SCARBOROUGH

SCARBOROUGH, North Riding

Miniature Gardens TA 147 872

In 1911, Albert Shuttleworth presented to the town the Miniature Gardens, which became known as Shuttleworth Gardens.

Miniature Gardens Pavilion TA 147 872

Holbeck Clock Tower TA 147 872

In 1911, Albert Shuttleworth donated the Holbeck Clock Tower to commemorate the coronation of George V.

South Cliff Pavilion

Just below Holbeck Clock Tower a pavilion was erected in 1928 at the Putting Green, which had been made about ten years earlier.

Egyptian Gate Posts TA 045 875

In the mid 19th century, cast iron Egyptian-style gate piers with bound reeds of papyrus were erected as a gateway to South Cliff from the Esplanade.

Italian Garden Pavilion TA 046 873

Tidal Pool/Star Map TA 047 873

The Tidal Pool at Dickinson's Point has been filled in and has been made into a Star Map.

Spa TA 044 878

The mineral spring was discovered in 1626.

Swiss Chalet Summerhouse

In 1862, a summerhouse was built in the grounds of the Swiss Chalet.

Swiss Chalet

The Swiss Chalet was built in 1860 near the northern end of Spa Gardens and was occupied by the Spa manager. It was acquired by Scarborough Council in the 1950s and was let to the town clerk's secretary who lived there until she died in 2006, aged 93.

It was for sale in 2007 for £250,000 with a 125 year lease and attracted more than 620 potential buyers. It cost between £150,000 and £200,000 to renovate as a holiday home for the staff of Denton and Denton.

The Rotunda

The Rotunda was built for the Scarborough Philosophical Society to be of 'such magnitude and character, as might comprise the whole of their collection in one room, to hold meetings at which scientific communications will be received and to establish a library'.

The design was by William Smith, 'the Father of English Geology', and the architect was Richard Sharp of York.

The foundation stone was laid in 1828 and the museum was opened to the public in the following year.

Footbridge

The footbridge was originally private and linked Londesborough Lodge to the town over Vernon Road.

Garden building

This underground chamber in a garden at The Crescent may be a Grotto.

Strawberry Arch TA 042 881

The Strawberry Arch was re-erected in the garden of Crescent House, which belonged to Henry Edward Donner between 1924 and 1942. The arch and wings was the entrance to Strawberry Gardens at Falsgrave.

Bastion

The garden wall near Strawberry Arch has a bastion-like projection.

Wood End Tower

Wood End was built in 1835 and was bought by Lady Louisa Sitwell in 1870. The Sitwell family ladies painted jars in the first floor of the four-storey tower and sold the ornamented jars at charity bazaars.

The tower has recently been restored.

Baron Albert's Tower TA 008 876

Albert Denison (1805-1860), 1st Baron Londesborough, was the first President of the Archaelogy Association in 1844 and bought Grimston Park in 1851. His interest in archaeology didn't prevent him from building a tower on Seamer Beacon and possibly using stone from a stone circle nearby.

Little remains of the tower but there is a stone with an inscription that reads:

BARON ALBERT'S
TOWER

Tollhouse TA 051 888

The Tollhouse was built in 1906 at the entrance to the marine drive.

Hairy Bob's Cave TA 048 895

Hairy Bob's Cave is said to have been carved out by navvies during the construction of the Royal Albert Drive, which was completed in 1890.

One story is that 'Hairy Bob' was a man who sold yellowstone for cleaning doorsteps and he lived in a cave to escape from his wife.

It is thought that at one time there was a door and windows at the front of the cave.

A 13th generation Scarborough man has emailed me with a story that I will quote in full.

''The story was that Hairy Bob was a local drunk, constantly in trouble with the local authorities for outbursts of cursing and drunken ways.

After several nights of drinking, on one dark night, he was arrested and taken to the castle prison, on the promise he could go free the next morning, after sobering up. He wasn't happy and started his usual rants, all the way there. He cursed them that God didn't look kind on their actions, as this was only his way of celebrating finishing his latest job.

Later that night a storm took place and there was a lightening strike to the castle, killing the two guards and causing the cliff to give way. Hairy Bob was the only one unharmed but was found in his prison, at the bottom of the cliff. And there it stays to this day to remind us that it's okay to celebrate after finishing a good job.....''

Thank you Joe for such a good story!

Pagoda TA 033 896

Peasholm Park was designed in the Japanese-style by borough engineer, Harry W. Smith, between 1912 and 1829.

The 30 feet high two-storey Pagoda in the middle of the lake was built in 1929 and designed by George W. Alderson.

On 30th October 1999, the Pagoda was destroyed by arsonists and the burned out shell was demolished.

The new Pagoda, that had suffered another arson attack during construction in 2006, was built using fire-retardant wood.

Oliver's Mount War Memorial TA 039 869

Oliver's Mount is a prominent hill overlooking Scarborough. The 76 feet high obelisk is a war memorial with names of about 750 Scarborough people killed in the First World War.

This postcard was posted in 1927.

Springwood Wellhead TA 029 876

The present well house in Falsgrave Park probably dates from the 18th century but there is evidence of an earlier conduit, which may have been recorded in 1339 as the 'Franciscan Spring'.

The Friends of Falsgrave Park obtained funds to restore the building in 2005.

Falsgrave Park Stone Circle TA 029 874

A stone circle has been recently erected at the top of Falsgave Park.

Common Mill TA 036 884

The present windmill may have been built in 1785 to replace an earlier one. It stood in countryside on common land and was known as Common Mill. The last miller was Albert Price Harrison who lived at Calthorpe House.

A windmill on the site was used as an artillery observation post during the Civil War in 1645.