History

Scarborough's Story... 
Scarborough is rich in history, with its castle perched high above the North and South Bays, and a town which is proud to be Britain's first seaside resort! We're proud of our story which has lead to millions of people visiting every year...
In the beginning...
The town was founded in 966AD as Skarðaborg by Thorgills Skarthi, a Viking raider. But there is evidence of settlers on the Headland from 2,500 years ago. Scarborough Castle was built by Henry II.
The Middle Ages...
In the Middle Ages, Scarborough Fair, permitted in a royal charter of 1253, held a six-week trading festival attracting merchants from all over Europe. It ran from Assumption Day, 15 August, until Michaelmas Day, 29 September. The fair continued to be held for 500 years, from the 11th century to the 18th century, and is commemorated in the song Scarborough Fair:
Britain's oldest house...
The oldest house in Britain, dated 8500BC, was discovered outside Scarborough at Star Carr (near Seamer). The Mesolithic archeological site has been compared to Stonehenge in terms of its importance.
Dinosaur Coast...
Superb fossil remains, along the Yorkshire coast near Scarborough, have given the area the title of Dinosaur Coast. Scarborough is home to its own museum of geology called The Rotunda Museum, situated next to the Spa Bridge in South Bay.
The first seaside resort...
In 1626, Elizabeth Farrow discovered a stream of acidic water running down the cliff and into the sea in the South Bay. The water healed ailments because of it's chemical make-up, much like stomach salts in chemists do today. A Dr Wittie book about the spa waters published in 1660 was a huge catalyst for visitors to 'Scarborough Spa' and the town became Britain's first seaside resort. The famous old bathing machines didn't make an appearance until 1735.
The Grand Hotel..
When the Grand Hotel was completed in 1867 it was the largest hotel in Europe and one of the largest in the world. Four towers represent the seasons, 12 floors represent the months, 52 chimneys represent the weeks and originally 365 bedrooms represented the days of the year. A blue plaque outside marks where the novelist Anne Brontë died in 1849. Winston Churchill and The Beatles are amongst those who've stayed there.
Historic old town...
Behind Sandside on the harbour, discover The Bolts, a relic of medieval life in Scarborough. Walk the narrow street from the Harbour Bar all the way to Luna Park and discover some old treasures along the way. Although much of the old town has been lost, there are still many historic buildings, streets and landmarks waiting to be explored.
St. Mary's & Anne Bronte...
St. Mary's Church & Anne Bronte's Grave... St. Mary's is the parish curch of Scarborough and dats back from 1170. Originally the church had 2 imposing towers but these were removed in the 14th century.The central tower and the chancel were destroyed during the civil war when Parliamentarians used the church as a base from which to attack the Royalists in Scarborough Castle. Anne Bronte is buried in the graveyard on the castle side.
German Bombardment...
During World War I, Scarborough was bombarded by German Warships which also attacked Whitby & Hartlepool. The day marked the first death on British soil of the Great War and shocked the country.
Scarborough Spa...
The Grade II listed Scarborough Spa complex is home to the Scarborough Spa Orchestra, the last remaining seaside orchestra in the UK.
The Father of the search engine...
Jonathon Fletcher from Scarborough invented the world's first web-crawling search engine - called JumpStation - the very technology that powers Google, Bing, Yahoo and all the major search tools on the web today.
Impressive Stats...
The Borough of Scarborough is the 3rd most visited place in the UK. It's also home to the largest open air theatre in Europe with an 8,000 capacity and is home to possibly the longest running show on earth in the Naval Warfare battles at Peasholm Park. Dramatist Alan Ayckbourn is based in Scarborough where he has lived for a number of years. He has produced some sixty plays in the town and is the artistic director of the famous Stephen Joseph Theatre, where almost all his plays receive their first performance.
by Patrick Billington 23 Apr, 2024
Toulson Court Guest House in Scarborough has been named the best B&B in Europe and 2nd best in the world in the latest Tripadvisor Awards! The owners have only had the establishment for 8 years and this is their 4th major Tripadvisor award, having being named the best B&B in the world for the last 3 years. The accolade is based on the number of positive Tripadvisor reviews. Congratulations to Toulson Court and thanks for helping to put Scarborough on the world map!
