Scarborough Pier

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About Scarborough Pier

Scarborough's pier is the historic harbour pier of one of England's oldest seaside towns, a stone structure crowned by the Scarborough Lighthouse on Vincent Pier. Rather than a pleasure pier, it is a working harbour arm with centuries of history beneath Scarborough Castle.

The story of Scarborough Pier

A harbour has existed at Scarborough since the 11th century, and the West Pier was completed as early as 1325, though the present outer piers date from 1732. Vincent Pier, the central pier of the outer harbour, was added in 1752 and named after its designer William Vincent, completing the harbour works. The East Pier was built between roughly 1790 and 1812 to create the East Harbour. The Scarborough Pier Lighthouse was first established on Vincent Pier in 1804, originally a flat-roofed building with a brazier on top as a warning signal. The lighthouse was seriously damaged in 1914 and rebuilt in 1931, and it remains an active aid to navigation today. At the seaward end of Vincent Pier stands The Diving Belle, a sculpture commissioned in 2007, and the first floor of the lighthouse dwelling houses the Scarborough Yacht Club.

Visiting with care

The harbour piers are open to walk year-round and offer fine views of South Bay and Scarborough Castle on the headland above. The lighthouse and the Diving Belle sculpture are popular photo stops, and the inner harbour is busy with fishing boats and the town's pleasure craft.

Interesting facts

• A harbour has existed at Scarborough since the 11th century, with the West Pier completed in 1325.
• Vincent Pier was added in 1752 and named after its designer William Vincent.
• The Scarborough Pier Lighthouse was first established on Vincent Pier in 1804.
• The lighthouse was badly damaged in 1914 and rebuilt in 1931, and remains an active aid to navigation.