As well as being home to Gateways School, the rural village of Harewood has a fascinating history, with Harewood House playing an integral part of that history. The stunning and expansive country house is one of Yorkshire’s greatest attractions and was named ‘Large Visitor Attraction of the Year’ at the 2020 White Rose Awards.

History of Harewood House

Harewood House was built between 1759 and 1771 for Edwin Lascelles, 1^st Baron Harewood. The estate covers over 1,000 acres and the property is still home to the Lascelles family. It is a Grade I listed building and several features of the property have been listed as Grade I, II and III.

During World War II, Harewood House was used as a convalescent hospital and in the 1940s, the house and gardens were often used to host music events, with regular performances from the Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra. Lord Harewood, the 7^th earl had a passion and talent for music, becoming director of the Royal Opera House and also the English National Opera.

Gateways School and Harewood House

From 1947, the Dower House on the estate was leased out and local independent school Gateways moved into the property as it began to expand. The school had been established in 1941 with 15 pupils to provide excellent education to local students so that they did not need to travel during wartime.

Since Gateways moved into the Harewood estate, the school has grown in to one of the top academic schools in the area. More recently, state-of-the-art facilities have been built on the grounds around the original Dower House that is still at the heart of the school.

As well as the excellent sports facilities, the long musical connection at Harewood continues, with excellent facilities such as the modern dance studio and performing arts centre, boasting the latest technology and other high-quality equipment. The enormous sports hall is often used to host grand events and fundraisers, as it is the perfect location for hosting large, impressive events.

Students who attend Gateways can enjoy all of the exceptional facilities in these historical and picturesque grounds which further enhance the educational experience at the school.