The North Yorkshire seaside town of Scarborough grew up around its medieval castle, built on a headland. It developed as a spa town in the seventeenth century, becoming one of the country’s first coastal resorts. The railways brought more visitors in the Victorian age, although the town retained its status as a resort for high society well into the twentieth century, with many staying in the famous Grand Hotel, as well as being a centre for the fishing industry.

A–Z of Scarborough reveals the history behind this town, its streets and buildings, businesses, and the people connected with it. Alongside the famous historical connections are unusual characters, tucked-away places and unique events that are less well known. Readers will discover tales about the huge castle on the cliffs, the grave of Anne Brontë, the tramway to the seafront, the birthplace of Harland (of Harland & Wolff shipbuilders) and James Moody (Titanic officer), the iconic Grand Hotel and the Holbeck Hall Hotel which slid down a cliff face thirty years ago due to coastal erosion, and the 1914 German bombardment among many other fascinating facts in this A–Z tour of Scarborough’s history. Fully illustrated throughout, this book will appeal to all those with an interest in this town on the Yorkshire coast.

Richard M. Jones is a historian specialising in the local history of places in Yorkshire, particularly on the coast, maritime and military topics including shipwrecks and other disasters, the First and Second World Wars, and railways. He has published numerous books on these subjects and appeared on numerous radio and tv programmes as well as podcasts and blogs.