Our trip to the coast on Thursday was to look at some of the history of Scarborough. An imposing headland is the setting for the castle ruins, but this shot is taken from within the castle grounds. The castle keep can be seen on the left, set in the Inner Bailey surrounded by a defensive wall and the deep defensive ditch that can be seen here.
Human activity on the headland on which the castle is built has a very long history. Fragments of pottery around 4000 years old have been found, but the first clear evidence for settlement date from about 2800 years ago. The Romans made use of the site, with a signal tower built around 1700 years ago. These make the Norman castle seem relatively young.
The castle’s founder was William le Gros, Count of Aumâle. Created Earl of York by King Stephen in 1138, he proceeded to establish himself as the unrivalled political master of the region. His work at Scarborough probably began in the 1130s. Shortly afterwards the level top of the headland was enclosed by a wall.
When Henry II came to the throne the castle was taken under royal control. In 1159 Henry II began to rebuild the castle, planting a new town beneath its walls at the same time. A large sum of money was spent on building the keep and other defences. The castle remained important to the royal family until the mid 1600s, and it played a significant part in the English civil war, when part of the keep colapsed during a bombardment as part of a siege..
Scarborough was attacked during the First World War, when warships shelled the town, with some shells directed at the castle.
In 1920 Scarborough Castle was taken into state guardianship by the Ministry of Works, and is today in the care of English Heritage.
amazing history of the castle. the landscape speaks volumes.
I find it so sad that these historical buildings are left in ruin and not repaired to their former glory. There is so much history lost
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Thank you all for your lovely comments and favs, they are very much appreciated.
The castle is at its most impressive when seen from a distance, either looking across the North Bay or South Bay. When you enter the castle the initial defences and keep are interesting, but much of the area within the castle grounds is flat grassland. There are the important remains of the Roman signal station, but part of that has now been lost to the sea due to coastal erosion.
In some ways I agree with you Nina, but there are hundreds of these ruins in Britain and the cost of restoration would be enormous. There is also the problem of what period to restore the castle to. It would have been very different at different periods of its history, with changes to the defensive walls and some buildings being replaced with others at different times. There are two examples that I know where a partial reconstruction has been done. The keep at Conisbrough Castle near Doncaster has had a roof and floors added, with period rooms recreated, which is quite effective, although it still looks like a ruin from a distance. In York, Cliffords Tower is having floors inserted to allow a closer look at the historical elements in the city walls, but again, from outside it will still look like a ruin.
I find it so sad that these historical buildings are left in ruin and not repaired to their former glory. There is so much history lost
fav
Thank you all for your lovely comments and favs, they are very much appreciated.
The castle is at its most impressive when seen from a distance, either looking across the North Bay or South Bay. When you enter the castle the initial defences and keep are interesting, but much of the area within the castle grounds is flat grassland. There are the important remains of the Roman signal station, but part of that has now been lost to the sea due to coastal erosion.
Ian
In some ways I agree with you Nina, but there are hundreds of these ruins in Britain and the cost of restoration would be enormous. There is also the problem of what period to restore the castle to. It would have been very different at different periods of its history, with changes to the defensive walls and some buildings being replaced with others at different times. There are two examples that I know where a partial reconstruction has been done. The keep at Conisbrough Castle near Doncaster has had a roof and floors added, with period rooms recreated, which is quite effective, although it still looks like a ruin from a distance. In York, Cliffords Tower is having floors inserted to allow a closer look at the historical elements in the city walls, but again, from outside it will still look like a ruin.
Ian
Thank you Pat. The castle has some great photo opportunities, but the sun kept hiding behind the clouds, which was a nuisance!
Ian