Scarborough

Scarborough's castle crowns a rocky headland between two bays on the Yorkshire coast. Below it the harbour and market town grew around fishing and sea trade. The castle's position made it a formidable royal stronghold, commanding views along the coast and over the North Sea. During the Civil War Sir Hugh Cholmley held Scarborough for Charles I. Parliamentary troops took the town in 1645 and besieged the castle for five months. Cannon damaged the great keep before Cholmley surrendered in July. The battered fortress later housed George Fox, founder of the Society of Friends, who was imprisoned there in 1665.