The Spa was particularly important to Scarborough as it helped establish the town as the first ever seaside holiday resort. Brighton has long falsely claimed this title since the Prince Regent visited . Scarborough's birth as a seaside spa resort, which brought renewed prosperity, developed from the almost accidental discovery of the mineral spring waters . About 1626 Mrs Thomasin Farrer, the wife of one of Scarborough’s leading citizens, John Farrer , discovered natural spring water bubbling out beneath the cliff to the south of the town. These waters, which stained the rocks a russet colour, tasted slightly bitter and were said to cure minor ailments. She told her friends and neighbours about the medicinal effects and soon drinking the Spa waters became an accepted medicine. Later thousands of visitors flocked to benefit from their supposed medicinal qualities. The southern part of Scarborough became very popular. The precursor to the present Scarborough Spa building became a fashionable attraction . The Spa water was declared unfit for human consumption in the 1930s and the spa tap room was sealed off.
