Brilliant! Been waiting a long time for this one to materialise! I just wonder if the castle actually had those Turrets at the end of the castle Walls? If so, the Cliff has certainly fallen away much more than I'd realised above where the marine Drive now stands!
More sweet reminiscences from my youth, James. Thank you. Stay free. Rab 🍻 😎 🎲 ⏰ PS. *Scarborough Fair* (ballad) [From Wi ki ...] *Scarborough Fair* is a traditional English ballad. The song, which is a variant of 'The Elfin Knight', lists a number of impossible tasks given to a former lover who lives in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. The *Scarborough Fair* variant was most common in Yorkshire and Northumbria, where it was sung to various melodies, with refrains resembling 'Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme' and 'Then she'll be a true love of mine'. The famous melody, which uses the Dorian mode (typical of the middle English period), was collected from Mark Anderson (1874-1953), a retired lead miner from Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham, England, by Ewan MacColl in 1947. This version was recorded by a number of musicians in the 20th century, including the version by the 1960s duo Simon & Garfunkel, who learned it from Martin Carthy. History The lyrics of *Scarborough Fair* appear to have something in common with a Scottish ballad titled 'The Elfin Knight', which has been traced as far back as 1670. In this ballad, an elf threatens to abduct a young woman to be his lover unless she can perform an impossible task ('For thou must shape a sark to me / Without any cut or heme, quoth he'); she responds with a list of tasks that he must first perform ('I have an aiker of good ley-land / Which lyeth low by yon sea-strand'). Dozens of versions existed by the end of the 18th century. A number of older versions refer to locations other than Scarborough Fair, including Wittingham Fair, Cape Ann, 'twixt Berwik and Lyne', etc. Many versions do not mention a place name and are often generically titled ('The Lover's Tasks', "My Father Gave Me an Acre of Land', etc.). The references to the traditional English fair, *Scarborough Fair* and the refrain 'parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme' date to 19th-century versions, and the refrain may have been borrowed from the ballad 'Riddles Wisely Expounded', which has a similar plot. Lyrics [The lyrics, as published by Frank Kidson, begin:] 'O, where are you going?' 'To Scarborough fair', 'Savoury sage, rosemary, and thyme; 'Remember me to a lass who lives there, 'For once she was a true love of mine.' 'And tell her to make me a cambric shirt, 'Savoury sage, rosemary, and thyme, 'Without any seam or needlework, 'And then she shall be a true love of mine.' 'And tell her to wash it in yonder dry well, 'Savoury sage, rosemary, and thyme, 'Where no water sprung, nor a drop of rain fell, 'And then she shall be a true love of mine.' [Stanzas 1-3] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *A History of Scarborough* By Tim Lambert [Abridged] The Romans built a signalling station at Scarborough around 370 AD. At that time Saxons from Germany were raiding eastern England. If their fleet was sighted off Scarborough signal torches were lighted to warn the Roman armed forces. SCARBOROUGH IN THE MIDDLE AGES However, it is believed that the Danes founded the town of Scarborough in the 10th century. The ‘borough’ part of its name is a corruption of burgh, which meant fort or fortified settlement. Scarborough was devastated in 1066 when the Norwegian king Harald Hardrada invaded England. His men burned Scarborough and killed many of the inhabitants. However, Hardrada himself was killed shortly afterward at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. However, in the 12th century, Scarborough revived. Around 1136 a castle was built there. The keep of Scarborough Castle (which still stands) was built in 1158. Soon a little town grew around the castle. In the Middle Ages, towns sometimes grew up beside castles because the garrison was a market for craftsmen’s goods. Often a market started in the shadow of the castle. By the 13th century, Scarborough was a busy little market town and port. In 1253 the townspeople were granted the right to hold an annual fair. (In the Middle Ages, fairs were like markets but they were held only once a year and buyers and sellers would come from a wide area to attend a Scarborough fair). Many of the people in Medieval Scarborough were fishermen or sailors. The main export from England at that time was wool and some was exported