DAVE WELBOURNE writes:

THE North Yorkshire coast is one of the most visited destinations in Britain. Despite the trend for millions of Brits to go abroad, Scarborough remains a popular resort.

In fact, the town can claim to be Britain’s first seaside resort. But how did it all begin?

The discovery of mineral waters by Elizabeth Farrar in 1626, reputed to have medicinal powers, attracted visitors, mainly wealthy, to sample the waters. Scarborough became a ‘spa town’, growing steadily in the 18th century. Dr Whittie of Hull published a book in 1660 explaining the benefits of Scarborough water to health, claiming that half a pint mixed with port or milk was a cure for gout, scurvy, gonorrhea, and jaundice.

George III visited Weymouth and Ravenscar near Whitby, trusting the waters would cure his madness; George IV dipped in the sea at Brighton; but it was Queen Victoria who bathed for pleasure. In her diary on July 30, 1847, she wrote:“Drove down to the beach, with my maid, and went into the bathing machine, where I undressed and bathed in the sea (for the first time in my life). I thought it delightful, until I put my head under water, when I thought I should be stifled.”

A few enthusiastic 17th century aristocrats frolicked in the sea at Scarborough, and gradually it became a popular resort. It was the first place to introduce bathing machines in 1746, and by the early 19th century, most resorts had them. They cost between sixpence and a shilling to hire and were dragged out to the water’s edge by horse. No respectable lady would have bathed without this contraption. In larger resorts there were waiting lists to use them. It was advised to turn up early, not just because of demand, but because they tended to be damp, badly lit and ventilated, and covered in sand and seawater. The bather had to change in a confined space, and the machine shook as it was pulled down to the beach. Apparently, they weren’t so popular with men, who preferred to dash into the sea naked. There were complaints and restrictions were introduced to limit nude bathing to certain times and areas on the beach. The Scarborough Gazette in 1851 suggested the town should follow the example of Hastings where men “were not allowed to bathe without a pair of drawers.”

Many men were opposed to the ‘French style’ of mixed bathing but it soon became obligatory to cover the torso as sea bathing became more popular. A Dr Alexander of Scarborough in 1880 advised that the bather, “having taken such exercise as is adequate to produce general warmth, should select a dry machine, drawn to a sufficient depth into the water to enable him to leisurely descend the steps, to crouch down so as to immerse his whole body under the water, after which return within the machine, and be well rubbed down with a towel, then hastily dressing. He should then gently walk home, and on arrival may partake in a bowl of soup, or a drink of coffee or tea, but should he experience nausea in the stomach, or a sense of coldness, a little warm sherry and water may perhaps be substituted.” He suggested that over doing it could cause weakness and headaches, palpitations, quickened respiration, sickness, tremors, numbness and loss of circulation.

This didn’t stop the growing interest in sea bathing, which led to the establishment of swimming clubs. But as the Scarborough Gazette reported in 1886, there were accidents and drownings. This led to life-saving equipment and warnings of high tides and dangerous currents.

Scarborough beach had a variety of Victorian entertainment: musicians, acrobats, pedlars, photographers, ice-cream vendors, donkeys, Punch and Judy shows, fortune tellers, horse racing, boating. An iron bridge was built from the Spa to St Nicholas Cliff for access to the sea. The Spa was expanded by Sir Joseph Paxton who designed the Chatsworth House gardens and the Crystal Palace for the 1851 Great Exhibition. The much improved Spa opened in 1858 and included shops and a bandstand.

The arrival of the railway to Scarborough in 1845 brought hoards of day-trippers and holiday-makers. People of all classes came from far and wide, including Lancashire cotton workers. Because of the demand for accommodation, there were cases of some sleeping in bathing huts. A Spa Cliff Lift, opened on July 6, 1875, was the first vurnicular railway in Britain.

Locals complained about the influx of day-trippers who, when they included drunks, tarnished the image of the town. Some must have longed for ‘the good old days’ before mass visitations. Nonetheless, the seaside had become a place of escape from the grind of everyday life. The working classes took advantage of cheap railway fares on Sundays and bank holidays. The town’s economy began to boom. Picture postcards reflected that it was fun beside the sea. James Balmforth of Holmfirth set up a portrait photography business in 1870 and began printing popular saucy postcards in 1903. Promenading along the front became popular, showing off best clothes and latest fashions. Assembly rooms, landscaped parks and theatres provided leisurely activities, with simple pleasures gained from sitting on the beach, collecting shells, building sandcastles, paddling with trouser legs rolled up and strolling along eating fish and chips.

Scarborough’s Grand Hotel was built in 1863, with a magnificent view over the South Bay. It originally had four towers for every season; 12 floors for every month; 52 chimneys for weeks of the year; and 365 bedrooms for every day of the year. A blue plaque commemorates the death of Anne Bronte, who is buried in St Mary’s Church graveyard.

By the late 19th century the seaside was accessible to all social classes. Scarborough, once a busy fishing and trading port, led the way for other resorts, and millions could boast: “Oh I do like to be beside the seaside.”