The Lost Town of Ravenscar | What Happened?

[@ghawk933]

I was there last week, it’s a lovely place and the grounds around the cliff top at Raven Hall are awesome. I bet if the place was developed now there would be massive demand for the properties.

[@markwalker2627]

The beach is good for fossils if you can get down to it

[@RadioJonophone]

When I was growing up in Manchester in the 1950s, parts of Rusholme and Moss Side were being demolished and cleared. We kids used to play amongst the ruins and I often saw Ravenscar bricks. Now I know where they came from. Thanks for the long overdue history lesson.

[@monty_sultana]

Im from manchester myself :)

[@zodgzod]

We stayed at the Raven Hall several times when I was small. It was high class hotel in the ‘70s. It’s a little down at heel now.

[@zodgzod]

You mentioned Sorrento just as I was thinking of suggesting it here!

[@ericgeorge5483]

@@zodgzod No it isn't its lovely.

[@iang1976]

Is that next 2 robin hoods bay 🤔🤔

[@michaelthwaite3282]

Travelled the railway line through Ravenscar several times in the late 1950's early 60's. Because the line was a single track, it was necessary to exchange a "key token holder" at stations as a safety measure, ensuring that only one train was within the section at any one time.

[@pilgrimgrey4191]

Lived there since 84 we moved there from Scarborough when I was 8. Incredible place the biggest and best playground anyone could ever ask for Especially a young lad. We have the original blue prints for the town crazy but I’m glad it never happened it needs to stay as it is. The adventures I had there on those cliffs the Quarries the mines such an amazing place.

[@jamesdejode33]

My Great Uncle lived at Cragg Hal Farm 'till he died in 2004. My mother was born in Ravenscar. Ravenscar will always be my spiritual home and want my ashes to be scattered there when I die.

[@richardayrton2697]

Your overlay and fade of drone footage and historical maps is superb! Adds so much context to your video.

[@dwrowley]

Yes it's done very well and interesting, well done

[@marcuscross8051]

I agree, and the music is nice too

[@jamesdejode33]

My mother was born nearby, and lived there for many years before traveling south to London. Growing up, we returned to Ravenscar almost every year for holidays. Until 2004, my Great Uncle - my Mothers Uncle - lived in Ravenscar. My wife and I had so many happy times in Ravenscar, and brought my son up as well who will always hold so many happy memories of Ravenscar. The meals and afternoon tea at Raven Hall Hotel, the walks along the cinder path. Walking to Boggle Hole and back. My heart is always in Ravenscar.

[@tim50stroud1]

A man after my own heart! I've explored the remains of the crystal palace park, the Maxim ride at Blackpool, and now Ravenscar! Love it!!

[@AdventureMe]

Amazing!

[@martinmarsola6477]

Sad this development never got off the ground. A picturesque place today.

[@RoastbeefenFrance]

I love watching your videos. I spent my very early childhood in Scarborough until 1978. One of my hobbies is history and especially about buildings, towns, etc. I have Yorkshire in my heart and will always consider myself a Yorkshire lass.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Katy. More to come

[@brianberry1931]

A very detailed and interesting video. My wife and l did have a short break there many years ago. The idea of a town springing up to rival Scarborough, Whitby and Filey was hopeless. All of the existing towns developed over many years with a harbour as the focal point. The flight of steps down the cliff was daunting even in our younger days. Definitely out of the question now. The best example of an artificial resort town in the U.K. must be Portmeirion in N Wales.

[@AdventureMe]

Very true Brian. Makes you wonder what they were thinking.

[@andyrob3259]

I would have built there. Beaches mean nothing to me (are not an attraction) but those views along the wild coast up and down the coast and over the cliffs are magnificent. I wouldn’t have had an issue living in any town there.

[@keithparker5103]

Andy R In September 1957 my father and I took a train from Scarborough to Whitby hauled by loco, No 80116 or 80118 I cannot remember which. We left Ravenscar station and when we emerged from the North end of Ravenscar tunnel the whole of Robin Hood's Bay was before us as we both leaned out of the carriage window. It was a crystal clear morning and the view was stunning. I am 80 YO now and my father has long since passed away. I would give everything I have to experience that day again.