from Scarborough. In the 13th century, the friars arrived in Scarborough. The friars were like monks but instead of withdrawing from the world, they went out to preach and help the poor. There were three orders of friars in Scarborough. There were Franciscans (called grey friars because of the colour of their costumes), Dominicans or black friars, and Carmelites or white friars. The church also ran the only hospitals in the Middle Ages. In Scarborough there was a leper hostel. There was also a hospital (alms-house) for the poor and infirm. In the 14th century, Scarborough probably had a population of between 2,000 and 2,500 people. To us, it would seem tiny but towns were very small in those days. However, in the late Middle Ages, Scarborough went into decline. It was devastated by the Black Death, which struck in 1349. Afterward, it faced increasing competition from the port of Hull. Furthermore, with the invention of gunpowder and the development of cannons, Scarborough Castle became less and less important. The decline of the castle had a harmful effect on the town. SCARBOROUGH 1500-1800 In the 16th century, Scarborough continued to slowly decline. Henry VIII closed the friaries in Scarborough. However, in the 17th century, Scarborough began to revive. That was partly because of the growth of the coal trade. Increasing amounts of coal were transported from Newcastle to other parts of England. Some of it was transported in ships from Scarborough. In 1642 civil war began between the king and parliament. Scarborough was in the Royalists' hands. However, by 1645 the king was losing the war. In February 1645 the parliamentary army captured the town of Scarborough but the Royalist soldiers retreated into Scarborough Castle. They held out until July 1645. Scarborough Castle was besieged for the second time in 1648. The king persuaded the Scots to invade England on his behalf and some of the English sided with him. This time the siege lasted from July to September 1648. After they captured Scarborough Castle, the Parliamentarians ‘slighted’ (damaged) it to prevent it from ever falling into the Royalists' hands again. In the 17th century, Scarborough developed into a spa town. At that time when people were desperate for a cure they believed they could be healed from all sorts of diseases by drinking from a spa. A lady named Mrs. Farrer discovered a spring at the bottom of the cliffs containing iron. Soon people came from all over Yorkshire to drink from the spa’s waters. In the late 18th century, bathing in seawater became fashionable. Doctors claimed it was good for the health and many wealthy people went on trips to the seaside. Many new resorts grew up. Scarborough was already a flourishing spa town but it grew into a seaside resort as well. It was also a busy fishing port and had a prosperous shipbuilding industry. SCARBOROUGH IN THE 19th CENTURY In the 19th century, Scarborough continued to be a genteel seaside resort. The fishing industry continued and Scarborough continued to be a busy port. However, shipbuilding declined. The population rose rapidly. In 1801 Scarborough had a population of about 6,000. To us, it would seem tiny but by the standards of the time, it was a respectably sized town. It grew rapidly during the 19th century. By 1851 the population of Scarborough was around 13,000. By the end of the 19th century, the population more than doubled to over 30,000. The 19th century saw a number of improvements to Scarborough. In 1805 an Act of Parliament formed a body of men called the Improvement Commissioners, with powers to pave, clean and light the streets of Scarborough (with oil lamps). The Rotunda Museum opened in 1829. A waterworks company was formed in Scarborough in 1844. A Market Hall was built in 1853 and the first cemetery opened in 1857. Meanwhile, Cliff Bridge opened in 1827. Valley Bridge opened in 1865. The railway reached Scarborough in 1845 which, of course, made it easier for visitors to reach the town and a hospital opened in Scarborough in 1893. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ R 👋 🍻 😎 🌠 🕊
Excellent - love the effects of the waves moving in the sea. Visited many times; the last being a train journey in September 2021 🚂
Thank you for sharing
Been looking forward to this one
Because I love Scarborough
been there about 20 times
Brilliant! Been waiting a long time for this one to materialise! I just wonder if the castle actually had those Turrets at the end of the castle Walls? If so, the Cliff has certainly fallen away much more than I'd realised above where the marine Drive now stands!
