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Scarborough Castle to be illuminated as part of Queen's Jubilee celebration
Scarborough Castle will be illuminated as part of a
spectacular celebration to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
Powerful lighting will be projected on to
the walls of the castle, turning it into a stunning beacon visible
from many parts of Scarborough and beyond.
Images of the Queen will also be beamed on
to the south facing walls of the castle as part of The Queen’s
Diamond Jubilee Beacons celebration which takes place on Monday 4
June.
Scarborough Borough Council, which is
organising the tribute to Her Majesty The Queen in association with
English Heritage, Scarborough company P&L Sound and Lighting
and with the backing of generous sponsors, says the best vantage
point to view the castle display will be on the South Bay
beach.
The display will begin at 10.15pm and will
last approximately 45 minutes.
Mayor Elect of the Borough of Scarborough,
Cllr Helen Mallory, said: “During the Queen's reign she has been an
incredible ambassador for this country and the Commonwealth.
“We’re delighted the Scarborough borough is
playing its part in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Beacons and hope
residents and visitors enjoy the display. I’m honoured to be asked
to switch on the lighting for this very special occasion.”
Peter Bleach, Site Manager at Scarborough
Castle, added: “It’s fitting that this Royal stronghold – built by
successive medieval kings over two centuries and now one of the
finest visitor attractions in the north of England – will be
illuminated to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
“English Heritage is really excited to be
part of the jubilee celebrations at this site and at some of our
other sites across the country.”
Scarborough Castle started life as an Iron
Age Fort, was occupied by the Romans and became a Viking settlement
before it reached its heyday under Henry II, with the towering
12th-century keep, dominating the approach.
It is the centrepiece of fortifications
developed over later centuries in response to repeated sieges -
notably by rebel barons in 1312, by Tudor rebels, and twice during
the English Civil War.
Though again strengthened with barracks and
gun-batteries against Jacobite threats in 1745, the castle failed
to defend the harbour against the American sea-raider John Paul
Jones in 1779 and was itself damaged by German naval bombardment in
1914. During World War II it played the more covert role of hosting
a secret listening post.