[@andyrob3259]

@@keithparker5103 such a lovely lasting memory. In that same. I think those views sitting in the front room of a house works be magnificent.

[@aidy6000]

@@keithparker5103 an excellent comment Keith. Amazing memory that still so vivid. Cheers to you.

[@matthewking4611]

Good video. I’m from Whitby and don’t recall ever being told this. On the rare occasion I went to Ravenscar it always seemed a bit of an odd place with regards to its layout so this video has helped explain it. Cheers.

[@ericgeorge5483]

What a great educational video, I really enjoyed it. Ravenscar is a place loaded with charm and carachter and I stayed for a night at Raven Hall a couple of years ago and it was fabulous. The views from the dining room over towards Robin Hoods Bay are truly breathtaking and I can't recommend the Hotel enough.

[@Steve_Wardley_G6JEF]

I live just down the coast at Bridlington and although I knew about Ravenscar's odd existence your explanation of it's history is the best I've heard. When you think that all our major towns and cities were expanded in the Victorian period it goes to show how much money must have been about in those days, but sadly not for Ravenscar.

[@patrickbagnano1561]

Even though today is July 4th our Independence Day, I sit here on my sofa with a fresh cup of coffee watching your videos about Great Britain’s history. You are the only KZbin creator I look forward to watching weekly. Cheers from your friend and insurrectionist from across the pond.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Patrick, and happy independence day to you all.

[@TinBoxTube]

Absolutely fabulous video - used to camp there for holidays 40 years ago. There was a lot of information about the plans around and we were fascinated as kids but you've really brought it all to life. It was a very ambitious plan but doomed to failure without a beach. Was there more sand there around those periods though as I know the East Coast has a lot of movement and changes to the shoreline. Found the whole thing fascinating and moving bringing up the old memories...

[@saraclayton-smithson5083]

I wonder if they planned a funicular railway for accessing the beach? Similar to just up the coast in Saltburn? It would have connected the different levels

[@1300FWD]

Excellent video Darren, love the overlays. Seems like every week your videos are getting so professional, makes watching your videos what ever the content an absolute pleasure.

[@papalegba6759]

great video, you got a talent for this mate. i've hiked round there a lot in the past & heard something about a resort supposedly being built but didn't know the full story. i did know there wasn't a beach tho, bit cheeky that!

[@MrWhitby]

Lovely, thank you! I'm going to Ravenscar, for the first time, on Saturday.

[@tonydalton6756]

You seem to be getting better & better at this mate. Great video.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks 👍 I'm trying.

[@WmDavidHarrison]

Cracking vlog of the "might have been" but even though it never materialised you've given us a feel for what was planned and why it failed. Victorians wanted more than just a good view for their money. Excellent drone footage too.

[@rontanser9369]

Very good thank you ,Very interesting

[@DavidHarry]

Excellent video Darren. I love the research you put into your videos. I wonder if this was a deliberate scam back when it would have been impossible to verify the plans without visiting the plots? Look forward to part 2, that tunnel best be going somewhere :) Cheers, Dave.

[@tillybees]

A lot of info has been published about the 'Town that Never Was' and there is loads on internet. No it wasn't a scam, they genuinely believed folks would love the 'new town' even changing it's name from Peak to Ravenscar. They put special trains on from the west riding and, rumour has it, that they plied them with food and drink before the auctions hoping to get them to purchase. They did build footpaths down to the beach, with a LOT of steps. It was on the death of Mr Hammond that plans were made for the new town. Mr Hammond, in the mid 1800's had offered to buid a tramway down to the 'pier' for the purchaser of the alum works.

[@DavidHarry]

That's interesting. I wonder how they manged to get from a rocky coastline to a golden sandy beach in their promoting and marketing of the 'new town'. Maybe the coastline has changed over the years from a nice sandy beach to the rocky waterfront it would appear to be now?

[@tillybees]

@@DavidHarry The paths were further along than shown in the video, though no steps, are still used by locals to access the undercliff.

