Scarborough Our Seaside Town Cabinet 1 Annotations

Shrove Tuesday photograph 1980s

Since at least 1903, the people of Scarborough have skipped on Shrove Tuesday. It’s thought that the tradition started because fishermen were sorting their ropes at that time of year.

On this day, locals of all ages will gather on the foreshore for one of our most popular traditions.

The road is closed to traffic whilst everyone comes together with their skipping ropes.

John, Senior Operations Assistant Do you skip on Shrove Tuesday? Share your stories using #OurSeasideTown

Scarborough Spa programmes 1900s

Scarborough Spa was built during the mid-late 1800s as an entertainment venue and continues as such to this day. It is also home to the last surviving professional seaside orchestra in Britain.

It’s too irresistible not to pause and listen, as the sound of music climbs up through South Cliff Gardens on a balmy summer afternoon.

Dorcas, Curator

Peasholm Park photographs 1950s

These photographs bring back amazing memories. In the 1980s, I used to go with my parents and sister. We would walk around in the evening- it was always better in the dark. I remember how magical it was to see all the illuminations and displays.

Katie, Operations Assistant Do you have memories of Peasholm Park? Share them across our social media platforms using #OurSeasideTown

Holbeck Hall Hotel booklet 1960s

The Holbeck Hall Hotel was built in 1879. The hotel fell into the North Sea in June 1993, a major event in Scarborough’s recent history.

My dad picked me up from school and we went to look. I remember being astonished…part of the hotel wall had fallen away, exposing the rooms complete with furniture and guests’ belongings. It looked like a dolls house when the front is opened.

Katie, Operations Assistant

Scarborough holiday brochure 1951

This holiday brochure features The Hispaniola.

The ship was built in 1949 and is a replica schooner, named after the one featured in Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island.

The Hispaniola boat used to take visitors around the Mere to search for pirate treasure (‘gold’ doubloons). It now makes trips across the Harbour.

Elizabeth, Operations Assistant Share your memories of The Hispaniola using #OurSeasideTown

Hotels and holiday lets

I live next door to a holiday let and sometimes talk to whoever is staying, over the fence. Nearly all of the people I have spoken to, come back to Scarborough year after year. One couple I met had been coming for 21 years!

Emma, Associate Marketing Manager

Fishermen versus firemen football match photograph Boxing Day 2013 Photo: Tony Bartholomew

Working as a freelance photographer, the fishermen versus firemen match was one of those jobs I always wanted to do. It got you into the swing of things after Christmas Day, and you would always come across colleagues and friends and exchange warm season’s greetings.

Tony, Freelance Photojournalist Have you attended the fishermen versus firemen match?

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Fishermen versus firemen football match photograph Boxing Day 2012 Photo: Tony Bartholomew

Like skipping on Shrove Tuesday, the annual fishermen versus firemen football match on the beach, near the Lifeboat House on Boxing Day is a unique Scarborough tradition. We used to go when I was a child in the 60s, and always followed it up with a coffee or, for me, ice cream at the Harbour Bar – part of Christmas!

Jeannie, Associate Press and Media Relations Manager Have you attended the fishermen versus firemen match?

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