by Patrick Billington 18 Apr, 2024
Today Will Young has announced a brand new single, ‘Falling Deep’. This euphoric track is the first single taken from Will’s forthcoming ninth studio album, “Light It Up”, which is out on 9th August. To celebrate this new album, Will has just announced that his is embarking on his most intimate tour yet – taking shape as an up close and personal evening of acoustic performances, stories and conversation. The 50-date UK tour will kick off in September through to November and will be heading to the Spa Theatre on Saturday 12th October 2024. General on-sale begins on Friday 26th April. About the tour, Young says: “I’m very excited to be going to a lot of places I haven’t been. I wanted to go to smaller venues so I could properly get around the country rather than just playing the big cities.” For a performer who thrives on stage, having done eight sold-out national tours and countless festival appearances (he has performed at Glastonbury three times); it feels like he’s hitting a new stride with renewed vigour. “Whatever I do though,” Will said, contemplatively. “I can finally connect to the fun of it all and that is a place I never thought I would get back to so I’ll take it.” “It has been such a tough time and to be out the other side, it is just so exciting to produce a complete pop album. The crafting of pop music can be so fun and the challenge to sing those songs is something I’ve relished.” Will will be bringing his ‘Light It Up Live’ tour to Scarborough Spa on Saturday 12th October 2024. Tickets on sale Friday 26th April 2024 at 10am RIGHT HERE!
by Patrick Billington 18 Apr, 2024
Since they started releasing records more than thirty years ago, Feeder have never been far from the charts or strangers to the stage. Having sold over 7 million records, they’ve played all over the world, bringing their anthemic rock music to fans old and new, always exhilarating, always celebratory. Tracks like Just The Way I’m Feeling, Buck Rogers, Feeling A Moment, High, Borders, Just a Day, Torpedo and Fear of Flying and Lost and Found are just some of the 26 top 40 chart hits the band have enjoyed over the years along with a double platinum singles collection in 2006. In 2010 the band spent a year getting back to their roots and playing new tracks in clubs under the name Renegades. An album of the same name was then released followed by their eighth studio album, ‘Generation Freakshow’. This album garnered glowing reviews in The Times and The Evening Standard. After a four-year break to pursue solo projects, 2016 saw Feeder release All bright Electric and in 2017 the “Best Of” album which both marked up more Top 10 albums for the band. This was followed by Tallulah and most recently Torpedo, both Top 5 albums. 2024 sees the band ready to reclaim their position as one of the biggest and best British rock bands. Join them as they head to Scarborough Spa on Friday 26th July 2024, tickets on sale this Friday RIGHT HERE!
by Patrick Billington 18 Apr, 2024
From North Yorkshire Council: A free three-day festival will be staged in Scarborough next month as part of efforts to bring a more diverse range of visitors to the North Yorkshire coast during the main tourism season. Scarborough Streets will involve outdoor performances, events, workshops, murals and more on the Bank Holiday weekend, May 4 to 6. Organised by ourselves, the festival aims to inspire, celebrate and showcase local creativity, while also featuring national and international artists. Throughout the weekend there will be a variety of street performances, from circus acts and puppetry to dance and theatre with the town’s streets jam-packed with entertainment. Scarborough Streets is one of several high-profile events lined up for the town this year, as part of the Scarborough Fair Festival, including Scarborough Fringe in June and Scarborough Art which runs from the middle of June into early August. Assistant director for culture and leisure, Jo Ireland, said: “We are delighted to be able to bring this free event to Scarborough. “Following on from Scarborough Lights, this latest event is part of our plan to place the town at the heart of the cultural and artistic calendar. “It is about bringing the arts to the people and making them accessible for all. We have a wealth of talent in North Yorkshire and combining this with some of the best national and international acts will make for an unmissable experience.” The over-arching Scarborough Fair initiative, which takes its name from the event that was last held in the 18th century, is being revived as a year-round programme of arts, heritage, music and sports events and is expected to run until 2026. The cultural project is aiming to help boost North Yorkshire’s tourism industry, which is worth £1.5 billion a year