A general history of Scarborough
Scarborough has a major fort, an important portand was the first seaside resort. Since the 12th century, the great rock carried a Norman castle,visited by the mediaeval Kings from Henry II to Richard III, who made the port his base for war against S...
Britain's First seaside resort
Britain's First Seaside Resort As the first seaside resort in Britain, 50 years before Brighton, Scarborough pioneered "bathing machines" for women, who entered the ocean clad in vast garments, helped by servant women, from horse dra...
Coals from Newcastle - Scarborough's trade in coal
Scarborough has a harbour side inn called the Newcastle Packet and once had another known as the Sunderland Bridge. These names recall the profitable trade in shipping coals from Newcastle and Sunderland to the east coast, London and Europe, which ke...
My grandfathers house at 32 Sandside
The following story was surrounded with great mystery. It was handwritten by a man who lived in an old folks home in Scarborough. One of the carers at that home gave it to the Scarborough Maritime Heritage Centre. It is exceptionally well written...
Radio 270 - pirate radio station off Scarborough
Most people associate pirate radio with Radio Caroline but in truth there were pirate radio stations all arouind the UK. Radio Scotland went on air on New Years Eve. Then Radio 270 intended to start broadcasting on 1st April off the Scarborough c...
Scarborough : A seaside resort , in the 1820s
A book seller called John Cole moved to Scarborough in 1821. His diary recorded some of the delights, awaiting both the resident and the genteel visitor, in those years before the railways brought the crowds. Even in January, there was a "ca...
Scarborough maritime heritage - John Rushton
John was born in Luton on 21 June 1929 to Robin Rushton, then clerk, later accountant and champion chess player, and Annie Howlett, then forewoman. John Rushton joined the navy age 16 just before the Second World War ended. The Germans surrendere...
Scarborough Maritime heritage centre - Article by John rushton on scarboroughs seafront
Gilbank's Directory of 1855 shows the businesses of the Scarborough Under cliff still more part of the port than the resort .House numbers should be treated with caution as many have changed since. Sandside 1. William Beeson lodging house...
Scarborough newspapers - a rich source of history
Local newspapers have been recording events for morethan 150 years. Scarborough and other Yorkshire libraries have good collections of the old papers, often on microfilm. Readers can be booked and research combined with a good deal of entertainme...
Scarborough surfers and surfing
At one time the economy of Scarborough was very much based upon the sea - fishing boats sold their catches, shipbuilders busy in shipyards, and merchant seamen going from port to port. Nowadays Scarborough relies on tourism - yachtsmen come to en...
Sea bathing was pioneered at Scarborough in the late 17th century.
The healthy plunger was warned ,"you could feel aconsiderable shock or chill. A sobbing succeeds, the skin is contracted and feels rough to the hand, acracking noise is heard, followed by a ringing orwhizzing in the ears; On quitting the wate...
The Lady Dock - a small slipway on the North Bays Marine Drive
At the beginning of the 21st Century the Marine Drive sea defences were reinforced. During these changes the 'Lady Dock' - a small slipway on the North Bay was built over. Not many people knew what this small archway built into the Marine...
An article written by John Rushton A block of buildings on Scarborough's Sandside has had a remarkable history. Many others along the front would make the transition from mariner's houses, fishermen's cottages and ship builder'...
