CHECKPOINT 9
The Lighthouse - Vincent's Pier
The lighthouse
Vincent’s Pier is a listed structure, completed in 1752, over 50 years before a lighthouse existed in Scarborough. The Old Pier (as it was referred to prior to Vincent's Pier) is thought to date back to the 14th Century and was initially used for accessing vessels at low tide. Prior to this boats were hauled up to the shore, often using horses, and pushed back out again - a mammoth task at low tide.
The Crown recognised the advantage of being able to quickly launch and disembark merchant and navy ships, and in 1732 an Act of Parliament was passed to enlarge the pier. The task was given to engineer William Vincent - hence the name.
By the 19th Century, the sea bed was littered with ship wrecks, and it was clear a lighthouse was needed - its construction was complete in stages.
In 1804 a single storey circular brick building was created by engineer Nixon, a coal fired brazier on the flat roof warned ships about the shallow waters in the harbour area. In the 1840s, the tower height was increased to 16 metres, and accommodation built for the Harbour Master and Lighthouse Keeper. By the early 20th Century, electricity replaced the five-mantle gas burner, and the light beam could be seen up to 9 miles away. The image below shows the lighthouse in 1904 - looking more or less as we see it today.
The lighthouse was a target for the German invasion in 1914, and the fateful day of December 16th has become known as the Scarborough Bombardment. Scarborough suffered greatly - 18 people died and over 200 buildings were badly damaged. The final shell of the day hit the lighthouse tower, and although it didn't explode, the building was so badly damaged it had to be demolished a few days later. Due to the lack of insurance cover (it was only covered for £500), funds were raised from residents of the town, and it took until 1931 for it to be rebuilt - this is definitely a cautionary tale about having adequate insurance!
With the huge improvements in navigation and safety equipment onboard many modern vessels, constant monitoring of the harbour area is no longer needed. The Lighthouse Keeper's accommodation now houses Scarborough Yacht Club, and the last 24 hour watch was completed in 1997. However, the foghorn still blasts when visibility drops, and can be heard right across the town... day and night, every minute, for 2 seconds, in F sharp... not that locals really notice it any more as it becomes white noise after a few years.
The ghost of Captain Appleyard
A well known spooky tale in Scarborough is that of Captain Appleyard, the Harbour Master who accidentally fell to his death in the 1870s and drowned in the harbour.
Richard Oakes (one of the last full-time Harbour Masters) retold the story to BBC York in 2008.
After the Captain's death, several people have reported seeing his ghost in the old offices, and even smelt his pipe smoke lingering in the air. The Captain has been seen walking through the wall - where the door to the Yacht Club used to be.
Richard Oakes once reported seeing someone enter the Yacht Club at 2am. After calling the police, and searching with sniffer dogs, the "trespasser" was never located. Richard believed this to be the ghost of Captain Appleyard.
The full article is available here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/northyorkshire/content/articles/2008/01/28/scarborough_lighthouse_feature.shtml
The diving belle
The Diving Belle Statue is created from galvanised steel depicting a female swimmer diving from a pole. Part of a pair created by Craig Knowles and unveiled in 2007, she represents the current day Scarborough - diving into the future of regeneration in the 21st century. The other half of the pair, the Bathing Belle (which can be found on the North Bay near the mini golf course) represents Scarborough's past as the first sea-bathing resort.
It is worth walking right to the end of Vincent's Pier to get a full look at the Diving Belle statue - and take some great photos of the town and surrounding landscapes from this different perspective.
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