[@DavidHarry]

@@tillybees thanks for the extra info. Was the beach ever like the one shown in the brochure of the day? I’m just wondering if had been the sandy beach as advertised but had changed over the following century or so.

[@GenialHarryGrout]

This brings back wonderful memories for me of my first visit to Ravenscar back in the early 1970's

[@TT-zd6nr]

and mine..only it was at the end of the Lyke Wake Walk when in the TA. It took us 13 hours in small groups and 40 miles only to find a) a massive valley between us and the final mile to the village and b) the pub was shut for another hour. Still have the badge.

[@wightangel]

Great bit of historic narration. Thank you.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Ray.

[@michaelrender1584]

Yet another brilliant 👏video mate brought a lot of good 👍memories of when I was a kid 👍😀 went on holiday out that way 45 yrs ago

[@makiwa]

I think it would be very highly priced place to live today with those magnificent views! Have you watched these programmes on TV, they all want a "Sea View"

[@stevemarshall3481]

Fascinating video, I thoroughly enjoyed it, I thought you were going to say that coastal erosion was to blame for no town being built also was going to ask what was the tunnel for but lucky for me I waited until the end before posting this comment 🤣🤣, well done fella on this brilliant video 👏👏

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks. More to come

[@peterbrameld696]

Great drone footage, claver how you marked it up to make the pictures come alive, thank you, I look forward to next week.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Peter

[@fatlad5090]

very interesting. I must be a nice peaceful place to live

[@AdventureMe]

I wouldn't say no

[@keithtanner2806]

Fascinating. We cycled there from Sleights via Whitby along the old railway. It was a revelation how steep are the inclines which were used mainly for coal freight trains. Great going back downhill. We patronised the café/tea room you mentioned.. Ravenscar bricks were used in many of the expensive villas built around S Manchester, they were also favoured by the railway companies because they were durable.

[@davidtinson6394]

What an excellent video in the seventies I viewed Ravenscar. From Robin hoods bay and wondered if there was anything there, I now know due to this brilliant Video I will have to visit the locations now thanks again for a great job

[@AdventureMe]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@MrsH296]

Love Ravenhall Hotel, at Ravenscar. Views from Rooms at front & Dinning Room are wonderful if is no sea mist!

[@shirleylynch7529]

What a beautiful place. Would have been a great town. So sad it never happened. Brilliant footage as always and so informative. Thank you for the interesting Vlog with all your research and hard work you put In to what you do.

[@PeaceDroneAerialVideo]

Love this, new subscription added as I filmed this place by drone myself and I love all your information.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks mate. Welcome aboard

[@quickclipsbyjmj]

Great to see the exterior of the hotel. Never seen it close up before.

[@WiggysanWiggysan]

Excellent work Sir. Really looking forward to the next video.

[@AdventureMe]

Many thanks!

[@philipsmith2995]

Best vlog yet on this excellent channel, absolutely love it, keep up the good work Darren and thanks again

[@jetcat120]

Me and the wife know that area quite well. If you walk all the way down to the site of the old dye works there are some bridges and track bed along the way. Thanks for another interesting video.

[@anthonyellis987]

Great video. I love the drone shots aas it brings it all together.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks mate. I'm still scared of the drone.

[@chrismccartney8668]

Both Ravenscar videos are superb...

[@welshmanjasonpatrick8607]

Very interested about old places Yorkshire north coast great video

[@nigelbarker4135]

This isn’t much anyone could teach you on presentation and content. Another brilliant offering👍👏👏👏👏

[@mal_752]

A brilliant history lesson. You should definitely have your own TV series. Thank you for all the hard work and preparation. Eminently watchable 👍👍👍👍👍👍👌👌🙌

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks mate

[@andrewmatley7688]

nice one mate very informative thank you

[@socklesslad]

It's a fascinating place, Ravenscar. It's clearly a town - the buildings that were built prove that - and it's obvious even on the ground that more roads were planned. There are "temporary" kerbstones at some road junctions that would be removed when the side road was completed, which of course it never was! Of course, part of the charm of Ravenscar is that it wasn't finished. If it had turned into a resort to rival Scarborough then I don't think it would be so popular!