I have some others of Scarborough if you have not seen them MIchael: th-cam.com/video/1prIUHadujQ/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/cNH8lL_80vQ/w-d-xo.html
Lovely.
More sweet reminiscences from my youth, James. Thank you.
Stay free. Rab 🍻 😎 🎲 ⏰
PS. *Scarborough Fair* (ballad) [From Wi ki ...]
*Scarborough Fair* is a traditional English ballad. The song, which is a variant of 'The Elfin Knight', lists a number of impossible tasks given to a former lover who lives in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. The *Scarborough Fair* variant was most common in Yorkshire and Northumbria, where it was sung to various melodies, with refrains resembling 'Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme' and 'Then she'll be a true love of mine'.
The famous melody, which uses the Dorian mode (typical of the middle English period), was collected from Mark Anderson (1874-1953), a retired lead miner from Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham, England, by Ewan MacColl in 1947. This version was recorded by a number of musicians in the 20th century, including the version by the 1960s duo Simon & Garfunkel, who learned it from Martin Carthy.
History
The lyrics of *Scarborough Fair* appear to have something in common with a Scottish ballad titled 'The Elfin Knight', which has been traced as far back as 1670. In this ballad, an elf threatens to abduct a young woman to be his lover unless she can perform an impossible task ('For thou must shape a sark to me / Without any cut or heme, quoth he'); she responds with a list of tasks that he must first perform ('I have an aiker of good ley-land / Which lyeth low by yon sea-strand').
Dozens of versions existed by the end of the 18th century. A number of older versions refer to locations other than Scarborough Fair, including Wittingham Fair, Cape Ann, 'twixt Berwik and Lyne', etc. Many versions do not mention a place name and are often generically titled ('The Lover's Tasks', "My Father Gave Me an Acre of Land', etc.).
The references to the traditional English fair, *Scarborough Fair* and the refrain 'parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme' date to 19th-century versions, and the refrain may have been borrowed from the ballad 'Riddles Wisely Expounded', which has a similar plot.
Lyrics [The lyrics, as published by Frank Kidson, begin:]
'O, where are you going?' 'To Scarborough fair',
'Savoury sage, rosemary, and thyme;
'Remember me to a lass who lives there,
'For once she was a true love of mine.'
'And tell her to make me a cambric shirt,
'Savoury sage, rosemary, and thyme,
'Without any seam or needlework,
'And then she shall be a true love of mine.'
'And tell her to wash it in yonder dry well,
'Savoury sage, rosemary, and thyme,
'Where no water sprung, nor a drop of rain fell,
'And then she shall be a true love of mine.'
[Stanzas 1-3]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*A History of Scarborough*
By Tim Lambert [Abridged]
The Romans built a signalling station at Scarborough around 370 AD. At that time Saxons from Germany were raiding eastern England. If their fleet was sighted off Scarborough signal torches were lighted to warn the Roman armed forces.
SCARBOROUGH IN THE MIDDLE AGES
However, it is believed that the Danes founded the town of Scarborough in the 10th century. The ‘borough’ part of its name is a corruption of burgh, which meant fort or fortified settlement. Scarborough was devastated in 1066 when the Norwegian king Harald Hardrada invaded England. His men burned Scarborough and killed many of the inhabitants. However, Hardrada himself was killed shortly afterward at the Battle of Stamford Bridge.
However, in the 12th century, Scarborough revived. Around 1136 a castle was built there. The keep of Scarborough Castle (which still stands) was built in 1158. Soon a little town grew around the castle. In the Middle Ages, towns sometimes grew up beside castles because the garrison was a market for craftsmen’s goods. Often a market started in the shadow of the castle.
