Scarborough & District Civic Society

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Scarborough & District Civic Society Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Scarborough & District Civic Society, Community Organization, PO Box 151, Scarborough.

Scarborough & District Civic Society is an entirely voluntary group of people concerned with preserving our unique heritage and encouraging best practice in the planning of new buildings and open spaces.

To read the September Civic News click on this link: https://www.scarboroughcivicsociety.org.uk/documents/NewsletterSept...
29/08/2026

To read the September Civic News click on this link:https://www.scarboroughcivicsociety.org.uk/documents/NewsletterSeptember2026-compressed.pdf

Blue Plaques are an ideal way to engage with people. We see them as small windows on history, to stimulate a desire to a...
03/07/2026

Blue Plaques are an ideal way to engage with people. We see them as small windows on history, to stimulate a desire to appreciate and value our history. So on July 1st we unveiled a plaque to commemorate the life of Bill Nicholson, the Tottenham Hotspur and England footballer. A Spurs supporter who bought a copy of the civic society publication, Blue Plaques in Scarborough, was surprised to find that Bill Nicholson did not feature there among notable figures such as Anne Bronte, Max Jaffa etc. So, we researched his connection with Scarborough. Bill was born on 26th January 1919 here at 15 Vine Street. In the early 1900s it was a livery stable with dwelling accommodation attached. His father, Joseph worked as the driver of a horse-drawn landau. He used to give holiday makers rides along the sea front and take wealthy residents to church on Sundays. Bill used to love helping his dad caring for the horses. His mother, Edith had her work cut out looking after a large family. Bill was the eighth of nine children with four brothers and four sisters. Bill left school at 16 to work for a local laundry. However, in February 1936, he received a letter out of the blue inviting him for a trial at the north London club, probably on the recommendation of the manager of the Young Liberals local team he had been playing for on Saturdays. He was taken on as a ground staff boy at £2 per week and played his first professional match in 1938 aged 19. He only played eleven games before his career was interrupted by the Second World War, which saw him enlist with the Durham Light Infantry. He worked as an infantry training instructor and then in the Army Physical Training Corps, where he rose to the rank of sergeant. While home on leave in 1942, he married Grace, a machinist, from Tottenham. He returned to Spurs in 1946 aged 27 with possibly half his playing career over. With Bill playing at right-back, the club won the league championship for the first time in their history in the 1950-51 season. Bill only played for England once on 19th May 1951, during the injury of Billy Wright who played in the same position. However, he scored after only 19 seconds with his first touch of the ball. Bill’s playing career came to an end in 1955, and he joined Spurs coaching staff. Skills gained from his service in the army put him in good stead for the role. He was later appointed assistant manager and Spurs asked him to take over as their manager in October 1958 at the age of 39. In the 1960-61 season Spurs completed the double, winning the league title for the second time and the FA Cup. Spurs won the FA Cup again in 1961-62. In 1963 Spurs had success in Europe, winning the Cup Winners Cup, beating Athletico Madrid 5-1. They won the FA Cup for a third time in seven years at the end of the 1966-67 season, won the league cup in 1971 and 1973, and a second European trophy (the UEFA Cup) in 1972. Bill announced his retirement as manager in 1974. He did some scouting for West Ham, before returning to Spurs as a scout and consultant in 1976. He was appointed OBE in 1975, received the freedom of Haringey in 1998 and was inducted into the National Football Museum Hall of Fame in 2003. He was Spurs club president from 1991 until he died. Bill always remembered his Scarborough roots. Throughout his time as player and manager, he returned to the town every year to spend his summer holiday with his mother and sister Edith (his contract only allowed him two weeks annual leave). He lived in the same modest terraced house, within a ten-minute walk of the White Hart Lane ground throughout his playing and managing career. He named it Peasholm after the park in Scarborough.

03/07/2026

Spurs legend Ossie Ardiles attends Bill Nicholson's blue plaque unveiling in Scarborough

On the 1st of July at 15 Vine Street at 1pm a blue plaque will be unveiled to commemorate the life of Bill Nicholson, th...
24/06/2026

On the 1st of July at 15 Vine Street at 1pm a blue plaque will be unveiled to commemorate the life of Bill Nicholson, the Tottenham Hotspur and England footballer.
A Spurs supporter who bought a copy of the civic society publication, Blue Plaques in Scarborough, was surprised to find that Bill Nicholson did not feature there among notable figures such as Anne Bronte, Max Jaffa etc. So, we researched his connection with Scarborough. Bill was born on 26th January 1919 at 15 Vine Street, which is now part of Dugglebys Auctioneers warehouse premises. Click on Thats TV picture for more information

Photo CompetitionThe competition closes at midnight on June 30 2026 so plenty of time to capture that special shot. What...
10/06/2026

Photo Competition
The competition closes at midnight on June 30 2026 so plenty of time to capture that special shot. What the judges will be looking for is the entrant’s view of what makes a particular area or scene attractive, enjoyable or distinct and what makes him or her proud to live in Scarborough so the description of the photograph is important. The complete Competition Rules and an entry form can be downloaded from the Society’s website - https://scarboroughcivicsociety.org.uk/Photo-Competition.php

18/05/2026

Ripon’s historic Town Hall is entering a new chapter, and local people will be key to helping shape its future.

