Scarborough

Scarborough - Cayton Bay

Around 650 AD the present day Yorkshire area was occupied by both Picts and Saxons. In 655 AD King Oswy of Northumbria defeated the Picts and then ruled the East Coast from Aberdeen down to the Wash. Around 790 AD the Danes began attacking Northumbria and by 880 AD they had occupied much of Northern England including York which they made their capital. A Danish prince called Thorgil was nicknamed 'Scarthi' which means 'hare lip'. The settlement established in 966 AD took its name from "Scarthi's Burgh" or Scarthi's stronghold - hence Scarborough. It's pretty neat, how the name came about!

By the time we arrived in Scarborough, it was late afternoon. The streets were crowded with people, as was the beach. There was a boardwalk repleat with souvenir stores, gaming arcades, and even an amusement park. Which in all honesty, made quite a contrast when we looked up at the hill and saw such an ancient Castle.

Scarborough Castle was built around 1130 by William Le Gros, Earl of Albermarle in the reign of King Henry I. Le Gros defeated the Scots at The Battle of the Standard near Northallerton in 1138. The castle was captured by Henry II who rebuilt the keep between 1158 and 1168 and the castle became a Royal castle. Further improvements to the castle were carried out by King John, Henry III and Edward I. Around 1312 Scarborough Castle was given to Edward II's favourite, Piers Gaveston. The unpopular Gaveston was besieged in the castle by the barons, captured and carried to Oxford for execution.

It was not Scarborough Castle's last siege. In 1536 the castle was held by Sir Ralph Evers who held the castle for the king and withsoood the siege of Robert Aske during the Pilgrimage of Grace. In 1653, during the reign of Queen Mary, the castle was taken by Thomas Stafford but he was later captured by the Earl of Westmorland and beheaded on Tower Hill.

Scarborough Castle

Scarborough Castle

In the huge outer bailey are the remains of a Roman signal station, two chapels, a medieval hall and Mosdale Hall built by King John, reconstructed as a barracks in the 18th century and bombarded by German battle cruisers in 1914. Though ruins are what are left of Scarborough Castle, its great strength is evident, and the surviving section of Henry II's great Keep is a reminder of the unsettled times and changing fortunes that most of these fortresses endured.

There may not be may buildings to wander through but in a historical perspective, it is a rich site. It's not that difficult to imagine Roman soldiers, Saxon monks, and Vikings living and working on the grounds.

A new day took us to the city of York.

Exploring London

Onward to York

Exploring Yorkshire