Seaside shelter in Scarborough given listed building status

A public shelter on the Scarborough seafront is now Grade II-listed.
The listed shelter in St Nicholas Gardens in ScarboroughThe listed shelter in St Nicholas Gardens in Scarborough
The listed shelter in St Nicholas Gardens in Scarborough

The Edwardian shelter at the bottom of St Nicholas Gardens has a roof terrace with views of South Bay and decorative iron arcades.

Built between 1904 and 1907, it was put forward for listed status by Historic England because it evokes the 'golden age' of the British seaside resort.

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The listing means it is now protected from demolition or adverse development.

It was one of many public amenities built in the early 20th century under the direction of borough engineer Harry W Smith, who was tasked with improving visitor facilities between 1897 and 1933, when Scarborough was booming as a tourist destination.

He oversaw the construction of an outdoor swimming pool, the landscaping of gardens and the provision of public toilets.

There are also listed beachfront shelters in resorts such as Lytham St Annes, Skegness and Brighton.

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Historic England's team leader for listing in northern England Veronica Fiorato said: “This shelter is a living piece of social history that helps tell the story of Scarborough from its heyday as a seaside resort to the present day.

"For the past century people have used the public space to shelter from the elements, eat melting ice creams, drink flasks of hot tea, rest their tired legs or to simply contemplate the view. Listing the structure will help ensure that it continues to be enjoyed for generations to come.”