Articles and stories on various historically topics relating to Scarborough and its surroundings.

• Scarborough's Roads and Transport in Earlier Years
  
• Scarborough Gaol
  
• Thomas Cook excursion to Scarborough in 1863
  
  
• Zachariah T Welburn
• Falsgrave Well House restoration complete
• A plumassier - what's that?
• South Cliff and Ramshill Festival
• Skeleton analysis findings now available
• Important medieval woodcarving at Newcastle Packet, Sandside
• A Guide to Historic Scarborough published

Zachariah T Welburn

The original story:

Archaeologists digging at Norton near Malton found parts of a large stoneware jar. The site was near the old Malt Shovel Inn, latterly renamed the Cornucopia. Local historian Jim Halliday remembers that it was once owned by the Scarborough and Whitby Brewery Company. The Victorian jar seemed to be inscribed "Z.T. Welbuim, Scarborough , and "685". This turned out to be Zachariah T. Welburn . His business was founded in 1812 as a wine and spirit merchants. By 1896, it was known as Henry Welburn & co, by which time, the firm had expanded into grocery, provisions and "Italian goods of first rate quality”. They cured their own "old York hams”.

Their principal shop was at 55 Newborough and had been rebuilt with five stories. The frontage had "Welburn and Sons" inscribed in large letters at knee level, and "The Imperial Bottling Stores" in bold capitals below the attic windows. There were big stores, an office and ample cellars. The shop windows carried vast arrays of neatly stacked tinned goods. The wine department was a connoisseur's dream stocking everything from sauterne and champagne to choice Hungarian and Australian vintages .The spirit department fed the private homes of the wealthy and the dram shops of the poor, with whisky and gin. Here were rare liqueurs, such as Curacao and Noyeau .The ale department held "dinner ales, India pale ale, strong ales, stouts and porters; Welburns were sole agents for J. Tetley & sons, brewers of Leeds. Welburns' bonded warehouse was at St Helens Square and the firm had branches at 15 South Street on Southcliff, and at 27 Westborough. They claimed the "confidence and esteem of a large and fashionable clientele".

Update!

We have received the following information from a relative of Z T Welburn: "As a Welburn interested in genealogy, and being originally from the Scarborough area, I was interested in reading the artilce regarding Zachariah. Zachariah Tranmere Welburn was born in 1792 in Fylingdales, and in the 1851 census was resident at 55 Newborough, in Scarborough. His parents were John Welburn and Ann Tranmere. He died around 1859. Regards Robert Welburn."
 

The Society would welcome any further information about the firm.
info@scarborough-heritage.org

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Falsgrave Well House Restored

On Saturday 22 October 2005 the Society joined the Friends of Falsgrave Park to celebrate the restoration of the historic well house in Falsgrave Park. Members of the Society in medieval costume lead a guided walk following the course of the water supply from Princess Square to the Park. Members of the Friends ‘dressed’ the well which was blessed by Rev Phil White. Brother John (Colin Barnes) read an eulogy.

More details

The Friends of Falsgrave Park obtained Local Heritage Initiative funding to restore the historic well house in Falsgrave park. The Society worked with the Friends to provide historical information about the structure and in the design of interpretative materials.

Falsgrave Park is very important in the development of Scarborough as in the 14th century the Franciscan Friars tapped the springs in this area to provide a supply of piped fresh water to the town. The present well house is a small stone structure with a stone roof. It probably dates from the 18th century.

We carried out an excavation here in 2001. The discovery of older stonework next to the well house suggests there was an earlier building on the site. No firm dating evidence was found, but it may have been the original well house.

Contributed by Chris Hall
Well House Image by Pat Taylor
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A plumassier - what's that?

A record of this unusual occupation was revealed in an archive recording session run by the Scarborough Archaeological and Historical society.
Mr. J. Downham's shop at 3 Regent Terrace was founded in 1864. The craftsman worked on ornamental feathers or plumes. At a time when fashionable society took regular holidays in Scarborough, the Prince of Wales feathers were on his letter heading. Mr. Downham's workshop cleaned, dyed, curled and mounted ostrich feathers for his elegant clientele, As a sideline, he cleaned kid gloves and kid boots. An old bill found in a bundle of papers charged four shillings for improving black feathers, two natural feathers, two long "hacks" and four "hack tips".
Contributed by John Rushton

South Cliff and Ramshill Festival 2005

The first Ramshill and South Cliff Festival took place from 1st to 7th August 2005, celebrating 160 years of history. A varied programme of events took place, involving local residents and traders in guided tours and poetry, dressing up and competitions, a church service, a barbecue and many more events. All were welcome to join in and find out more about the history of the area, its key buildings and people.

History of South Cliff

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Skeleton analysis findings now available

In September 1999 the Society carried out an excavation in Mulgrave Place, Scarborough. We recovered a single skeleton.

