It is somewhat strange that whilst light-towers or lighthouses have been in existence, certainly since the time of the early Pharaohs, and Scarborough was regarded as a thriving and prosperous sea-port since the mid-thirteenth century, and by Elizabethan times an important naval base, there appears to be no record of a lighthouse in
Scarborough until the start of the nineteenth century.
A Roman signal station was erected on Castle Hill in about the year 350 and remained there for about 50 years but that appears to be it.
A port since Viking times and certainly having a pier in Elizabethan times.
Queen Elizabeth funded improvements to the pier in view of Scarborough's then importance as a naval base, defended by
Scarborough
Castle, it was not until the reign of George 11 that there was any real effort to create a proper harbour.
In 1752 the present inner (Vincents) Pier was completed but still there are no records of any form of light tower or lighthouse at this time.
It was in the nineteenth century that lighthouse building became particularly popular, both Nationally and Internationally.
There are references of doubtful authenticity as to the erection of a lighthouse in Scarborough somewhere between 1801 and 1804, a small flat-topped building lit by a brazier atop, but the more reliable indicators are that the first (and present) lighthouse, designed by a surveyor by the name of Nixon, was built on Vincents Pier,
adjoining the Harbour and South Beach in 1806. There are no surviving plans or drawings but the building was of brick construction with a flat top and surrounded by railings. As this generally matches the description attributed at the start of this paragraph one can only think that those early reports were in error as to the year.
Originally the light emanating from the building at night-time was provided by a coal brazier, later to be re-placed by some six tallow candles, hardly likely to provide a beacon of safety, succour and comfort to fog-bound mariners and within a few years the six-candle power light was boosted by the addition of a copper reflector behind the candles.
Subsequently facilities were improved with the erection of an adjoining residence for the
harbourmaster.
Improvements were made to the lighthouse itself when the roof was leaded and the flag-floor replaced with boarding but, more significantly, some window frames were removed from the lantern-room window, giving a greater area of clear glass and thus improving light emission.
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By 1844 there had been a substantial increase in shipping traffic and in response the light-tower was lifted some seventeen feet and candle -power was replaced by gas light. Amidst much public outcry the previous "red-light" was replaced by white light, creating confusion to sea craft set against the backdrop of white lights on the Foreshore and surrounding areas. Such furore was only quelled when Trinity House
recognised and approved the controversial decision of the local Harbour Authority.
Facilities were improved further in 1847 with the provision of a portable lamp for use in emergency such as gas failure.
In 1850 an additional story was erected to the main building.
There is then little note to report with regard to the lighthouse until the First World War save that at some time prior to that electricity had replaced gas as the source of power, although again there appears no precise record of when exactly this took place.
During the First World War Scarborough and the east coast suffered more attention from the Kaiser's fleet than is generally appreciated, and the threat from the sub-marine menace was partly influential in the decline of Scarborough as a port, particularly as some ten to
twelve trawlers were sunk offshore in one night.
The lighthouse itself suffered in the famous Scarborough Bombardment
of December 1914. Two German battlecruisers and a light cruiser, Derrflinger, Von der Tann and Kolberg, laid siege to both Scarborough and
Hartlepool on that infamous day. Whilst the cruiser Kolberg was busy laying mines
along the coast at Bridlington,
Flamborough,
Filey, Scarborough
and Whitby the two battlecruisers began peppering the town of Scarborough with their 11"/12" guns at 8am and for the next thirty minutes created havoc within the Town. Over 200 buildings were damaged or destroyed and eight people killed. The lighthouse had however seemingly escaped unscathed until the last of the 520 shells tore into the upper part of the building, which was later demolished leaving only the lower part standing.
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Whilst in December 1917 (the Germans clearly liked Christmas in Scarborough)
Scarborough was again subject to enemy naval attack when a German U-boat
surfaced some four miles offshore and peppered the harbour with some thirty rounds of shells, half of which fell on fishing and pleasure boats but little damage was caused and on this occasion the lighthouse escaped further damage.
Despite its importance to the fishermen and trade of the town and the damage being caused by direct hostile enemy attack the Attlee government were not prepared to assist with payment of War Damage Reparation. The building had only been insured for its original £500 cost and repairs alone were estimated at double that figure. Post-War austerity meant that repairs were left undone and it was not until
some 14 years later that the Scarborough Townsmens' Guild raised by subscription the £1,800 needed to repair the structure and a further £425 for the adjoining Pier House.
It was on the 22nd December 1931 that the lighthouse was again officially re-opened.
Nostalgia returned with reversion to a red light, but typically, local furore again erupted as this time it was the proliferation of red lights on the Foreshore and in the Town that caused the back-drop confusion and yet again Trinity House sanctioned a
change to a white isophase (5s) light.
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Since that wartime drama little of significance has interfered with the serene life of the lighthouse. Its light still beams across the
north bay and
south bay of Scarborough. The diaphone signal still sends out its noisy warning when fog descends on the north sea. The boats that still use the harbour are grateful for the succour and comfort afforded by the light and sound emitted as they guide them to the sanctuary of the harbour.
Last but not least the lighthouse is an obvious reminder to visitors of Scarborough's sea heritage and focal point to attract them to the lifeboat house, filleting sheds, and other attractions afforded by one of the country's top seaside resorts.
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