Looking south-east from the cliffs atop Scarborough’s south bay. You can just make out the staircase I posted a couple of shot of recently at lower left. Further down the coast is the arc of the former South Bay Bathing Pool and from there the cliffs continue towards Bempton and Flamborough Head.
This is the same set of steps as featured in yesterday’s image, but this time from their foot. I didn’t plan on having a figure in the picture, but this chap walked into frame as I was about to press the shutter.
I chatted with this couple for a few minutes. They told me how much they’d enjoyed their stay in Scarborough and had been surprised that it was much bigger than they expected. I’d planned on photographing this scene before I spoke with them, but thought their semi-silhouettes would add to the picture. And they do.
I’m quite surprised (and happy) by how many of these light-leak-affected photographs were able to be rescued by some creative cropping. While none of the cropped images reflect my originally intended compositions, most of them still manage to retain a level of quality that I’d worried would have been lost when I first saw the negatives. High-res scans certainly help too
I don’t know why I didn’t post this as part of yesterday’s post – it’s literally the same place from a different angle. I’m going to blame the cold I have which is making me feel poorly.
There has apparently been a spa building on this site since the early 1700s following the discovery of springs with supposedly medicinal properties. Mineral spa’s were big business and the places they were located quickly capitalised on them as a means to draw visitors.
The spa at Scarborough has undergone a number of changes over it’s history, including when a landslide obliterated the original wooden spa house, and in the 19th century grand new buildings were erected along with gardens, funicular railway, and a concert hall. The building was once again destroyed, this time by fire, in 1876, but little time was wasted re-constructing and it re-opened three years later.
By the end of the 19th century the venue was used more for entertainment than as a spa, and eventually in the late 1960s, public consumption of the waters ceased.