Bridlington
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| Bridlington | |
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  Bridlington shown within the East Riding of Yorkshire |
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| Population | 33,837 (2001 census)[1] |
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| OS grid reference | |
| Parish | Bridlington |
| Unitary authority | East Riding of Yorkshire |
| Ceremonial county | East Riding of Yorkshire |
| Region | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BRIDLINGTON |
| Postcode district | YO15/YO16 |
| Dialling code | 01262 |
| Police | Humberside |
| Fire | Humberside |
| Ambulance | Yorkshire |
| European Parliament | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| UK Parliament | East Yorkshire |
| Website: www.bridlington.gov.uk | |
| List of places: UK • England • Yorkshire | |
Bridlington is a town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It has a population of over 33,000 (expanding greatly in the summer months) and is twinned with Millau, France and Bad Salzuflen, Germany.
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[edit] Topography
Bridlington is a seaside resort and minor seaport on the North Sea coast. It lies just south of the promontory of Flamborough Head. It is served by Bridlington railway station which is on the Yorkshire Coast Line that runs between Hull and Scarborough.
Bridlington sits on the Holderness Coast, an area which is known to have the highest erosion rates in Europe.[2] Southward the coast becomes low, but northward it is steep and very fine, where the great spur of Flamborough Head projects eastward. The sea front is protected by a sea wall and a wide beach encouraged by wooden groynes which trap the sand.[3] The beaches are part of a large deposit of Smithic Sand which stretches out into the bay in sand banks which are an important habitat for many marine species.[3]
The civil parish is formed by the town of Bridlington and the villages of Bessingby and Sewerby. According to the 2001 UK census, Bridlington parish had a population of 33,837.[1]
The town is divided into two parts:
- The Old Town, the ancient market town (once known as Burlington) lying about a mile from the coast. The old town contains the historic site of the town’s market and The Priory Church of St Mary, on the site of an Augustinian Priory which was dissolved by Henry VIII when the last prior was executed for taking part in the Pilgrimage of Grace.[4]
- Bridlington Quay, which is the home of the tourist area and the harbour. It has excellent sea-bathing, and the parade and ornamental gardens provide pleasant promenades. The Quay was a only small fishing village until the discovery of a chalybeate spring which saw the emergence of the town as a Seaside resort in the 19th century.[3] The Bridlington Harbour is the key feature of the Quay, which is enclosed by two stone piers. Recently extensive works have been carried out along the sea front and after some struggle with planning permission, a 'London Eye'-style wheel has been built.[5]
[edit] History
The origins of the inhabitation of Bridlington area are unknown but can be traced back to ancient times. The nearby Dane's Dyke, a 2½ mile long manmade dyke dates back to the Bronze Age.[6] Also some writers believe that Bridlington was a site of a Roman station as a Roman Road can be traced into the town and Roman coins have been found in the town.[3]
The first written evidence on the town can be found in the Domesday Book. It mentions four burgesses at Bridlington (Brellington, Burlington) and shows it to have been a borough before the Conquest. With the rest of the north of England, Bridlington suffered from the ravages of the Normans, and decreased in value from £32 in the reign of Edward the Confessor, when it formed part of the possessions of Earl Morcar, to 8s. at the time of the Domesday survey. By that time it was in the hands of the king by the forfeiture of Earl Morcar. It was granted by William II to Gilbert de Gaunt, whose son and heir, Walter, founded the priory and endowed it with the manor of Bridlington and other lands. From this date the importance of the town steadily increased. Henry I and several succeeding kings confirmed Walter de Gaunt's gift, Stephen granting in addition the right to have a port. In 1546 Henry IV granted the prior and convent exemption from fifteenths, tenths and subsidies, in return for prayer for himself and his queen in every mass sung at the high altar. After the Dissolution of the monasteries the manor remained with the crown until 1624, when Charles I granted it to Sir John Ramsey, whose brother and heir, Sir George Ramsey, sold it in 1633 to thirteen inhabitants of the town on behalf of all the tenants of the manor. The thirteen lords were assisted by twelve other inhabitants chosen by the freeholders, and when the number of lords was reduced to six, seven others were chosen from the assistants. A chief lord was chosen every year. This system still holds good. It is evident from the fact of thirteen inhabitants being allowed to hold the manor that the town had some kind of incorporation in the 17th century, although its incorporation charter was not granted until 1899, when it was created a municipal borough. In 1200 King John granted the prior of Bridlington a weekly market on Saturday and an annual fair on the vigil, feast and morrow of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Henry VI in 1446 granted the prior three new fairs yearly on the vigil, day and morrow of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, the Deposition of St John, late prior of Bridlington, and the Translation of the same St John. All fairs and markets were sold with the manor to the inhabitants of the town.
