Scarborough Spa was the first seaside resort in England. In 1626, Mrs Farrer discovered a natural spring beneath the cliff to the south of Scarborough. She noticed that the water stained the rocks a reddish-brown colour and tasted bitter. It was later found to cure many minor ailments and became popular with local residents. It was found to contain a high level of magnesium sulphate – similar to Andrews’ Liver Salts.

Dr Robert Wittle of Hull promoted the mineral waters and in 1660, he published Scarborough Spa in which he claimed the water was a cure for all illnesses. Visitors flocked to Scarborough for the water and the town became famous as a spa town and seaside resort. The first Spa House was built near the spring in 1700.

Dickie Dickinson was appointed the first Governor of the Spa. It’s still possible to buy water – Mr M Jackson is the current governor.

In 1827, the Cliff Bridge Company was given control of the Spa and the adjacent cliff walks in exchange for building the Cliff Bridge linking these facilities to the town. A new Spa promenade was opened in 1839, overlooked by a Gothic Saloon designed by Henry Wyatt. The cliff gardens were laid out by George Knowles and in 1853, William Skipsey was appointed head gardener.

Tucked behind the Spa are the Italian Steps or Terrace. Joseph Paxton who was a regular visitor to Scarborough was asked to redesign the site in 1856. The complex which included a much larger assembly room to replace the Gothic Saloon and galleries, was opened two years later and was such a success, that Paxton was asked to design a further extension. A three storey tower was built, connected to the Spa Building by the steps. But a fire broke out in 1876 and although the Spa was rebuilt, all that remains of Paxton’s work are the steps.

Lottery funding has enabled the gardens to be restored. A children’s Tower has been recreated to designs of Paxton’s Prospect Tower.

The Cliff Lift funicular railway was opened in 1875 and is allegedly the first of its kind built in England. It was designed by William Lucas and built by Crossley Brothers of Manchester. It was copied by many other seaside resorts allowing guests from the hotels and boarding houses to access the promenade, spa, bathing machines and beach huts below. It works by water pumped into a tank underneath the upper car, the additional weight enables the lower car to be drawn up as the upper car descends. At first, the water was pumped by a pair of gas engines were which were replaced in 1879 by steam pumps. By 1876, the tramway was carrying 3,500 passengers a day.

A pedestrian tunnel was built beneath the railway allowing access to the rest of the gardens. It was reopened in 2022, linking the north and south gardens and allowing wheelchairs access to most of the gardens.

Around 1910, Scarborough corporation bought land south of the South Cliff Tramway from the Cliff Bridge Company. On the lower slopes, the Borough engineer, Harry Smith, built bathing huts painted in bright colours with the Clock Cafe above them. Opened in 1913, the cafe is still open today and has magnificent views out to sea.

Smith was also responsible for designing the first tidal Bathing Pool in UK although sadly, it no longer exists.

In 1993, the Holbeck Hall Hotel which overlooked the Holbeck Gardens fell into the sea and took with it large parts of Skipsey’s gardens.