in the spend from domestic visitors. It accounts for 11 per cent of the county’s overall economy, and 41,200 workers are employed in the sector. Head of tourism, Gemma Rio, added: “Scarborough Fair is aimed at showcasing what is one of our most popular destinations to an even wider audience. “The series of events that are being staged over the summer months provide new and exciting opportunities to help build on Scarborough’s huge appeal. “It is hoped that more people will come to visit the town over the coming months to enjoy what is on offer, and also help to support the local economy.” Stand-out performers at Scarborough Streets include Phileas Fogg, who will wow visitors with their hilarious roving performance fusing modern technology and the classic Jules Verne novel, Around the World in Eighty Days, and Beetlebug, a talented musician with more than 100,000 followers on social media. On Bank Holiday Monday, there will be a walkabout parade led by Animated Objects. They will be joined by many of the acts and those who have attended workshops over the weekend. Elsewhere, two audio trails have been created called What the Sea Saw and the Wilfred Owen Walk. The first reflects on the town’s fishing heritage from the 1950s up to the present day, while the latter follows in the footsteps of the famous English war poet who spent time in the town and includes excerpts from his work. Outdoor murals will also appear across the town, including a stylised map of Scarborough opposite the railway station and a piece entitled Celebrating Diversity at the Falsgrave Community Resource Centre, Seamer Road. A third mural, known as the Limonade Mural Project, will feature at Big Maya’s Jerk Chicken on Hoxton Road and a piece by Turn Up The Colour, called We See With Our Hearts Not Our Eyes, will be at Yorkshire Coast Sight Support on Dean Road. One of the organisations taking part in the festival is inkahoots!, a community interest company based in the town. They will be performing pieces created as part of The Brave Project, an initiative funded in part by the Children and Young People’s Dance Network North. Director of inkahoots!, Clare Maxwell, said: “Scarborough has always been a hive of cultural activity without being acknowledged as such. “Thanks to Scarborough Streets, we can now shout loudly and proudly about the creativity, artistry, talent and diversity that thrives in the town. “We are really looking forward to the festival and our young performers can’t wait to show just what they have to offer.” The Brave Project is designed to encourage boys and young men to explore their physical, expressive and creative capabilities through dance, sport, martial arts and physical theatre. Underpinning the whole project are messages promoting positive mental health and emotional wellbeing. Clare said: “We now have a great core group of boys aged between 16 and 24 and hope that our involvement in Scarborough Streets and then Scarborough Fringe will encourage even more to join.” Scarborough Fringe, which runs between June 21 and 30, is the first such event to be held in the town and will feature theatre, music, comedy, spoken word, children’s shows and a variety of other events and performances. Scarborough Art, meanwhile, will be held between June 15 and August 4 and is an exciting combination of exhibitions and workshops taking place at various venues across Scarborough and beyond.
by Patrick Billington 18 Apr, 2024
From North Yorkshire Council: The search for a new operator for the Alpamare waterpark in Scarborough has begun. We hope to see the attraction reopen to the public in time for the summer 2024 season. We took possession of the site in December last year when the waterpark’s tenant, Benchmark Leisure Ltd, went into administration. A three-week exercise has now been launched to find an operator to take on a short-term 12-month rental agreement. During that time, work will be undertaken to find a permanent solution on the future operation of the site. Assistant director for commercial, property and procurement, Kerry Metcalfe, said: “We are working hard to confirm a new tenant to reopen the facility in time for the main 2024 summer season. Once that is in place, we can look to the longer-term options.” The water park, which is located off Burniston Road, features a wave pool, a splash and play pool, four state-of-the-art slides, two outdoor pools, an alpine themed spa and treatment area, and a café and terrace bar. It was purpose-built in 2016 overlooking the North Bay in the seaside town. More details about the search for a potential operator for the site are available by contacting estates@northyorks.gov.uk
by Patrick Billington 28 Mar, 2024
Scarborough has loads of events across the Easter Bank Holiday Weekend from Good Friday until Easter Monday!
