THE VILLAGE
Mentioned in the Domesday Book as Cloctune – meaning ‘town in the valley’ Cloughton rests some 5 miles from Scarborough. These are pictures of Clougton Village, beginning with some early historical pieces. The first two are circa 1955, with the second 1960.
THE PUBS
Surely the life blood of any village, and frequently visited by guests at Cober, especially during the days when no alcohol was permitted or sold at the guest house. The Red Lion, on the left (and also shown in earlier times above) taken in 1995 and the Blacksmith’s Arms on the right, taken around 1957 and the final image of the Red Lion from 1985.
We can date the Blacksmith’s picture based on the Land Rover MK1 seen on the left side, with a registration plagte issued in 1957 and the presence of the PRHA lettering on the Blacksmith’s sign. The PHRA, which ceased operations in 1962, was the People’s Refreshment House Association.
The PRHA was founded in 1896 by Francis John Jayne, the Bishop of Chester, as part of a temperance-driven initiative, aimed at supervising and reforming public houses, advocating for a new model of responsible management, often inspired by the Gothenburg system which emphasized controlled alcohol sales and a focus on food and non-alcoholic offerings. This is in line with the pub placing luncheon, dinner and teas in prominent lettering on the sign. Managers were paid on commissions from food and soft drinks sales only, receiving no profit from alcoholic beverages and there was a seperate entrance designed for families to enjoy tea or food away from the bar.
The interwar period saw slowed progress, and eventually in 1962, the PRHA’s properties were acquired by Charrington’s Anchor Brewery. The association was officially wound up in 1966
THE STATION
The Scarborough & Whitby Railway line was first planned in 1845 and was eventually opened 40 years later in July 1885, running some 21 miles in length from Scarborough, taking in Gallows Close, Scalby, Cloughton, Hayburn Wyke, Staintondale and Ravenscar before terminating at Whitby. Cloughton became the first place on the line to have a train ‘service’ in January 1884, eighteen months before the line opened officially.
This was on the occasion of a Band of Hope meeting at Raven Hall when the contractor fitted out some trucks with seats and the train set off from Scarborough with 80 ladies and gentlemen. At Cloughton they stopped to pick up another 60 although it was to be over a year before the station itself was constructed.
The pictures below show the station and the good’s shed in disrepair in the interim period between the station closing in March 1965 and when Barbara and Steven Hargreaves purchase it in 1992 and then opened as a B&B and tea room; with the good shed and Oscar the carriage arriving in 2004. However, by 2019 the tea rooms had closed and only the accomodation is available today.
THE CHURCH
St Mary’s in Cloughton – often visited for midnight Mass by guests staying at Cober over the Christmas period.
THE ROAD TO COBER
Some images from around the village, including the school corner – the first time Cober would be visible if approaching from the south (Scarborough) direction.
THE GARAGE
The old Rix Garage, situated at 32 High Street, now a private home.
