Scarborough Our Seaside Town Cabinet 2 Annotations

Photograph of children riding donkeys 1950s

Donkey rides, buckets and spades, fish and chips. There’s a focus in Scarborough on charming traditional seaside fun, rather than the superficial and overpriced modern tourist attractions.

Elizabeth, Operations Assistant

Souvenir dish 1900s

People have taken home seaside souvenirs for over 250 years. This souvenir dish includes a view towards Scarborough Spa and the South Bay. Streams of bustling tourists invade the town’s seafront and shopping areas from April September. Bringing an influx of cultures, ages and money that feeds our seasonal collections of shops, bars, hotels, and arcades.

Emma, Associate Marketing Manager

De Placido’s ice cream pots 1950s

These ice cream pots are made from waxed card and would have been thrown away after use. They are printed with an image of North Bay and the Castle Headland.

Andrew, Chief Executive Officer Share your souvenir stories across our social media platforms using #OurSeasideTown

Beachcombing finds early 1900s

My children and I have always loved hunting for littles pieces of treasure on the beach, each one holding a memory of a particular moment and a snapshot in time - and of course each one tells a story, where did it come from, how was it made?

Christine, Learning Manager

Beachcombing finds early 1900s

One of these beachcombing finds is inscribed H.Chapman, Chemist, Scarborough. This bottle was probably bought from Henry Chapman, a Chemist and aerated water manufacturer on Elder’s Street, between St Thomas and Queen Streets.

For me, beachcombing and finding sea glass is a real part of living by the coast. I like to imagine where the sea glass comes from and how old it is.

Katie, Operations Assistant

Beach photograph 1950s

I have fond memories of spending many summers on the beach on the south side, locally known as Children’s Corner.

We would build fabulous constructions in the sand with the help of my auntie – cars, boats, animals and elaborate tiered castles. My mum would make tasty pack-ups and no matter how hard you tried to avoid it, sand would always get in the sandwiches!

Katie, Operations Assistant Share your memories of Children’s Corner using #OurSeasideTown

Detail from Holidaymakers on Scarborough Beach

by T. M. Ramsey, about 1770

This detail shows bathing machines on Scarborough beach, during the 1770s.

Scarborough was one of the first places to use bathing machines. They were drawn to the shore by horses so that the bather could change and then step off, directly into the sea.

It conjures up images of the early days of sea bathing, the costumes people wore and the social conventions of the period.

Photograph of a bathing machine early 1900s

This photograph shows a group of women enjoying a swim in the early 1900s. Their kneelength swimsuits are probably made from flannel or wool. The fabric was designed to keep bathers warm, but could get heavy when wet.

Andrew, Chief Executive Officer