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Harrogate: bastion of the middle classes; jewel in Yorkshire’s crown; sometime purveyor of apostrophe abuse.

I see quite a few examples of place names missing the required possessive apostrophe. Sometimes this has a historical or traditional reason (e.g., someone got it wrong hundreds of years ago and it was never corrected) and sometimes a local authority makes the unforgivable decision to ignore grammar in the name of “branding” (see also NewcastleGateshead – which inspired the naming of GrammarBlog).

However it would seem that Harrogate County Council simply can’t make up their minds.

Obviously they’re too busy drinking overpriced tea and trying to hide their Yorkshire accents to proof read sign copy.

Ah’ll see thee.