Town's first mosque to celebrate local history

Harrogate's first mosque will be located in what was once the town's Home Guard Club

Part of a North Yorkshire town's World War Two history will be "preserved and celebrated" as the site is converted into the area's first ever mosque, those behind the work have pledged.

Members of Harrogate's Islamic Association said they were aware the former Home Guard Club was of historical interest and wanted to ensure it could still be visited by anyone once the conversion work was completed.

Association committee member Zahed Amanullah said it had taken over 10 years of fundraising to finally secure a permanent place of worship in Harrogate.

Mr Amanullah said: "The exterior is going to be as much as possible restored to the original look and feel of the structure."

The building was in a poor state of repair and has needed a lot of work to stabilise it

There had been an established Muslim community in Harrogate for several decades, and it had grown to a point where it had become necessary to consider new premises for a permanent mosque, Mr Amanullah said.

The money to convert the former Home Guard Club on Belford Road had been raised from the community in Harrogate as well as from people elsewhere in Yorkshire, he explained.

Meanwhile, a crowdfunding campaign had also attracted further donations from across the UK.

However, Mr Amanullah said while work was now in its second phase at the site, it had so far not been entirely straightforward.

“It was in worse shape than we thought when we purchased it. Part of the ceiling had collapsed. It was truly derelict, so we had to look at our plans and do some emergency works to protect the building."

The project at the site on Belford Road in Harrogate has so far cost about £1m

Work to modify and stabilise the building and to replace the rotten timber was now under way, Mr Amanullah said.

This phase could take another few months before the final fit-out for the mosque could be completed, he said.

Mr Amanullah said: "One of the things we’re really proud of is the wider Harrogate community has been very welcoming, very supportive.

"The other faith communities in Harrogate have been very supportive over the past year - and during the riots in the UK. We want to thank everyone for that.”

Mr Amanullah said once the mosque was finally completed, the intention was to have it "open to the public".

"Anyone who wants to visit should be able to visit - people who want to pray or see the building," he said.

"We want to make sure we have an open door policy. This is a part of the Harrogate community."

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