Homes in Knaresborough
Knaresborough appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Chenaresburg, "Cenheard's fortress". Knaresborough Castle is Norman, and the town began to grow around 1100, providing a market for the castle. The parish church of St John dates from about the same time. Knaresborough was part of the Borough of Harrogate until April 2023 and is now in North Yorkshire Council's area.
The centre is compact. The Market Place, with the market cross and Blind Jack's pub, sits above the gorge, with Castlegate, Bond End and the High Street close by. Streets such as Prospect Terrace and Raw Gap run down towards the station and the river.
The census area around the Market Place (LSOA Harrogate 009C) is the most built-up part of town: 35% flats, 30% terraced, 17% detached and 15% semis. 26% of homes were privately rented and 28% of households had no car.
The wider Knaresborough West ward is very different. Of its 3,645 households, 37% were detached and 28% semi-detached. 76% were owner-occupied and 40% of households had two or more cars.
Typical Knaresborough projects:
- Small forecourt parking for a town house, where depth and the conservation area allow.
- Replacement drives on detached and semi-detached homes in the outer estates.
- Resin or block paving in colours that suit local stone.
- Steps and paths alongside drives on the town's steep streets.
Conservation areas and listed buildings
Knaresborough conservation area covers the historic centre, and Scriven conservation area protects the village just to the north. More than a dozen listed buildings stand within a few hundred metres of the Market Place, including houses on Castlegate, Castle Ings Gardens, Bond End and the High Street.
In a conservation area:
- ask North Yorkshire Council's planning team before removing front walls, railings or gates,
- expect materials to matter: resin in a natural stone colour, setts or clay pavers often suit better than grey concrete,
- remember listed buildings need listed building consent for changes affecting their character.
Outside them, a permeable front drive on a house, or one draining to the garden, is permitted development. Impermeable paving over five square metres draining to the road needs planning permission. Flats do not have these rights.
The Nidd and the ground
The British Geological Survey maps the centre of Knaresborough on the Edlington Formation, a Permian calcareous mudstone, with no superficial deposit shown at that point. Mudstone can soften when wet, so a drive needs a sound, compacted stone sub-base on a membrane and good drainage.
The River Nidd runs through the gorge below the town. The Environment Agency's flood map shows 8 Flood Zone 2 and 4 Flood Zone 3 areas within 300 metres of the Market Place, along the river. Homes on high ground are well above them, but low-lying properties near the river should check their address and keep any new drive permeable.
Kerbs and costs
Dropped kerbs. North Yorkshire Council offers a domestic licence at £310.20, using an approved independent contractor. It will also quote to build the crossing for £102.36, with typical construction around £2,000 plus a 10% admin fee, and charges no quote fee if a crossing is not possible. In the narrow streets near the centre, visibility and on-street parking often decide the outcome. See our dropped kerbs page.
Budget. At Checkatrade's April 2026 UK averages:
| Surface | Per m² | 15m² forecourt | 35m² drive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gravel with a grid | about £60 | £900 | £2,100 |
| Tarmac | about £90 | £1,350 | £3,150 |
| Block paving | about £100 | £1,500 | £3,500 |
| Resin bound | about £120 | £1,800 | £4,200 |
Small jobs cost more per square metre. Removing walls, steps on steep plots and the kerb work come on top.
Around Knaresborough
- Starbeck driveway page: West along the A59, the village suburb by the station.
- Bilton driveway page: North-west across the Nidd Gorge, a suburb of semis.
- Pannal driveway page: South-west, a village on the Crimple Beck.
Useful pages for Knaresborough homes: resin driveways, block paving & setts, vehicle crossings.
See all areas: View all areas.
Questions people ask in Knaresborough
Can I park in front of my house in the centre of Knaresborough?
Only where the frontage is deep enough for a car to sit clear of the footway, usually about 5 metres. In the conservation area, check with North Yorkshire Council before removing walls.
Is my house in a conservation area?
The historic centre around the castle and Market Place is in the Knaresborough conservation area, and Scriven has its own. Most outer estates are not.
Is Knaresborough at risk of flooding?
Land along the River Nidd is in mapped Flood Zones 2 and 3. Homes on higher ground are clear of them. Check your address on the flood map.
What does a dropped kerb cost in Knaresborough?
North Yorkshire Council's licence is £310.20 if you use an approved contractor. A council quote costs £102.36, with typical construction around £2,000 plus 10%.
Sources: ONS Census 2021, Knaresborough West ward and LSOA Harrogate 009C (TS044, TS045, TS054 via Nomis); Wikipedia: Knaresborough; Planning Data: conservation areas and listed buildings; BGS Geology Viewer, 1:50,000; Environment Agency flood map for planning; North Yorkshire Council: pavements and kerbs (dropped kerbs); GOV.UK: permeable surfacing of front gardens; Checkatrade driveway cost guide (April 2026).