by Patrick Billington 18 Mar, 2024
Experience a spectacular musical journey with Midge Ure’s 'Catalogue: The Hits Tour’ in Scarborough on Thursday 5th December 2024. This tour celebrates the remarkable 50-year career of Midge Ure, from his beginnings in Slik to monumental achievements with Ultravox and pivotal roles in Band Aid and Live Aid. As a recipient of prestigious Ivor Novello, Grammy, and BASCAP awards, Midge's contributions to the music industry are unparalleled. This November and December, experience an intimate concert showcasing the vast catalogue of Midge's work, from well-loved hits to rare fan favourites. It's a unique opportunity to witness the musical genius and versatility of Midge Ure live, reflecting his passion for live performances. Don’t miss this chance to celebrate the legacy of a musical icon who has profoundly influenced the world of music and left an indelible mark on generations. GET YOUR TICKETS HERE ON FRIDAY 22ND MARCH AT 10AM!
by Patrick Billington 18 Mar, 2024
Bill is a comedian, actor, musician and author known for his role in the cult sitcom Black Books, as team captain on the anarchic music quiz Never Mind the Buzzcocks, his appearances on the freewheeling panel show QI and his many critically acclaimed UK and international stand-up tours. He was crowned Strictly Come Dancing champion 2020. Bill’s other notable TV work includes the two-part series Bill Bailey’s Jungle Hero for BBC Two about the Victorian naturalist Alfred Russell Wallace, and a brilliant deconstruction of the way orchestras work in Bill Bailey’s Remarkable Guide to the Orchestra, both garnering much acclaim and winning international awards. Bill’s comedy is a fusion of the surreal and the intelligent, blending stories, poetry and deft wordplay that takes aim at the absurdities of our world, set against an impressive array of weird and wonderful instruments. Music is the defining feature of his live shows, where his expertise allows playful interpretations of classic styles such as Tom Waits singing Old Macdonald or Kraftwerk singing the Hokey Cokey… as the Sunday Times says, “Comedy’s Mozart”. Bill is a veteran of UK festivals having performed at Latitude, Glastonbury, Reading, Leeds, Sonisphere, and the Eden Project. His current arena-filling Thoughtifier tour is playing to sold-out audiences across the UK and Europe. TICKETS GO ON SALE HERE SOON!
by Patrick Billington 22 Feb, 2024
Scarborough Spa is delighted to announce that Heather Small will be heading to the Yorkshire Coast for a gig at Scarborough Spa on Sunday 6th October 2024! Heather is well known for being the former lead vocalist of the band M People whose hits include 'Moving On Up', 'One Night In Heaven' and 'Search For The Hero'. Heather became one of the seminal British voices of the 1990s, with the band winning the Best British Dance Act Award at the Brits in 1994 and 1995, as well as the Mercury Music Prize for Elegant Slumming. She’s achieved worldwide success as a solo artist too with two solo albums - the title track of her 'Proud' album which has gone on to become the soundtrack to a whole host of very special events. Tickets on sale NOW here
by Patrick Billington 16 Feb, 2024
Meet the real Dionne Warwick, the artist behind timeless hits such as What the World Needs Now, Say A Little Prayer, and Don’t Make Me Over. What few people know is that behind the iconic music is a strong woman whose fierce determination not only brought her worldwide success but also a voice she used to fight for humanitarian causes. Join Dionne while she guides you through a remarkable life story from her humble beginnings as a gospel singer in New Jersey to superstardom and one of the most recognisable and successful female voices of our time. TICKETS ON SALE HERE NOW! The evening will feature live performance of her many hits and a salute to her unimpeachable catalogue of music. Dionne is joined on stage with interviewer Dave Wooley, her band plus a multimedia set up with LED screen. Taking excerpts from the documentary, Dave will interview and guide Dionne through an evening interspersed with documentary footage and contributions from the likes of President Bill Clinton, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Barry Gibb and many more. The evening will feature live performance of the many hits and acknowledgements of an unimpeachable catalogue of music. With humble beginnings as a gospel singer in New Jersey, Dionne Warwick started by winning Amateur Night at Harlem’s Apollo Theatre and went on to become the first African American to win the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance with over 100 million records sold. Growing up in an America divided between black and white, her music crossed pan-Atlantic barriers and exploded in Europe when her first album was released under the guise of a blonde-haired, blue-eyed white female artist. Since revealing her true identity, the relentless Dionne has achieved international superstardom, churned out pop hits spanning decades and become a fearless voice for the AIDS crisis and a spokeswoman for social causes around the world. TICKETS ON SALE HERE NOW!
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