Holbeck Hall Hotel

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The ''Holbeck Hall Hotel'' was a clifftop hotel in Scarborough, England which had scenic views of the sea and surrounding area. It was originally built in 1880 by Charles Anderson Smith as a residence, and was later converted to a hotel. It was of no historical or architectural importance until 3rd June 1993 when a landslip began beneath the hotel and finally on 6th June 1993 when it dramatically fell into the sea, making news around the world.

In 1997 it became the subject of a significant court case in English civil law when the owners of the hotel sued Scarborough Borough Council for damages, alleging that as owners of the shoreline they had not taken all practical measures to prevent the landslip. The writ was rejected on the grounds that the council was not liable for the causes of the landslip itself.

The incident has subsequently become an important case study for students of both Geography and Law.

[edit] External links

• Summary of court case

• Image of hotel before collapse