Scarborough
Scarborough is a coastal town in the North Yorkshire, England that I have had the pleasure of visiting on many occasions, as both an adult, and as a child. The town has a population of about 61,000 and is the largest holiday resort on the Yorkshire coast; it possesses a fishing industry and also has a growing digital and creative economy. People from the town are known as Scarborians.
This article by Dean on Scarborough was published in FTHM Issue 70, October 2020, which you can read at
fromthehorsesmouth.org.uk/fthm-october-2020-issue-70
Scarborough has a South and North Bay which are linked by a Victorian promenade called Marine Drive and both bays are overlooked by the castle. The South Bay is the main tourist area with a lovely sandy beach, amusements, arcades, cafes, theatre and other entertainment facilities. The North Bay is the quieter end of the resort and has Peasholm Park, the North Bay Railway (miniature railway) and Northstead Manor Gardens. The harbour has recently been renovated with nice features like the new Albert Strange Pontoons, a pedestrian-friendly promenade, seating and street lighting.
Normally, Scarborough is a delightful place to visit, especially during good weather, but there has definitely been a shift towards people taking more mid-week-breaks and weekend excursions than longer stays. The modern commercial town centre is often bustling and provides: transport hubs, principal services, shopping and a popular nightlife. There are major shopping chains adjacent to independent traders. Leading large manufacturers like the Plaxton Company (coach and bus construction) and McCain Foods have traditionally been based in the area.
The town is very accessible as it is served by four major roads which link it to: Malton, York, Leeds, Filey, Bridlington, Hull, North York Moors, Thirsk, Whitby and Middlesbrough.
The railway station is also close to the town centre and offers services from: York, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool and Hull.
Because of its wonderful location, Scarborough has been chosen as the location of some very popular T.V. Series like The Royal and The Royal Today.
Scarborough was allegedly founded in 966 AD as Skaroaborg by a Viking raider called Thorgils Skarthi and has an interesting past including the construction of an Angevin stone castle by King Henry II. Then Edward II gave the castle to Piers Gaveston who was later captured and executed. Scarborough and its castle actually changed seven times between Royalists and Parliamentarians during the English Civil War of the 1640s including two lengthy and violent sieges. From the thirteenth to the eighteenth century there was a popular trading six-week festival, called Scarborough Fair, involving merchants from all over Europe.
Significantly, in 1626, a Mrs Thomasin Farrer discovered a stream of acidic water running from one of the cliffs to the south of the town and this resulted in Scarborough Spa becoming Britain’s first seaside resort – and somewhere nice for wealthy people to visit. The Crown Spa Hotel (designed by John Gibson) was Scarborough’s first purpose-built hotel and, in 1867, The Grand Hotel was completed which was one of the largest hotels in the world. During the First World War, the town (including the castle) was heavily bombarded by German warships.
In more modern times (5th of June, 1993) Scarborough experienced a landslip as part of the Holbeck Hotel, and its gardens, fell into the sea. It has since been shored up by rocks.
There is usually plenty for residents and visitors to do in the town, for example: there is the ornamental lake called Scarborough Mere, the annual Jazz Festival, Sci-Fi Scarborough, Seafest (annual festival at West Pier and around the harbour with singers, shanty men and musicians all celebrating the region’s fishing industry, Scarborough Amateur Rowing Club, Scarborough Yacht Club, two main golf courses, and of course local football and rugby teams. If you just want to relax you can take one of the bus routes along the seafront and Marine Drive which link the South and the North Bays.
Interestingly, the Dramatist Alan Ayckburn and singer Robert Palmer have both lived in the town.
So, I think it’s fair to say that Scarborough is well-worth a visit as not only does it have historical interest, it also has much to offer to everyone today.
* With a lot of help from Wikipedia
If you want to visit more places then look at Dean’s Places on this website
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