A Brief History of Scarborough Spa

On a bright day the Spa buildings glow in the sun, their sandstone blending naturally into the surroundings and offering visitors to the Complex a magnificent view of Scarborough's South Bay. But that serenity belies an often chequered history and on a bleak grey day, withstanding wind and sea, the Spa presents a very different aspect.

When people talk of Scarborough Spa today they are referring to the buildings and to the activities and entertainment carried out there. But the origins of this noble Complex, and indeed the place in history of Scarborough as a resort town, are directly attributable to a natural resource - the Spa waters.