Scarborough

Scarborough lies on the North Sea coast of North Yorkshire, England. The modern town lies 30 to 70 metres above sea level, on limestone cliffs. The older part of the town lies around the harbour and is protected by a rocky headland.

History

The town was founded around 966 AD as Skarðaborg by Thorgils Skarthi, a Viking raider, though even before that date there had been a roman signal station on the headland, and evidence of much earlier stone age and bronze age settlements. However, the new settlement was soon burned to the ground by a rival band of Vikings under Tosti, Lord of Falsgrave, and Harald III of Norway. The destruction and massacre meant that very little remained to be recorded in the Domesday survey of 1085. Scarborough recovered under King Henry II who built a stone castle on the headland, and granted charters in 1155 and 1163, permitting a market on the sands, and establishing rule by Burgesses.

Related Topics:
966 - Thorgils Skarthi - Viking - Roman - Stone age - Bronze age - Harald III of Norway - 1085 - Henry II - 1155 - 1163 - Burgess

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In the Middle Ages Scarborough Fair held a six week trading festival attracting merchants from all over Europe. It ran from Assumption Day, the 15th of August, until Michaelmas Day, the 29th September. The Fair continued to be held for 500 years, from the eleventh to the eighteenth century, and is referred to by the song of the same name.

Related Topics:
Middle Ages - Scarborough Fair - Europe - Assumption Day - Michaelmas Day

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Scarborough and its Castle changed hands seven times between royalists and parliamentarians during the English Civil War, of the 1640s, enduring two lengthy and violent sieges. Following this disaster much of the town lay in ruins.

Related Topics:
English Civil War - 1640s

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In 1626, a Mrs Farrow discovered a stream of acid water running from one of the cliffs to the south of the town. This gave birth to Scarborough Spa, and attracted a flood of visitors to the town. Scarborough became Britain's first seaside resort, a position boosted with the coming of the railway in the 1840s.

Related Topics:
1626 - Spa - Britain - 1840s

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Scarborough also has a high Mormon population and there is a Mormon Church situated near to the sixth form college.

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