Knaresborough Preparative Meeting of the Society of Friends.

In the mid-1650s, several Friends were active in Knaresborough, and suffered imprisonment for preaching at the parish church; they included John Snawdon, John Hogg, Thomas Warriner and John Geldart. Knaresborough Meeting was first recorded in 1665 as part of Skipton Monthly Meeting, and again in 1669, as part of the newly formed Knaresborough Monthly Meeting. Friends in Harrogate, Pannal and Scotton came within its orbit. Its leading members included George and Ann Watkinson of Scotton, and the Middleton family of Knaresborough. In 1689 the home of Mary Middleton was licensed for religious worship and the first purpose-built Meeting House opened in 1701 in Gracious Street, Knaresborough. The Meeting declined during the 18th century, one of the reasons being the lack of resident ministers. In 1792 it merged with Netherdale Meeting (based at Dacre). This arrangement lasted until 1826 and the Quaker connection with Knaresborough ceased.

From the guide to the Records of Knaresborough Preparative Meeting of the Society of Friends, 1701-1826, (GB 206 Leeds University Library)