The Town Hall has been leased to Ripon City Council for £1 per year on a 99‑year agreement, and residents will soon be invited to tour the site and share their ideas for its future.

As part of the agreement, we will provide £55,000 in initial funding, continue to pay business rates for 2026-27, and support efforts to secure further external investment.

To read more, visit: https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/news/2026/local-people-key-helping-shape-future-historic-town-hall

15/05/2026

📣 Pride in Place Board Unveils First Wave of Projects for Scarborough…

The Scarborough Neighbourhood Board has confirmed the first wave of projects proposed for investment through the Pride in Place programme, marking a major step forward in delivering long term improvements across Scarborough.

The Board has identified seven priority projects following extensive public consultation and community engagement involving more than 1,294 responses from local residents, businesses and organisations, alongside wider engagement activity including Let’s Talk Scarborough, which involved more than 1,600 participants.

The projects are designed to support regeneration, improve wellbeing, strengthen
community activity and create a cleaner, safer and more welcoming town for residents and visitors alike.

The proposed first phase includes projects focused on:
•Regeneration and leisure investment within the former Brunswick Shopping Centre
•Improvements to accessibility and facilities at the Stephen Joseph Theatre
•Town centre enhancement through the Sprucing Up Scarborough initiative
•A year-round programme of cultural and community events under the Scarborough Fair banner
•Dedicated men’s wellbeing and support initiatives for local people
•Youth engagement and opportunity programmes designed to inspire young people
•Community grant funding to support local organisations, voluntary organisations and
grassroots projects

The Scarborough Neighbourhood Board has led the development and prioritisation of the programme locally, working with community representatives, businesses, organisations and elected members to identify projects capable of delivering meaningful long-term benefits for the town.
Following the public consultation process, the Board also changed the project assessment and voting approach so that public feedback carried the majority weighting when determining the final priorities. The aim was to ensure the projects being put forward reflected the views and priorities of local residents as strongly as possible.

The proposed projects will now be considered by North Yorkshire Council Executive
Committee on Tuesday May 26th as part of the process required to unlock early delivery
funding ahead of formal government funding release.

Chair of the Scarborough Neighbourhood Board, Heath Samples, said:
“Pride in Place is a locally led programme designed to deliver practical, visible and
lasting improvements for Scarborough over the next decade.
“From the outset, it was important that local people had a genuine voice in helping shape the priorities for the town. That is why the Board changed the voting and assessment process so that public feedback carried the greatest weighting in determining which projects moved forward.
“These projects reflect what residents told us matters most — improving the town centre, supporting community wellbeing, creating opportunities for young people and helping restore pride and confidence across Scarborough.
“This is only the beginning. As projects move forward, the Board will continue engaging
directly with residents, businesses and community organisations so people can clearly see the progress being made and the opportunities available to get involved.”

Alison Hume, MP for Scarborough and Whitby, said:
“Pride in Place is the Government’s flagship communities programme because it puts
local people front and centre.
“Scarborough belongs to the people who live here, and Scarborians know better than
anyone what will make it thrive.
“That’s why this Labour Government was clear that building even more pride in Scarborough should start with them.
“Through the Pride in Place public consultation, local residents were given a proper voice in where the money should be directed, helping to shape a long-term vision for the town, drive regeneration, and make Scarborough an even better place to live, work and grow up.
“These projects have been identified by the people of Scarborough as being what the
town needs. People can be reassured that this is Government money, coming directly to
Scarborough, being spent on the things the people who live here want.
“The Neighbourhood Board which oversees Pride in Place, is completely separate from
the Town Board.
“These exciting, transformational projects will lift our spirits and no matter who runs North Yorkshire Council, these priorities will not change because NYC are not making
the decisions.
“This is about the Government showing its trust in local people, backing their ambition, and giving Scarborough the power to shape its own future.”

The Pride in Place programme will deliver investment into Scarborough over the next 10 years, supporting projects that improve public spaces, encourage investment, strengthen communities and help drive long-term regeneration.

Further updates will be issued directly by the Scarborough Neighbourhood Board as
projects progress.

Click here to download the May Newsletter: https://www.scarboroughcivicsociety.org.uk/documents/NewsletterMay2026-compre...
08/05/2026

Click here to download the May Newsletter:https://www.scarboroughcivicsociety.org.uk/documents/NewsletterMay2026-compressed.pdf

15/04/2026

INVITE TO OUR AGM

Our AGM will be held on Wednesday 15th April 2026 in the Anglers Club, Friars Way, Scarborough, from 7.30pm. Our guest speaker, after the short business section of the meeting, will be Brian Mulvana with a slideshow of old hand-coloured Scarborough postcards. Come along and enjoy drinks from the bar and meet up with all our wonderful volunteers and supporters whilst looking back on our 15th year of operation.

Visit our website AGM page for an Agenda, Annual Report, Accounts and Membership form - Thank you.

Address

PO Box 151
Scarborough
YO124YJ

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