[@AdventureMe]

Great place

[@Turnbull50]

Me and my wife visited her a few years ago and we went into the Hotel and had a drink in there. Good times.

[@AdventureMe]

A lovely surprise of a place

[@antohosm43]

Super video of this fascinating place that was (in a sense) never built. Thank you so much!

[@suesmith4366]

Very interesting, I didn’t realise there were so many houses there at all. Can’t wait for the next part. 😎

[@joannad9142]

Brilliant video very informative and a new subscriber 👍🏻

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Joanna.

[@johnlumley-moore2079]

Excellent yet again ..knew about the town that never was for years but this with drone footage gives it a new view ,so to speake...

[@timothyhopkins6960]

So fascinating, thank you .

[@toxicclown3035]

Another fascinating video. I stopped here for a sandwich whilst on a bike ride several years ago and my first thought was "What the heck are these buildings doing in the middle of nowhere?". Thanks for the info.

[@graemehannam3950]

Another excellent video thanks Darren, I've never been there I did once go to Robin hoods Bay years ago, certainly an interesting place to see, and certainly raises a few questions about what they were planning to do there, was in Scarborough last Wednesday, wouldn't mind having a trip there at some point in time, stay safe and keep up the good work with your videos Darren

[@AdventureMe]

I was there last wednesday too, filmed four other videos in scarborough the same day.

[@neilbethell2299]

Very interesting video, just subscribed 👍

[@Wedgedoow]

Very well explained Darren, the drone footage superb, I was born within cycling distance of Ravenscar and went there many times as a youth. Brilliant!

[@stephenharper9961]

Very informative from my fave part of the UK, a railway line that left us well too early along with loftus to Whitby too, thank you for sharing, top notch as always

[@davidhector1197]

Very well presented and informative.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks David.

[@oliverlees4310]

Great video. Stay at Ravenscar Hotel as a kid 👍

[@davidbarrass]

You should say more about the dye works - they're actually a very important piece of history. The shale that makes up Ravenscar contains alum, used as a mordant in dying. Alum was a papal monopoly. When Henry VIII broke with Rome suddenly English woolens could no longer by dyed fast (fast as in hold fast). So the dye works here were 16th century industrialisation. A process which involved shiploads of human urine arriving at the base of the cliffs

[@rogerrabbit6522]

They could have build a solid jetty going out a couple of hundred feet and the beach would have formed and also built an extravagant means of getting to and from the beach making it a feature rather than a problem.

[@busterboy7505]

Very interesting video, well put together,well done, I will now subscribe,👍👍👍.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks buster.

[@evelynjepson5955]

Ravenscar was the end of the Lyke Wake Walk...from Osmotherly to Ravenscar...

[@andrewrobinson2565]

Fabulous work!

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Andrew

[@raymondlee4767]

Great video Darren looking forward to part 2

[@snatch709]

What a fantastic documentary video, great content and filming, in my opinion your best yet, lovely overlays on the drone footage

[@AdventureMe]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@Watfordfc2030]

This channel is a great find . The information and history is so nice to watch and almost the wow factor as in I never knew this ., cheers my friend and as I’ve always said this island of ours is breathtaking

[@7474lad]

Well I never knew that… always thought it a shame we do t have something like Brighton up north, full of trendy restaurants and bars, shops, cafes but we don’t have the infrastructure and connections sadly but great vlog Darren, really interesting 😁

[@frankparsons1629]

We camped nearer Whitby up on the cliffs in a tent nearly 50 years ago, and it was extremely windy, a strong north-easterly was blowing and it blew, and blew, and blew. We survived it, don't know how, must have been tough in those days. The next day the wind had dropped, bit of a breeze and sunny, chalk and cheese. Imagine it in the winter, it must be real stark up there on the cliffs when the wind doth blow and the rain beats down levelling all before it.

