John Rushton MBE (1927-2013) was a local historian and founding member of the SMHC. He carried out extensive research into the town and port. The eleven 'position papers' that follow show that work. John was in his 80s when he wrote these with failing eyesight and health so there are spelling and grammar mistakes. They were intended as idea papers with a goal of producing a book about the amazing maritime heritage of Scarborough. We still hope to do that one day when time allows.
Scarborough Port and Harbour Research Project - 2011
A preliminary document has been drawn up outlining what is known on these subject areas. This draws on many secondary sources and a few primary sources.
1) House properties in the Undercliff Quarter of the borough of Scarborough
2) Location names, past and present, in the same area
3) Coastal names within the boundaries of the Corporation of Scarborough
4) Structures serving Scarborough harbour, 12th to 21st centuries
5) Organisations serving the harbour or functioning there
6) Functions served by the harbour, including fishing and fish processing, migration, servicing, fuelling and repairing shipping, “haven of refuge”, collection of revenues, servicing leisure craft (marina, pleasure cruisers), trade (fish, wool, timber, cargoes, malt, coal, etc), production of train oil, salt, red herring, sailcloth, ships and boats, "nursery of seamen", hosting and victualling fishing vessels from many ports, etc, etc)
7) Harbour crafts and trades
8) Development of “the first seaside resort” on the coast west and south of the Harbour, its transformation 17th-20th century and its influence on the harbour, including the structures and organisations involved
9) A prelminary list of sources of primary documents on harbour history
The next step is to identify, locate, and acquire copies of primary source material to extend our growing records and to develop the harbour research project. There is material at Scarborough Corporation (Harbour Master, etc, etc), North Yorkshire County Record Office, York Minster Library, the Borthwick Institute of Historical Research, Trinity House Scarborough, local estate agents, Scarborough Library and elsewhere.
What is not being focused on, at the moment as part of this project, (although SMC is doing work on this separately) is
1) Shipping families and their history
2) The changing experience of fishermen and mariners
3) Detailed records of harbour users, fishing boats, ships etc
John Rushton
