|
| The ancient and stupendous castle, once the glory,
and still the ornament of Scarborough, was built in the reign of
King Stephen, by William le Gros; Earl of Albemarle and Holderness.
Here Piers de Gaveston, the favourite of Edward II. sought refuge
against the exasperated barons, but after a short siege, he was
obliged to surrender for want of supplies, and lost his head, as
already related, in the castle of Dedington.
Robert Aske, the leader of the Pilgrims of Grace, made an
unsuccessful attempt upon Scarborough Castle, in 1536. In the time
of Wyat's rebellion, in 1553, it was surprised and taken by the
stratagem of introducing a number of soldiers, disguised as
peasants. This achievement was performed by Thomas, second son of
Lord Stafford, but his success was of short duration, three days
afterwards the place was retaken by the Earl of Westmoreland, and
Stafford; and three other of the leaders were conveyed to London,
and executed for high treason.
|
Scarborough Castle from St Mary's Church
|
|
Scarborough Castle from North Bay
|
During the civil wars, in the calamitous reign of Charles I. this
castle was twice besieged, and taken by the parliamentary army. The
first siege lasted for twelve months, and Sir John Meldrum, by whom
the forces of parliament were commanded, fell before the works. The
command of the besieging army then devolved upon Sir Matthew
Boynton, to whom Sir Hugh Cholmley, the governor, was obliged to
surrender on the 22d of July, 1645. Colonel Boynton, the successor
of the Baronet, having declared for the King, the castle once more
came into the hands of the royalists, but the garrison growing
mutinous, the Colonel was obliged to capitulate, and on the 19th of
December, 1648, the fortress was again surrendered to parliament,
and taken possession of, in their name, by Col. Bethel. This castle,
although already badly damaged, shared the fate of its fellows
and was dismantled by order of
parliament. |
|
But on the breaking out of the rebellion, in 1745, it underwent a
temporary repair, and when the danger was over, the present
barracks, containing twelve apartments, were erected, and will
accommodate 120 soldiers. Since that time, three batteries have been
erected for the protection of the town, and harbour, two of them at
the South, and one at the North side of the castle yard.
The ruins of the castle are situated at the Eastern extremity of
the town, on a lofty promontory, elevated more than 300 feet on the
southern, and 330 feet on the northern side, above the level of the
sea, and presenting to the north, the east, and the south, a vast
range of perpendicular rocks, completely inaccessible. Its western
aspect is also bold and majestic, being a high, steep, rocky, slope,
commanding the town, harbour
and the bay. The whole area, at the top of the
hill, is upwards of nineteen acres of excellent soil, gently sloping
near 20 feet from the north to the south lines.
|
Scarborough Castle from outside barbican
|
|
Scarborough Castle Barbican overlooking the
North Bay
|
Under an arched vault, towards the East side of the castle yard,
near the site of the ancient chapel, is a reservoir of water, which
will contain 40 tons, called the " Lady's Well," supposed
to be supplied by the rain water which falls upon the castle hill,
through subterraneous drains. The approach to the castle is by a
gate-way, on the summit of a narrow isthmus, on the western side
above the town.
Without the ditch is an outwork, which was the ancient Barbican.
The walls of the tower are 12 feet thick, cased with square stone,
and the mortar is so hard that it is actually crystallised into spar.
In this, as in similar structures the different stories have been
vaulted, and divided by strong arches.
|
| The area of the Ballium, in
which the tower is situated, contains half an acre of ground; and
the summit of the hill was defended on the western side by embattled
walls, flanked with semi-circular towers, from which arrows were
discharged, but these are now falling rapidly into decay. It is also
said, that large and ponderous pieces of timber were so placed, as
to be in constant readiness to be rolled down upon an enemy
attempting to approach the walls. From a view of these ruins, it
appears, that before the invention of artillery, this ancient and
famous castle was absolutely impregnable. |
Scarborough Harbour from outside Castle
Walls
|
|
|
Time Line
|
| 370/400AD |
The Roman signal station at
Scarborough Headland is built, this is abandoned within the
first year. |
| 1136 |
First Scarborough Castle built
by William Le Gros, Earl of Albermarle. This later changed to
William of Newburgh. |
| 1157 |
The Castle taken over and new
keep begun by Henry II |
| 1158 |
Henry II strengthened Castle by
adding a Large Tower and Keep |
| 1265 |
Town taken into kings hands, due to the local Burgesses
attacking the Constable of the Castle. |
| 1275 |
Edward I held court at
Scarborough. |
| 1314 |
Piers Gaveston besieged in the
Castle |
| 1318 |
The town attacked by the Scots
under Robert the Bruce |
| 1343 |
Castle barbican built and outer
walls strengthened |
| 1536 |
Castle besieged during the
Pilgrimage of Grace |
| 1645 |
The Castle was besieged by
Roundheads. |
| 1648 |
Second siege of the Castle.
Keep and St
Mary's Church badly damaged. |
| 1908 |
Marine Drive opened |
| 1914 |
Town bombarded by German
warships: 19 people are killed, the Lighthouse is destroyed
and had to be demolished. There was further damage to the
Royal Hotel, Grand Hotel and the Town Hall not to mention to
the castle Keep and curtain walls.. The furthest bomb damage
was three miles inland on a Farm. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Description(s) edited from Langdale's Yorkshire
Dictionary (1822) and Baines's Directory of the County of
York (1823) and other sources |
|