Scarborough history

500BC	Relics of the Bronze Age man found from this period.
370/400AD	The Roman Signal Station at Scarborough Headland is built, this is abandoned within the first year. Further where built along the coast including Filey Brigg.
966	Thorgil nicknamed Skarthi (meaning Hare-Lip) and his Vikings decided to settle in the place they called Skarthi’s Burgh, or Skarthi’s Stronghold.
1000	A Christian chapel is built within Scarborough.
1066	Hardrada, King of Norway and Tostig burnt the town also destroying the chapel.
1100	The town received its first charter from Henry I.
1125	St. Mary’s Church was built circa 1125, based on a one room chapel.
1136	First Scarborough Castle built by William Le Gros, Earl of Albermarle. This later changed to William of Newburgh.
1157	The Castle taken over and new keep begun by Henry II
1158	Henry II strengthened Castle by adding a Large Tower and Keep
1225	The borough was permitted to levy murage and quayage tolls.
1253	There was a Royal Charter with permission to hold Scarborough Fair
1256	New quay built for Scarborough Harbour.
1265	Town taken into kings hands, due to the local Burgesses attacking the Constable of the Castle.
1275	Edward I held court at Scarborough.
1295	Scarborough is represented in the first full Parliament session.
1300	The Old Three Mariners Public House in Quay Street is built, and still stands in the same place today.
1314	Piers Gaveston besieged in the Castle
1318	The town attacked by the Scots under Robert the Bruce
1343	Castle barbican built and outer walls strengthened
1381	Riots in Scarborough during Peasants Revolt
1485	New constitution granted by Richard III
1536	Castle besieged during the Pilgrimage of Grace
1564	Elizabeth I granted to the Harbour for rebuilding the sum of £500, 100 tonnes of Timber and 6 tonnes of Iron.
1626	Spawwater discovered flowing into the sea by Mrs Elizabeth Farrow.
1645	The Castle was besieged by Roundheads.
1648	Second siege of the Castle.
1660	Dr Wittie’s book about the Spaw waters published.
1700	Dicky Dickinson builds the first Spaw House.
1720	Dicky Dickinson ‘Governor of the Spaw’.
1732	The Harbour Pier was extended to 1200 ft, granted by an act passed by George II the Vincents pier and the current East Pier were built costing £12,000.
1735	First record of bathing machines on Scarborough bay’s.
1735	Spaw destroyed from Seas.
1738	Spaw rebuilt larger and grander.
1738	Spa destroyed by earthquake.
1752	York-Scarborough Turnpike Trust set up.
1752	Vincents pier in the Harbour is completed.
1772	Much smuggling in the town. John Wesley visited.
1787	There are 1500 seamen in Scarborough Harbour, 500 of whom sailed for the East Indian Service.
1790	Press gang for the Navy in Scarborough.
1800	First Scarborough lifeboat launched.
1801	Lifeboat station established.
1808	Spaw suffers serious storm damage.
1820	Population of Scarborough 8000 inhabitants.
1825	Coach to Scarborough overturned.
1827	Spa Cliff Bridge opened by The Cliff Co. on 19th July. Locally called the “Penny Bridge” due to the Toll houses at either end, charging you a penny to go over.
1845	Scarborough – Malton – York Railway opened. Scarborough Railway Station opens for first time.
1846	Scarborough Building Society was formed in May 1846 – making it the oldest building society in Yorkshire and the second oldest in the UK.
1847	Scarborough to Bridlington Railway opened. Calling at Seamer, Filey, Hunmanby, Bempton, Flamborough and then Bridlington. Joined the existing railway from Bridlington to Driffield, Beverley and Hull.
1853	The Market hall is built.
1857	13 August, Scarborough is hit by a great flood which destroys many buildings including St Mary’s church yard
1858	Paxton’s new Spa Hall opened with a festival and a grand concert
1865	Valley Bridge is built.
1866	The North Bay pier is started to be built, initial cost is £12,135, by JW Woodall, partner in Woodhall and Hebden’s bank who financed the building.
1866	Scarborough Dean Road Jail opens and inmates moved from the Castle Road Jail.
1867	The Grand Hotel is Built
1876	Spa buildings destroyed by fire on 8th September
1877	The current spa building designed by Thomas Verity & Hunt of London, and work was started.
1880	The New Spa Grand Hall is opened
1886	The New Spa Grand Hall Restaurant is opened
1886	Valley Bridge taken over by the Scarborough Corporation.
1897	Marine Drive started to be built
1898	Warwick Tower was opened to public, however local opinions did not favor the tower.
1900	Scarborough College opened
1908	Marine Drive opened
1911	Peasholm Park land is purchased and work started on the Chinese theme.
1914	Town bombarded by German warships: 19 people are killed, the Lighthouse is destroyed and had to be demolished. There was further damage to the Royal Hotel, Grand Hotel and the Town Hall not to mention many more. The furthest bomb damage was three miles inland on a farm.
1915	South bay swimming pool opened at a cost of £5000
1916	Boyes Department store opened to the Public.
1917	Population in Scarborough more than doubles to circa 40,000
1924 – 1925	Corner Cafe complex built for the entertainment of children.
1928	Valley bridge opened to Public after being widened in 1928, officially opened in 1928.
1931	The Lighthouse is rebuilt replacing the demolished one destroyed by German Naval Ships.
1931	Scarborough’s Miniature North Bay Railway is opened, consisting of Miniature trains, bridges, slopes and signals.
1932	Open-air theater opened with ‘Merrie England’
1940	Lone Bomber dropped a bomb on Potters Bar, killing four people and damaging 500 houses. Most had to be demolished.
1951	The Cliff Bridge purchased by the council from The Cliff Co. for £22,500 with Toll Booths being dismantled and unused.
1957	The Spa is bought by Scarborough Council from The Cliff Co. for £110,000
1962	Closure of the Whitby to Scarborough Railway. Stations included Scalby, Burniston, Cloughton, Hayburn Wyke, Ravenscar, Robin Hoods Bay and then to Whitby.
1966	Scarborough Millennium
1981	Three Million pound restoration of the Spa Grand Hall completed.
1993	Landslides at the Holbeck Hill pull the Holbeck Hill Hotel into the sea.
1996	Stephen Joseph Theatre is moved to the new home of the converted Odeon Theatre
2009	Scarborough Building Society merges with the Skipton BS to become the Skipton Building Society