Catcart House, built shortly after 1860, was established by the Allen family as one of the leading residences in Harrogate. Here lived Princess Alex of Hesse, who became Empress Alexandra Feodorovna in 1894. Until her death at the hands of the Bolsheviks in 1917, she was the godmother of twins, the children of the house's owner.

In 1911, a tea party at Catcart House was attended by Russian Empress Maria, Queen Alexandra, the former Empress of India, King Manuel of Spain, Prince Christopher of Greece, Princess Victoria, and Grand Duchess Maria Georgievna of Russia.