built to provide a music and ballroom (at present bedrooms 1, 2, the annex and library) together with an art gallery on the first floor (now bedrooms 7 to 16) and dates from 1898/02.

A special souvenir Christmas card of 1902 from Mr. Samson Fox, CE., JP measuring almost four feet across depicting the picture gallery is held in the custody of the Grand Secretary as is a photograph album showing Grove House as a residence before the east wing was built. It was discovered in a dustbin by a refuse collector who was a member of the Order. Both may be seen by anybody requesting to do so. They are not on permanent display, simply to retain and preserve their current state of preservation.

Fox died in 1903 at Walsall and so for a number of years the house lay empty, although staff were retained to administer the estate and keep the house clean. During the Great War (1914-1918) Grove House, along with a number of houses in the area, was used as a Hospital for troops from the Somme and Flanders.

The Order purchased the premises in 1926 for £10,000 for use as an orphanage, because of the prolonged arguments at Grand Lodge over the question of the legal ownership of the R.A.O.B. Orphanage at Aldridge (Walsall). These latter premises being paid for, but not owned by the Order. Grove House Orphanage was opened at Easter 1927 and the parade of members took three hours to march from Harrogate Railway Station with four brass bands. To raise fund for the purchase of Grove House, and more importantly to furnish the Orphanage, members were urged to "buy" a brick or yard of turf at a cost of One shilling 1/- (or 5p) and were presented with a certificate, which was not intended as a deed of ownership. Since Grove House is built of stone and not bricks. Could it be that this is where our present Grand Secretary learnt how to part members from their money?

Occasionally these certificates are produced by descendants of members in the hope that there may be of some monetary value to the estate of the member.

The Grand Lodges offices moved to Grove House in 1926, having previously occupied the living room of Wilson-Marsh in Sheffield. At first they were accommodated in a room which now provides bedroom 3, a filing room and the room where the typist to the Grand Secretary is employed

Grove House Orphanage operated from 1926 until Christmas 1947 even though some army units were stationed here during World War II (1939-1945). With the introduction of the new "welfare state" that would look after the population from the 'cradle to the grave', widows and other guardians were, understandably, reluctant to be parted from their children. The Order changed its policy by returning the children to their families and provided cash benefits to enable the children to be looked after at their home.

The Harrogate Convalescent Home in Valley Gardens was sold and Grove House was converted to become a Convalescent Home to provide rest, recuperation and a change of air. In 1966 to mark the centenary of the Grand Lodge of England, Grove House was adapted to provide permanent residential care for aged members without family or dependants. In 1980 female dependants of members were admitted as convalescent patients.

In 1988 joint husband and wife convalescent patients were admitted for rest and recuperation. Later that year fee paying holiday guests were admitted to help offset the huge costs of maintaining the premises.

During major repair work to the roof on the east wing in 1998/9 it became necessary to remove a considerable amount of weight from the roof and to re-build much of the parapet wall. When the roof void was opened a number of ornate plaster panels in deep relief were discovered from the ceiling of the former art gallery. Rather than be destroyed, they were carefully removed and re-sited in the Lesser Hall, the Grand Staircase and first floor landing.

Closer examination of the four oblong panels in the Lesser Hall reveals the form of further dragons, not too different from the glass screen at the east entrance.. It is possible, even remotely, that these panels also came from the Dragon Hotel? And therefore much older than 1890 when the east wing was built?

The Harrogate Museum has put a conservative value on these panels of £40,000 in their present condition.

The most recent alterations have been to convert the ten single rooms in the east wing to twin bedded "on suite" at a cost of around a £180,000 and it now means that every room apart from three are twin bedded and "on suite."

Future plans are to increase the size of the dinning room, so that everyone can dine at one sitting.

Grove House is a building which is part of the country's heritage, as well as that of the Order, and can confidently meet all of our requirements of our members and dependants well into the 21st. Century.

In a period of less than 247 years the role of Grove House has come full circle.- an establishment for the sick and infirm to rest and recuperate, to an establishment for the needs of children. As an Army Hospital, to an Orphanage, to a Convalescent Home, a holiday centre and a place for our aged members or widows with no family or other connections can live out their final years.

Benevolence and true joy, ever attend us.