A stroll by the sea

A day visit from our son gave us an excuse to walk the walk, to see the plaques, to read the history.

Marine Drive Centenary - Civil engineering feat transformed

As the centenary of one of Scarborough's best loved landmarks approaches, the Evening News looks back at the construction and the history of the Marine Drive.

THIS year Scarborough is celebrating the centenary of one of the town's best-loved and well used landmarks – the Marine Drive.

Looking down on the Marine Drive construction site with building materials lined up ready for useIt is hard to imagine a time when Scarborough's North and South bays were not linked by a road and footpath, as residents and tourists alike now take a stroll round the Drive for granted.But records show that years of blood, sweat and tears went into making what we see today – and all without the aid of the modern machinery and engineering tools.

Workmen take a break from working on the wall for the photographer early last century, at the bottom middle of the picture, men are waiting for the next load of concrete to be tipped from the suspended bucketThe Drive has special significance for Scarborough's mayor, Cllr Janet Jefferson. Her grandfather, "Grandad Stroughair", was there for the opening in 1908 and used to share his memories with Janet when she was a child.

Above and below, pictures show the steam cranes at work on the sea wallShe said: "He used to tell us vividly about the construction and the opening when he came round on a Saturday tea time, so the Drive has always been important to me."I love going for a walk round there – it's so healthy and people of all ages can enjoy it.

Above and below, pictures show the steam cranes at work on the sea wall"The construction was a magnificent feat of engineering and people in Scarborough are so proud of it. The Drive is Scarborough."Lynn Jackson, of the Friends of Royal Albert Park, said: "If we didn't have the Drive a lot of tourists, especially day trippers, wouldn't know the North Bay existed! "I think the bus service that runs around it in summer is fantastic and I really like what they have done with the new wall, especially the safety aspect."

Modern day construction methods contrast with the pictures leftMrs Jackson, who helps run the Paragon Hotel in Queen's Parade with her family, added: "We overlook the bay so it's my front garden. I walk round the Drive at least once a week – I love it"SCARBOROUGH'S Marine Drive was the first ever marine carriage drive in the country and was arguably the final and most ambitious project in transforming the town into a modern seaside resort.

Modern day construction methods contrast with the pictures leftThe Drive, which was constructed primarily as a sea defence works, took 10 years, 10 months and 10 days to complete and was fraught with danger and constant setbacks as the sea lashed the site.

Construction of the Marine Drive sea wall takes shape early last centuryConstruction of the Drive tested the civil engineering technology of the time to its limits, as hundreds of men carried out back-breaking work by hand, assisted by steam-powered cranes.

The new sea wall constructed early this century is reinfored with rock armour for protectionWork began on March 30 1897, and when the foundation stone was laid by the mayor in the June, it was expected that the project would be finished in three years – when in fact it took nearly 11.

An aerial view of the castle headland showing the extent of the Marine DriveThe sea continued to lash the building work relentlessly over the years, causing havoc with the work timetable and contractors' finances. The most vulnerable parts of the site were the gantries carrying rail trucks and steam cranes which were erected to put the stones and concrete blocks in position.

Construction underway of the new sea wall with the rock armour clearly visible; although there is 100 years between the picture above and on far left top of page, the workmen's construction site is more or less in the same placeThe "last" stone was laid by the mayoress on October 1 1904, but the following January much of the work was undone as a huge storm washed away most of the North Pier. The Drive was repaired by January 1908, but even then the sea did not give up its continuing attack.

Official ceremony of laying the last stone conducted by the mayoress of ScarboroughDuring a storm on January 18, a 400ft section of the wall moved seaward by around 16in, leaving a huge crack in the surface of the Drive.

A popular pastime for many is a stroll around the Marine DriveWhen the Drive was finally opened for public use in the April, the total costs were calculated at £124,700 which was nearly twice as much as the original tender.A Royal opening ceremony was performed on August 5 1908, by one of Queen Victoria's sons – Prince Arthur, the Duke of Connaught, who was accompanied by his wife and their daughter Princess Patricia. MARINE DRIVE FACTFILE
The Marine Drive was built as a toll road and tolls for 1908 to 1909 totalled £1,892.
Tolls were one penny for each person walking, riding on horseback or bicycle, travelling in a carriage, motor car or bath-chair.
Motor cycle tolls were two pence, plus one penny for each person riding or wheeling the machine.

Entrance to Marine Drive shows the Toll House under construction and work continuing on the sea wall
During the Second World War the Marine Drive's tolls were suspended. The pedestrian toll was never resumed and the vehicle toll was abolished on December 5 1950.
The first toll collectors were listed as Henry Bosomworth, 106 Longwestgate; James Carr, 12 Franklin Street; Robert Morrison, 29 St John's Road; Frederick Pitt, 75a Trafalgar Street.

The Toll House on Marine Drive pictured recently where tolls were taken until December 1950
The first toll payers: Carriage – Alderman John Watson Rowntree and his wife; Cyclist – Joseph Proctor; Pedestrians – John Gibson and George Pindar.

Footnote

Rain stopped walk which had to be completed by bus.