About Scarborough College and the Archives

The Scarborough College Company was formed in 1896 to promote the idea of founding a boys’ boarding school on the Yorkshire coast where boys might be educated and prepared for universities, the learned professions and business careers, while enjoying life in a seaside town.

The foundation stone was laid by Alderman George Lord Beeforth, on 24 August 1898 and the school was opened on the 18th September 1901.

The College grew quickly, opening with just seven pupils but, by 1907 there were seventy boys at the school.

The OSA was formed on the 18th July 1908 and continues today.

The School suffered two evacuations. Firstly, in 1914 during the "Bombardment of Scarborough" where they spent a year in Keswick at the Park Hotel. Then in 1940 it was evacuated again to Marske Hall.

In 1972, the College opened its doors to girls, making it a co-educational day and boarding school.

It is difficult to quantify exactly how many pupils have attended Scarborough College since 1901 to the present day. It is however likely to be in the thousands and we hope this website will enable many of those former pupils to enjoy browsing through the thousands of pictures and documents that are already in our possession.

In 2012 as Chairman of the OSA I brought together a team of old boys who were interested in providing an archives area for everyone to enjoy. This website is not the conclusion of our efforts but merely a start. We have much more to do and we also know that many of you will want to send in your own personal memories and photographs which we shall be pleased to publish.

The Archives Team consists of:

  • - John Isles (1960-1965 Lodge)
  • - Richard Winn (1958-1964 College)
  • - Stephen Bartlett (1959-1964 Lodge)

The following Team Members have and continue to provide valuable backup support:

  • - Adrian Hanwell (1964-1969 Lodge)
  • - John Hobson (1959-1966 Lodge)
  • - Michael Carpenter (1962-1966)
  • - John Rowlands (Former Deputy Head Teacher)

Photographs and Documents are scanned and recorded by our Team and can then be returned if required. We are extremely grateful to Mr Paul Swinger, who is an employee of Scarborough College, and has helped enormously in this project.

We should not only be pleased to receive further photographs and documents and memoirs, but would welcome the help of other pupils from different eras who can help to identify the photographs we have and to bring their own memories to this work for the enjoyment of everyone. Please contact us at archives@scarboroughcollegeosa.co.uk

John Isles 1960-1965
OSA President 2016 Onwards