By the 13th century, Scarborough was a busy little market town and port. In 1253 the townspeople were granted the right to hold an annual fair. (In the Middle Ages, fairs were like markets but they were held only once a year and buyers and sellers would come from a wide area to attend a Scarborough fair).
Many of the people in Medieval Scarborough were fishermen or sailors. The main export from England at that time was wool and some was exported from Scarborough.
In the 13th century, the friars arrived in Scarborough. The friars were like monks but instead of withdrawing from the world, they went out to preach and help the poor. There were three orders of friars in Scarborough. There were Franciscans (called grey friars because of the colour of their costumes), Dominicans or black friars, and Carmelites or white friars.
The church also ran the only hospitals in the Middle Ages. In Scarborough there was a leper hostel. There was also a hospital (alms-house) for the poor and infirm.
In the 14th century, Scarborough probably had a population of between 2,000 and 2,500 people. To us, it would seem tiny but towns were very small in those days. However, in the late Middle Ages, Scarborough went into decline. It was devastated by the Black Death, which struck in 1349. Afterward, it faced increasing competition from the port of Hull.
Furthermore, with the invention of gunpowder and the development of cannons, Scarborough Castle became less and less important. The decline of the castle had a harmful effect on the town.
SCARBOROUGH 1500-1800
In the 16th century, Scarborough continued to slowly decline. Henry VIII closed the friaries in Scarborough.
However, in the 17th century, Scarborough began to revive. That was partly because of the growth of the coal trade. Increasing amounts of coal were transported from Newcastle to other parts of England. Some of it was transported in ships from Scarborough.
In 1642 civil war began between the king and parliament. Scarborough was in the Royalists' hands. However, by 1645 the king was losing the war. In February 1645 the parliamentary army captured the town of Scarborough but the Royalist soldiers retreated into Scarborough Castle. They held out until July 1645.
Scarborough Castle was besieged for the second time in 1648. The king persuaded the Scots to invade England on his behalf and some of the English sided with him. This time the siege lasted from July to September 1648. After they captured Scarborough Castle, the Parliamentarians ‘slighted’ (damaged) it to prevent it from ever falling into the Royalists' hands again.
In the 17th century, Scarborough developed into a spa town. At that time when people were desperate for a cure they believed they could be healed from all sorts of diseases by drinking from a spa. A lady named Mrs. Farrer discovered a spring at the bottom of the cliffs containing iron. Soon people came from all over Yorkshire to drink from the spa’s waters.
In the late 18th century, bathing in seawater became fashionable. Doctors claimed it was good for the health and many wealthy people went on trips to the seaside. Many new resorts grew up. Scarborough was already a flourishing spa town but it grew into a seaside resort as well. It was also a busy fishing port and had a prosperous shipbuilding industry.
SCARBOROUGH IN THE 19th CENTURY
In the 19th century, Scarborough continued to be a genteel seaside resort. The fishing industry continued and Scarborough continued to be a busy port. However, shipbuilding declined.
The population rose rapidly. In 1801 Scarborough had a population of about 6,000. To us, it would seem tiny but by the standards of the time, it was a respectably sized town. It grew rapidly during the 19th century. By 1851 the population of Scarborough was around 13,000. By the end of the 19th century, the population more than doubled to over 30,000.
The 19th century saw a number of improvements to Scarborough. In 1805 an Act of Parliament formed a body of men called the Improvement Commissioners, with powers to pave, clean and light the streets of Scarborough (with oil lamps).
The Rotunda Museum opened in 1829. A waterworks company was formed in Scarborough in 1844. A Market Hall was built in 1853 and the first cemetery opened in 1857. Meanwhile, Cliff Bridge opened in 1827. Valley Bridge opened in 1865.
The railway reached Scarborough in 1845 which, of course, made it easier for visitors to reach the town and a hospital opened in Scarborough in 1893.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
R 👋 🍻 😎 🌠 🕊
Heard of Scarborough via a song named "Scarborough Fair"