The Spa, Scarborough facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scarborough Spa |
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| Former names | Scarborough Spa Complex |
| Alternative names | The Spa, Scarborough |
| General information | |
| Type | Conference, exhibition, entertainment and live music venue |
| Location | South Bay, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England |
| Coordinates | 54°16′32″N 0°23′50″W / 54.27556°N 0.39722°W |
| Current tenants | Sheffield International Venues |
| Owner | Scarborough Borough Council |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Sir Joseph Paxton |
| Designations | Grade II* listed |
The Scarborough Spa is a famous building in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England. It's a special place where people go for concerts, shows, and fun events. This historic building is right by the sea in South Bay. It was first built around natural spring waters, which were once thought to have healing powers. Today, the local council owns it, and a company called Sheffield International Venues helps run it.
The Spa has a huge room called the Grand Hall. It can hold almost 2,000 people for live shows. The famous Scarborough Spa Orchestra plays here. There is also the Spa Theatre, a Victorian theatre with 600 seats. It hosts summer shows and Christmas pantomimes. The Spa Ocean Room is used for dances, meetings, and festivals like the Scarborough Jazz Festival.
A special Victorian Cliff Tramway connects the Spa to South Cliff. This cliff is 200 feet above the South Bay.
Contents
History of the Spa
Discovery of the Waters
In the 1600s, a woman named Thomasin Farrer found something amazing. She discovered natural spring water bubbling from under the cliff. This water made the rocks look rusty. It tasted a bit bitter, but people believed it could cure small illnesses.
Thomasin told her friends and neighbours about the water. Soon, drinking these "spa waters" became a popular medicine. Thousands of visitors came to Scarborough to try them. The southern part of Scarborough became a very popular place. The area where the Spa now stands became a fashionable attraction.
Early Buildings and Changes
The first "Spaw House" was built in the early 1700s. It was a wooden building where people could buy and drink the waters. A fun character named Dicky Dickinson was in charge of it. The water was even bottled and sold to people far away.
By the mid-1700s, Scarborough was a popular seaside town. People enjoyed horse racing on the beach, boating, and swimming in the sea. Scarborough was one of the first places to use bathing machines. In 1737, a big part of the cliff fell down. It destroyed the Spaw House and the wells. But people quickly uncovered the wells in just five weeks! They found two different types of water, each believed to have special health benefits.
The speed of rebuilding showed how important the wells were. In 1739, a large building with sea views was built. Long stairs led down to the wells.
Growth and Grand Designs
The 1800s brought more challenges and exciting new buildings to the Spa. In 1827, the Cliff Bridge opened. This made it much easier to get to the Spa. It was a sign of even bigger plans to come.
In 1839, the Gothic Saloon opened. It was designed by Henry Wyatt. This building had a concert hall, a garden, and an outdoor area for music. It was an impressive building with towers. But even when it opened, it was already too small for all the visitors!
Joseph Paxton, a famous landscape designer, planned the next big complex. It opened in 1858. This new Spa had a main assembly hall and art galleries. Outside, the sea wall was made longer. It included a double walkway, a road for carriages, shops, and an outdoor bandstand. The Spa became one of the most popular music venues outside London. In 1875, the first cliff tram in England was built here. It's still used today!
Sadly, on September 8, 1876, the Spa saloon was destroyed by fire. But people quickly rebuilt it. By June 1879, the new Grand Hall was open. Its official opening was on August 2, 1880.
The Spa in Modern Times
Today, visitors can still see the beautiful buildings from the 1880s. The Grand Hall is still impressive. Over the years, some changes and additions have been made. In the early 1980s, a big project restored many of the original features.
The Spa complex includes the Spa Theatre, the Grand Hall for concerts, the Ocean Room, and the Promenade Lounge. There's also the Sun Court for outdoor concerts, cafes, and bars. From the shops to the Cliff Lift, the whole complex is almost half a mile long. It can host big events with over 2,000 people.
Many famous actors have visited or filmed at the Spa. These include Helena Bonham Carter in Dancing Queen. Ewan McGregor and Jane Horrocks filmed scenes in the Sun Court for Little Voice.
By the 1880s, music and entertainment became more important than the spa waters. The water's natural make-up changed over time. People stopped drinking it in the late 1960s. Now, for safety reasons, people cannot access the well.
Spa Bridge
It was easy to walk to the Spa along the seafront from the town centre. But getting down to the seafront from St Nicholas Cliff was very steep. In 1826, a company decided to build a bridge. This iron footbridge would go across the valley from St Nicholas Cliff to the Spa.
The bridge was 75 feet above the valley. It was 414 feet long and 13.5 feet wide. The bridge opened on July 19, 1827. Crowds watched a mail coach and horses gallop across it at full speed! The bridge became a popular place for walks. It offered great views and a direct link from the town centre. It was so popular that a toll booth was put up. People could buy tickets for one, two, or four weeks to use the bridge and visit the Spa.
