March 10, 2017

Scarborough Five

For Five on Friday (which is still hosted by Amy at Love Made My Home, for the next couple of weeks) we have five historic-ish things to be found in and around Scarborough, North Yorkshire. It was,of course, The Anorak's home town and is still regularly visited by us when we hear the call of the sea.


Captain Sydney Smith Bridge
Named after a former Deputy Harbour Master who was also editor of Olsen's Fishermen's Nautical Almanac. He was decorated for his daring during WWII. The bridge, which lifts to allow craft in and out of the harbour, was erected in 2000.


The Vickers gun
In 1914 Scarborough was the target of a German attack from the sea when a huge number of shells fell on the town causing extensive damage. While this gun dates from the time it was not involved in defending Scarborough then. It was sited on the cargo ship SS Hornsund, which was sunk by torpedo in 1917 about two miles off shore. The gun was recovered by the local sub aqua club in 1982 and now stands close to the lighthouse.


The horse trough
This granite trough has stood on the harbour road since 1908, erected in memory of Godfrey Walker of Conisborough Priory, Yorkshire. One side was a drinking fountain for humans and the other side was a trough for horses. These days it's a flower pot.


The Golden Ball Inn, Quay Street
According to the Scarborough Maritime History Centre website: "The Golden Ball, in Quay Street, was one of the better known inns. Of great age, it was noted for the "prime old ales" produced on the 30th September every year, St Jerome's Day, and the occasion for the election of new bailiffs at the nearby town hall. A brewery adjoined the house, where in 1821, Mark Coates fell into the mash tub."

More recently I'm prepared to admit it was the site of The History Anorak's early forays into pub attendance. I'm even prepared to admit that it might have been the site of some underage drinking!  When my mother found out she was appalled - not because I'd been breaking the law by imbibing alcohol at 16, but by the fact that the pub was by the harbour and I must have been in close proximity to riff-raff mariners!


Oliver's Mount
Here's a close up view of the monument that stands on top of Oliver's Mount overlooking the town. You can see it easily from a lot of the area. It's the town's war memorial and I have many memories of my father laying a wreath on behalf of St John Ambulance back in the day. He looked smart in his black and white uniform and always brought much dignity to the act of remembrance. I can still picture him.

17 comments:

  1. This leaves me to wonder what happened to Mark Coates. Hopefully somebody helped him out of the mash tub, and quickly.

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    1. I agree! But there's no mention of it. Perhaps it's best not to investigate too closely.

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  2. Always love reading your posts. Such interesting tours and facts. LOL at the pub visits - I must admit some of that underage visiting the pubs. Hangs head. Beautiful inn. One of the famous ones in my hometown - The Great White Horse hotel which was first opened in 1518 and was visited by Charles Dickens and mentioned in The Pickwick Papers - is now (cringe and gasp at the same time) a Starbucks coffee shop. It's a real shame. Guess that's better than being knocked down all together.

    Happy Five on Friday!

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  3. Love to learn something new everyday! Thanks! Have a great weekend.

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  4. This was a great glimpse into five of Scarborough's finest and most interesting places!
    Enjoy your weekend!

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  5. You'd never know that horse trough was so old, it looks as if it was made yesterday. Picture the scene in the past when the horses were passing.

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  6. I haven't been to Scarborough for many years. I have vague memories of going to the castle on a school trip and it was tipping it down with rain :(. B x

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  7. I love your Mother's reaction to your underage drinking!

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  8. When we lived in N.Yorks and visited Scarborough we always went the 'pretty way' via Oliver's Mount in the hopes of seeing the troop of donkeys on their way to work on the sands.

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    1. Going "the pretty way" is an expression I've not heard in years. But we always went "the pretty way" practically everywhere! The donkeys were on their way home as we drove up Oliver's Mount on Sunday.

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  9. My family and I spent many happy holidays in Scarborough and this has brought back many memories. I have learned lots of new facts about this lovely town too.

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  10. I hope Mark Coates didn't perish in the mash tub, it sounds like an accident waiting to happen to some poor soul. Good that the old building is still a pub as they seem to be disappearing at a rapid rate at the moment:)

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  11. When I read the title of your post, the Simon and Garfunkle song "Are you going to Scarborough Fair?" immediately popped into mind. How interesting to learn more about this historic town. Your mom's reaction to your pub adventure made me smile. "Riff-raff mariners" indeed!

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  12. It's a great post.. so many little history I came to know from your post...

    Please visit: http://from-a-girls-mind.blogspot.com

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  13. I love that there is such history behind what most people would just dismiss as a run of the mill flower pot

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  14. A Scarborough lass? It's a grand town - and there's at least 4 things I didn't know about it! Love the tale of underage drinking - and fond memories of your dad.

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  15. That looks like my kind of pub, and the prospect of riff-raff mariners only adds to the appeal ;) Hope you've had a great week!

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