A place of great importance: Scarborough in the Civil Wars, 1640-1660 - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1859360181 ISBN 13: 9781859360187

Publisher: Carnegie Publishing Ltd

Synopsis

Dr Binns has written a superb account of Tudor and Stuart Scarborough which really brings the history of the period to life. By 1642 Scarborough was an old, incorporated borough of about 2,000 inhabitants which had begun to recover its former prosperity after centuries of decay and depopulation. During the next decade of civil wars and turmoil the town suffered exceptionally because of its strategic location, safe harbour and strong castle. Scarborough changed hands seven times in as many years. Twice its military governor deserted Parliament for the King's side and thereby subjected to two prolonged and destructive sieges. The purpose of this book is to describe the town and its people as they were before, during and after these terrible experiences, and to assess the changes they brought about. Though several histories of Scarborough have been published, this is the first to draw deeply on the wealth of corporation records now deposited in the North Yorkshire County Record Office at Northallerton. It is also the first examination of Scarborough's civil-war tribulations as they were related by the propaganadist presses at London and Oxford. That events at Scarborough were so often `front-page' news indicates how important both sides regarded the fate of the town, its port and its castle. Dr Binns' original study is intended to appeal to a wide range of readers: scholars of the subject will find further evidence of corporate conservatism and resistance to outside interference, but at the same time another illustration of the truth that every borough has its own unique history; those interested in military matters of the Civil Wars, particulary siege operations, should find plenty of ammunition to fire their imaginations; and visitors to Scarborough will discover why it has a broken castle and only half of a parish church.

About this title

About the Author

Jack Binns was born in Keighley in the West Riding of Yorkshire, and educated at the grammar school there and at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. Before taking early retirement in 1992, he taught history at Scarborough Sixth Form College. He is the author of many articles on seventeenth-century local history. His unpublished doctoral thesis was on the life and works of Sir Hugh Cholmley of Whitby, 1600-57.

Edition details

• Publisher: Carnegie Publishing Ltd
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1859360181
• ISBN 13: 9781859360187
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 305