Editing Boston Spa (section)

==History==
[[File:Boston Spa bridge in 2007.jpg|thumb|left|[[Thorp Arch Bridge]]]]
The [[Boston Spa hoard]], a [[Roman Britain|Romano-British]] coin hoard dating to the mid second-century AD and comprising a [[grey ware]] vessel and 172 silver ''[[denarii]]'', was found in the town in 1848.<ref name=HE>{{Historic England research records |num=54886|desc=Monument Number 54886 |access-date=3 November 2021}}</ref>

In 1744, John Shires established a [[spa resort]] when he discovered [[sulfur|sulphur]] springs in the [[magnesian Limestone|magnesian limestone]]. It was originally known as ''Thorp Spaw''. In 1753, the [[Tadcaster]] to [[Otley]] road that passes through Boston Spa was [[Turnpike trust|turnpiked]]. In the same year, Joseph Taite built a house to accommodate visitors, it became the Royal Hotel which is still standing, but converted into flats and shops. By 1819, Boston Spa had a population of more than 600, and several inns and other houses offering accommodation had been built.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aboutbritain.com/towns/boston-spa.asp|title=Boston Spa|website=AboutBritain.com|access-date=22 October 2021}}</ref> Spa baths were built to allow visitors to take the waters. The spa declined when [[Harrogate]] became popular as a spa town.

The Boston Spa and Thorp Arch [[Conservation Area]],<ref name = CA>{{cite web|title=Leeds City Council designation|url=http://www.leeds.gov.uk/files/Internet2007/2009/40/boston%20spa%20caa%20revised%20appraisal%20final%20for%20approval.pdf|access-date=26 March 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709052457/http://www.leeds.gov.uk/files/Internet2007/2009/40/boston%20spa%20caa%20revised%20appraisal%20final%20for%20approval.pdf|archive-date=9 July 2011}}</ref> designated in 1969, extended across Boston Spa and Thorp Arch parishes. It was revised and divided in 2009, restricting the boundaries to Boston Spa parish and reshaped to exclude areas of late-20th-century estate housing to the south of the High Street. The conservation area boundary focuses on the historic settlement. It was extended to the west, to encompass West End, an area of dwellings constructed during the [[Second World War]] to house workers from Thorp Arch munitions factory. The war had a major effect on Boston Spa's population, society and surroundings, and the buildings stand as a testament to that history.