[@easytiger652]

Another great video.👍 Stay safe,👌

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks 👍

[@mrsgenehunt48]

Absolutely fascinating

[@grahamlucas208]

This is brilliant content. Well done

[@marktmdyorkshire7610]

Your videos are amazing, I love this. The ones where you fade the old pics into the modern ones. Wow. I live in Cudworth, near barnsley, south Yorkshire and there are a series of railway bridges, and a derelict station that still stands today here, they are beautiful to look at and I want to do a video, but reckon you'd be better at it. It opened in the mid 1800s and closed in 1988. Take care mate, liked and subscribed!

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks mark. It's one of my traits, the fade thing. Yes I have all the Barnsley railways on my list. You should come when I get round to doing it.

[@marktmdyorkshire7610]

@@AdventureMe I would love to come along that would be brilliant! If you want, drop me an email [e-mail] there is a 1730s milestone here aswell that has been moved a couple of times in the past. Some interesting things still here. Fascinating to see.

[@tomklausen9527]

Ravenscar, The Beach That Never Was! But The View Is Still Nice!

[@AdventureMe]

Too true

[@christinehodge3608]

Enjoyed this video,

[@IanPerry]

Thanks, that was very interesting! I used to work up at Scarborough, and have been to the Raven Hall Hotel several times; however, I didn't know anything about the history of Ravenscar. Stay safe! Ian :-)

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Ian.

[@huggi91]

Excellent video. I really like the informative drove footage.

[@jordylyons4648]

I could tell you some story about Whitby the tv Mast had to be moved because it nearly fell off a cliff

[@Debbiebabe69]

And the new mast was sited in such a bad position many people actually *lost* channels, leaving Whitby as one of the very rare places that people lost rather than gained channels... Talking of TV and Whitby, Whitby was one of the (if not possibly the) last places in England to get Channel 4 - and the town NEVER got an analogue Channel 5 signal! However with such scarcity of signal, it was actually possible, during periods of intense electrical storms, to pick up errant television signals from Scandanavia!

[@judithsmith9274]

Very interesting. We are in Whitby at the moment and plan a trip to Ravenscar on our way home. Fascinating stuff 😊

[@AdventureMe]

Have fun!

[@jota1221]

Very interesting, well done.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching

[@majorberk4647]

Superb production great style and presentation very interesting

[@AdventureMe]

Thank you very much!

[@rwalker9644]

I believe i first heard bout Ravenscar on a news item on calendar hosted by Richard Whitley on calender - ‘the town that never was ‘ now that had to stir the imagination of a teen schoolboy ! I really remember the bit about unfinished steps going down to the beach / you dont mention here ? Have they eroded away ? Anyway i have some photos - one show this boy stood in the tunnel entrance complete with crash helmit as a pillion passager on dads honda 50 lol I must dig them out Great video - you pick a great county to explore cheers Rob

[@AdventureMe]

Yeah the steps were closed off, it hi I they have crumbled away now.

[@countesscable]

What a beautiful place… even without a beach!

[@AdventureMe]

It is. Very scenic.

[@comedyhunter]

Another great well produced video, I wonder how much money they actually spent on it before they pulled the plug? I initially thought you were going to say it didnt get built due to land erosion and half the place had crumbled into the sea. Is there a sandy beach when the tide is out?

[@AdventureMe]

No it's just a rocky headland.

[@christophernorman9540]

looking forward to next video on Ravenscar Station

[@andyrob3259]

By the way love your videos; sitting here in Melbourne, Australia although family (mums side) come from Yorkshire (the dales).

[@michaelmiller641]

Absolutely fascinating!

[@wimwouters478]

Great video (stumbled upon it through the YT algorithm)! I don't know if you tried, but I would love some insights from the people living in the original plots or the new-built housing... What's their take on this "town"?

[@douglasthompson296]

Well Darren I could just imagine you looking wistfully at those drains and thinking do they ever need a hand at clearing blockages and also looking for any culverts to clear 😇😀😀😎 cheers matey, DougT the Mancs pensioner. BTW Mrs Warboy sends her greetings too.

