In 1862 the Scarborough Pier and Improvement Company led by engineer Josiah Forster Fairbank issued a prospectus proposing a pier and other facilities on the beach in North Bay for a capitalisation of £20,000.

In 1863 following a setback with his Rock Gardens no further progress was made and the company was finally dissolved in March 1882.

[1] That year engineer and prominent pier designer Eugenius Birch was engaged, then the company was registered with the Board of Trade and the next year the company was granted a provisional order to proceed.

With the closure of the nearby Queens Parade Cliff Lift (1878-1887) income fell, the company was wound up and the pier was sold in 1889 for £1,240.

[4] In 1889 the new owners spent £10,000 replacing the original entrance booths with an entrance building and restaurant, enlarging the pier head and adding a pavilion and refreshment room and even with variety shows it failed to generate enough income.