SCARBOROUGH 347 



there are several handsome new streets, abounding 

 with large and elegant houses, many of which are 

 fitted up as lodging houses during the bathing sea- 

 son. Here are various accommodating institutions, 

 both public and private ; designed principally for 

 the convenience of visitors. Great attention is paid 

 to the spaw waters, or mineral springs, which are 

 close to the beach, a little to the south of the town. 

 These springs were discovered about the year 1620, 

 and their salubrious waters have raised Scarborough 



present earl. This and Hull, being the only state ports 

 on this coast short of Yarmouth, the pier is maintained 

 by a duty on coals from Newcastle, and Sunderland ; and 

 the mariners hospital for seamens' widows, by a rate on 

 vessels and deductions out of seamen's wages. 



The spaw is about a quarter of a mile south from the 

 town, at the foot of an exceeding high cliff. It rises out 

 of the earth like a boiling pot, near the level of the 

 spring tides, which often overflow it. In an hour's time 

 It throws out above 24 gallons, for the stones through 

 which it flows contain above 12, and being emptied 

 every morning it will be full in half an hour. The wa- 

 ters are impregnated with a purgative salt, a small quan- 

 tity of common salt, and steel, and are very transparent, 

 inclining to a sky colour, having a pleasant acid taste and 

 inky smell. There are two wells, the farthest from the 

 town most purgative and more bitter, and the other more 

 chalybeate, brisk and pungent. December 29, 1737, the 

 ends of several inclosures behind the cliff on the back 

 of the Spaw sunk down, making a valley of a vast length 

 and breadth, the weight of whick shook and opened the 

 hill behind the house, and forced up the sands 100 yards, 

 on each side the space, and 27 broad, to the height of 

 , and even 10 yards. The pier, entire as it was, moved 

 sideways and rose up about five yards ; and the houses 

 fell and took fire, The flag house and rails about the 

 mouth of the well, were forced up 10 yards, and the 

 Spaw lost for a time, but soon after recovered as good as 

 before : but Dicky's staith and furniture were all lost* 

 Th tide was out at the time this happened. 