Palaeoecology Research Services Ltd have now carried out analysis of the skeleton for us, and their findings are quite exciting.

Bone analysis shows that the skeleton was that of a mature adult female aged over 46 years. Advancing age had probably contributed to mild joint deterioration in the spine and ribs.

Our woman was short in stature, petite and right-handed. There was little evidence of strong muscle build on the upper arms, often found in medieval skeletons. The woman did suffer from severe muscle trauma to one of the right shoulder ligaments, as well as less severe muscle strain to the bottom muscle and the muscles of the ankles. It seems she carried out tasks, which involved habitual squatting.

Four large cavities suggests her diet included sugar or was carbohydrate-rich, or that her oral hygiene was poor but it is thought the former was the cause as there was little plaque.

Teeth can tell us a lot about the development of a person. Here there is evidence of childhood deprivation between the ages of one and seven - malnutrition or serious illness. This led to the formation of lines of arrested growth in the dental enamel - her body was concentrating all its strength on survival, rather than on growth.

She had a minor congenital defect in the fusion of the breastbones. There may have been limitations to her breathing causing greater susceptibility to pneumonia, but there was no evidence of lung infection.

This woman suffered from four active dental abscesses at the time of death and probably a weakened immune system. The abscesses had drained pus into her mouth so they may have caused septicaemia and her death.

Thanks to Palaeoecology Research Services Ltd for carrying out the research and to The Local Heritage Initiative for funding it through the Scarborough Community Heritage Initiative

Contributed by Chris Hall, October 2004

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Important medieval woodcarving at Newcastle Packet

During the year (2003) Yorkshire Vernacular Buildings Study Group have been actively working in the town analysing historic buildings. The Society has been actively working with them.

Important new ideas are coming forward about The Newcastle Packet, Sandside

The present Newcastle Packet dates from about 1890 and is by the by the Scarborough Architect Frank Tugwell. It is a Listed Grade building because of a fragment of the timber frame of the medieval building which previously stood on this site being preserved within the west wall.

The Society carried out a measured survey in 1996 and over the last few months that survey has been enhanced by further survey and research carried out by YVBSG.

We knew that the timber frame was important due to the richly carved corner post and associated carvings. Recent research however (including contact with Dr Christa Grössinger of Manchester University) suggests that this fragment of timber frame is even more important than originally thought.

Carving such as this on a secular building is very valuable historically since most surviving carved timber is in churches - very little survives in secular buildings. There is a corner-post as richly carved as this on show in the big exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum at present (entitled: "Gothic: Art for England"), but otherwise it is thought there is very little of comparable quality anywhere.

There is a possibility that the carver who did the work was one of a group of Flemish wood-carvers who came to York to work on the central tower of the Minster c.1470. Apparently the subject matter of the carving is taken from an illustration by a German printmaker known as Master bxg - some of his prints were used by wood carvers at Ripon Minster in 1489.

Contributed by Chris Hall, February 2004
Illustrations provided by kind permission of Arnold Pacey, Independent Architectural Historian

Addendum
There is more detail and information on this woodcarving in an article recently published in the Yorkshire Archaeological Journal by Arnold Pacey. ("German Prints, Flemish Craftsmen, and Yorkshire Buildings-- A late medieval wood-carving in Scarborough - YAJ Volume 70, 2007 pp311 - 323").
The Society holds copies of the YAJ.
Chris Hall, Jan 2008

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A Guide to Historic Scarborough launched on 16 December 2003

This short, lavishly illustrated book will take you on an expert, up-to-date tour of Scarborough’s long and exciting history. Drawing upon recent archaeological and historical work, the Guide is a perfect companion for residents and visitors alike who want to explore and understand the town’s historic buildings, fortifications, churches, streets, harbour and art. Nine chapters, illustrated with photographs, prints, maps and paintings, introduce readers to:

• The development of the town
• The defence of the town
• Scarborough’s harbour
• Religion in Scarborough
• Water for Scarborough
• Trade in Scarborough
• The first seaside resort
• The later resort
• Culture and the arts in Scarborough

Three mapped walks at the back of the book take in the most visible features of Scarborough’s past.

You can purchase a copy of the book at the following shops:

Hardings Bookshop, the Tourist Information Centre on Westborough, the Stephen Joseph Theatre, the Scarborough Art Gallery, The Rotunda Museum, the Natural History Museum (Wood End), Spa Shop at the Spa Complex, The Antiques & Collectors Centre on St Nicholas Cliff, The Bookshelf on Victoria Road, Mrs Lofthouse's Book Emporium on Queen Street, Bar Street Books on Swan Hill Road, Whitby Bookshop, Hopper's in Malton.

£5.00
ISBN 0 902416 073

All other sales enquiries should be sent to guide@scarborough-heritage.org

Contributed by Farrell Burnett, December 2003

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