History at Scarborough Spa
On a bright day the Spa buildings glow in the sun, their
sandstone blending naturally into the surroundings and offering
visitors to The Spa a magnificent view of Scarborough's South Bay.
But that serenity belies an often chequered history and on a bleak
grey day, withstanding wind and sea, the Spa presents a very
different aspect.
When people talk of Scarborough Spa today they are referring to
the buildings and to the activities and entertainment carried out
there. But the origins of this noble building, and indeed the place
in history of Scarborough as a resort town, are directly
attributable to a natural resource - the Spa waters.
Visitors to the Spa today can still see the great architecture
of the 1880s and many are still surprised by the scale and style of
the Grand Hall. Additions and alterations have been made over the
years and a major restoration programme was carried out in the
early 1980s to reinstate some of the original features and
decorative styles.
The Spa today encompasses the Spa Theatre, the Grand Hall
for concerts, the Ocean Room, the Promenade Lounge, Suncourt for
open air concerts, and various other rooms, cafes and bar
areas.
From the start of the colonnade shops to the Cliff Lift, the
Complex measures nearly half a mile in length and easily
accommodates conferences of 2000 or more delegates. Famous actors
have visited the Spa in recent years but reflecting changes in
technology and entertainment they have been filmed here rather than
performed live - Helena Bonham-Carter and Rick Mayall in "Dancing
Queen" and Ewan McGregor and Jane Horrocks were also filmed in the
Sun Court for "Little Voice".
Today's visitors come to the Spa for concerts, shows, dances,
wedding receptions, exhibitions and conferences, or simply to use
the cafes and bars, or recline on deckchairs - enjoying a
magnificent view that has changed very little over the
centuries.
By the 1880s the importance of music and entertainment at the
Spa was beginning to surpass interest in the Spa waters. The
chemical composition altered considerably over the years and public
consumption of the waters ceased in the late 60s. Also, it is
regrettable that current Health and Safety legislation prohibits
public access to what remains of the well, which is located beneath
the 'island' opposite the Spa shops.
Without Mrs Farrer's discovery Scarborough would not have
developed into the first and most famous English resort. As
fashions and trends change and evolve in the pursuit of health and
leisure the Spa may one day re-emerge in a different guise, but for
now we hope you will come to enjoy the natural beauty and timeless
serenity of this location.
The Spa in the Seventeenth
Century
The Spa in the Eighteenth Century
The Spa in the Nineteenth
Century