Scarborough Castle - A Tour of Yorkshire Part 33

[Diana E. Backhouse]

A short journey further north up the coast and we come to the spa town of Scarborough, Britain’s first seaside resort which has been a destination for holidaymakers since the mid 1600s.

I got to know the town well as my parents moved here in their retirement and our younger daughter studied for her degree in fine art at Scarborough University; she also got married here having met her husband while they were both working at the Spa Theatre.

The ruins of the 10th century castle dominate the town from their position on a prominent headland between the north and south bays. The castle underwent five sieges during the 14th, 16th and 17th centuries, then in 1914, the German fleet bombarded the town and castle damaging the keep and almost entirely destroying most of its later fortifications.

Being elevated more than three-hundred feet above sea-level, the view of the castle towering above the harbour is an impressive one and was my father’s favourite. The ashes of both of my parents are scattered on the south cliffs in full view of the castle, giving us good reason to make many a return visit.

[Diana E. Backhouse]

Stephen, it's great to know that you are enjoying my tour. After the next part, we will be heading for York

with its wealth of historical buildings.

[Stephen Torelli]

When I visit and boast about our time-honored historical sites, such as, Washington Headquarters (1783) located in upstate New York, my wife always reminds me of European antiquity, and you have spelled it out with your pleasing illustration and description.