[@janejohnson7120]

Have been watching and subscribed to your channel for some time and have to say the quality of your videos is excellent. Sound was an issue a while ago but you have moved on and now present amazingly crisp imaging and sound quality. Just one question on this video, near the end with the drone footage there are lots of cars parked in a long road. Any idea why? Best wishes

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Jane. Yes hopefully the sound is sorted now. That was just the cars parked up in the village for visitors, it's a national trust site now. But it has a small car park, so people were parking on the roads. I was parked there too.

[@anthonyskelton9728]

Fantastic video. I remember going to Ravenscar on an East Yorkshire Motor Services day trip back in the late 70s and was underwhelmed by what was there. I was expecting a seaside town similar to Filey. Is there a chance of you doing a video about the disused Scarborough to Whitby train line? On the approach into Scarborough station, there's evidence of a bricked up tunnel indicating that trains out of Scarborough to Whitby actually travelled under Scarborough for a distance before re-emerging at ground level. Also, it would seem that at both Whitby and Scarborough, trains would head towards the stations on the outgoing track, then having to stop and reverse into the stations. Probably contributing to the reason the line was scrapped....

[@AdventureMe]

In future yes, i do cover it a bit next week. But a full series in the future.

[@Zentron]

Many flights of fancy throughout the years, it's always interesting to know why they ultimately failed! Can't wait for the next vid, I wasn't able to go to the railway station when I was last in the area, so it will be great to see what's left of it and the line. Hopefully some markers and signal posts, possibly some track!

[@keithtanner2806]

I am afraid we saw very little remains of the railway other than bridges. It is a very well used cycle/walkway all the way from Whitby to Ravenscar.

[@Zentron]

@@keithtanner2806 There's usually something that's been missed! The amount of times I've been to old lines and stations, I've found the remains of stations, signal boxes, communication lines and posts, mile markers etc, hidden in the undergrowth and just generally in places most don't tread. If there's something, I'll find it!

[@jasinere35]

you forgot to mention the constant erosion to the cliff face which is why the railway got closed & why the town never got built

[@hullhistorynerd]

Oh wow, what a fab story! I never knew this about Ravenscar, really interesting! I'm in the very early stages of planning a video about that railway line, when I do I'll mention this briefly and put a card linking to this video, if that's okay with you?

[@AdventureMe]

Brilliant. Thanks Jim. Loved the spurn point one.

[@hullhistorynerd]

@@AdventureMe Ah cheers! It's a beautiful place, but that 8 mile round trip with camera bags and tripod...

[@davetspiritpr6834]

Very interesting been to Scarborough & Whitby but knew no facts about Ravenscar 🙂

[@alucarD-du5gy]

It was an alum mine,they would literally have ships coming from London and other big cities full of urine which was used in the alum process,people who sold their urine were 'piss poor' and people who had no receptacle 'didn't have a pot to pass in' 2well used phrases to this day, great content 👏

[@waynecheshire7878]

I’ll have to go looking for it next time I’m in Whitby 👀

[@tillybees]

Love this, not seen any of your videos before but will be watching for more. Very good and informative. Thank you. Hope you don't mind me mentioning that there is a local facebook page called Staintondale & Ravenscar in days gone by. On there there is lots more local history, everyone is welcome to join. You mention the stained glass windows in the church, on this page we are trying to find evidence of this, we would really appreciate it if you could share this info with us? There is lots of Ravenscar postcards, also pictures of the steps down to the beach. Cheers.

[@AdventureMe]

I got this but of info from the national trust, I don't know what their source was. I noticed they weren't there anymore though. Unless I missed them.

[@tillybees]

@@AdventureMe Thanks for your reply, I can't find the info anywhere. I first saw it on a facebook post and after asking around, including those involved with the church, I haven't been able find the source of this info, very frustrating lol. Cheers Trisha

[@AdventureMe]

@@tillybees I think it's on their walking guide map on their website. Or www.thetownthatneverwas.co.uk

[@Dan23_7]

Basically they were going to be sold an empty dream then ? Brilliantly interesting Is there a sign for here on the A171 ? I’m sure I’ve seen it as it makes me think of that Dales program about “Ravenseat farm”

[@AdventureMe]

Yes an empty dream. But they weren't fooled.