Scarborough Castle is a 12th Century fortress on the North Sea coast of North Yorkshire, England. The Castle is situated on a rocky headland overlooking the town of Scarborough. Its most recognisable feature is the ruined keep, built in the 1160s by Henry II, which is clearly visible from the bay below and offshore.
The Castle is built on triangular headland some 300 ft (91 m) above sea level. As a naturally defended location, there is evidence of prior settlement and fortification on the site, including the archaeological remains of a Roman signal station.
The present medieval castle was founded by William le Gros, in the 1130s. His constructions included a gate tower (where the keep now stands), curtain wall and a chapel.
Ownership of the castle was seized by Henry II, upon his accession to the throne of England in 1154. Henry extended and further fortified the castle, replacing the gate tower with the square, three-storey keep whose ruins still stand at the top of the promontory. Further additions were made to the structure by Kings John and Henry III.
In 1312, Piers Gaveston fled to the castle, which was then besieged for a fortnight by rebel barons. The siege ended only when Gaveston surrendered himself.
The Castle twice came under siege during the First English Civil War, eventually falling to the Parliamentarian forces on July 25 1645. Scarborough and its castle changed hands seven times between Royalists and Parliamentarians during the three stages of the English Civil War. So as to prevent the Castle being used again as a Royalist stronghold Parliament ordered the demolition of the Keep.
In the 17th and 18th centuries the castle was used as a prison before becoming a military barracks.
On 16 December 1914, during the First World War, Scarborough came under naval bombardment by the German warships SMS Derfflinger and SMS Von der Tann. The castle was severely damaged by the hail of 500 shells directed at it and the town.
Scarborough Castle is currently managed by English Heritage, which took over the site in 1984. A visitors' centre provides admission to all extant remains, and includes an exhibition of artefacts from the site and viewing platforms. There is also an audio tour available.
On 17 September 2005, the castle hosted Rock In The Castle, an all-day music festival, headlined by The Wildhearts, which also included Terrorvision and Hanoi Rocks.
The castle was renovated in 1985.
