Scarborough Harbour

The Harbour & The Pier

There has been a pier in Scarborough for many years, although it was in poor condition. The pier's origins date back to the time of Henry III (1207-1272), who granted forty oak trees from his woods for the construction of a harbor at Scarborough. In the 36th year of his reign, Henry III assigned specific duties to the bailiffs, burgesses, and residents regarding all merchants' ships and fishing vessels, aimed at creating a new port using timber and stone. This ancient pier was deemed unsuitable for the town's needs.

At the end of the old pier, a lighthouse provided signals during the day and light at night to indicate the appropriate times for ships and boats to enter the harbor.

West Pier

In 1546, local property owners and harbor users were required to contribute to its maintenance, which caused dissatisfaction among the people of Scarborough. They petitioned Queen Elizabeth, who granted royal assistance comprising five hundred pounds in cash, six tons of iron, and one hundred tons of timber for rebuilding the harbor.

In 1732, George II passed an act to enlarge and renew the pier and the harbor, which were in a perilous and dilapidated condition. Many ships had been driven against the rocks during violent storms, as the pier and harbor provided little shelter. The cost to renew the pier was twelve thousand pounds. Engineers William Lelam and others were employed to extend the pier from near the old locker-house westward, curving it out to sea. Engineer William Vincent later took over the project, which was completed in 1746. According to Hinderwell, the entire pier became known as 'The Old Pier,' while the new section was referred to as 'Vincent's Pier' in honor of the engineer, as the new part was easily distinguishable near the locker-room due to differing construction methods and stone regularity.

The new pier stretched over 1,300 feet in length and was built using stones from the nearby White Nabb Quarry. These stones were transported in flat-bottom boats called 'floats' and placed at their destination using a simple mechanical contraption. The quarry, located about a mile from Scarborough 'Spaw,' featured large masses of stones and flat rocks, with some weighing between 20 and 30 tons. The construction of this new structure took 26 years to finalize. An additional lighthouse was also built as part of this extension, though it was demolished in 1914 during a German bombardment and later rebuilt in 1936.

The "Belle"

The "Belle" at Scarborough Pier Lighthouse

A galvanized steel statue depicting a female swimmer diving from a steel pole. It, along with the 19th-century statue of the Victorian swimmer known as Bathing Belle, illustrates the contrast between the early days of Scarborough as a popular spa resort and contemporary times. 'Bathing Belle' was unveiled on April 24, 2008, and stood at Westborough in front of the Brunswick Shopping Center until 2017, after which it was relocated to its current site in 2019.

Inscription(s):

The Scarborough Belles
The Bathing Belle on Westborough (2008) and
The Diving Belle on Vincent's Pier (2007)
Designed as a pair, these statues celebrate Scarborough as the UK's first sea-bathing resort, from the 17th century to its regeneration in the 21st century.

DONORS:
Mr. G. Oxley
Mr. W. Burnard
Mr. & Mrs. D. Stonehouse

The West Pier was completed in 1822 by engineer William Chapman and has since undergone multiple extensions, including the incorporation of Outer Island Pier. In 1928, Corporation Wharf (North Pier) was constructed, followed by another extension called Chicken Walk Jetty, which improved access for vessels.