The town began a mile away from the sea around the abbey of Bridlington Priory. A small harbour and fishing port, known as Bridlington Quay, was established where the Gypsey Race runs into the sea. In 1643 Queen Henrietta Maria landed at Bridlington with troops to support the Royalist cause in the English Civil War.
Bridlington's first hotel was opened in 1805 and it soon became a popular holiday resort for industrial workers from West Yorkshire. Bridlington's popularity has declined with the industrial north and the popularity of cheap foreign holidays. In its heyday it was a leading resort with a nationally-famous dance venue at The Spa, and many famous entertainers have appeared in the town.
[edit] Governance
The MP for Bridlington is Greg Knight (Conservative), who represents the East Yorkshire constituency, which has included the town since 1997. Previously (since 1950) there had been a constituency named Bridlington, but like the present constituency it included a substantial part of the county as well as the town itself; its MPs included Richard Wood, a junior minister in Conservative governments from the 1950s to 1970s, who was the son of the former Foreign Secretary the Earl of Halifax. Before 1950, Bridlington was included in the Buckrose constituency.
Bridlington was designated a municipal borough in 1899. After local government re-organisation in 1974 it was included in the new county of Humberside, which caused much local resentment among residents who objected to being excluded from Yorkshire. The town became the administrative centre of a local government district, initially called the Borough of North Wolds, but Yorkshire loyalists subsequently succeeded in having the district name changed to the Borough of East Yorkshire.[citation needed] The district disappeared when the county of Humberside was abolished in the 1990s, the new East Riding of Yorkshire unitary authority absorbing it and the neighbouring county districts, and Bridlington no longer has any formal local government administrative status above Town Council level. It once had nine Labour councillors on the East Riding Unitary Authority, the largest group of Labour councillors in the history of the Labour Party in Bridlington. There has always been a good strong membership of councillors from the Conservatives, while the Liberal Democrats have decreased in numbers.
[edit] Education
There are two main high schools in Bridlington: Headlands School and Community Science College and Bridlington School.
Headlands School and Community Science College is a comprehensive school situated on Sewerby Road, Bridlington. It is a specialist school in science and has nearly 1,500 pupils aged 11-18.
Bridlington School is a comprehensive school situated on Bessingby Road, Bridlington. It is a specialist school in sport. The school, a former Grammar school, has a very strong Combined Cadet Force, with all three branches of the armed forces represented, which is increasingly supported by a growing number of non-teaching staff.
[edit] Notable people
Notable people born in Bridlington.
- Cecil Burton, cricketer.
- Richard Creswell, former Sheffield Wednesday football player.[7]
- Andrew Hartley Dismore, British politician and lawyer.
- Angela Eagle, Member of Parliament for Wallasey.
- Benjamin Fawcett , English nineteenth century woodblock colour printers.
- Thomas Fenby, British Liberal politician and blacksmith.
- Andy Firefly, British stand-up comedian and actor.
- Henry Freeman, a Whitby fisherman and lifeboatman.
- The pop singer William Fussey was born in Bridlington in 1984.
- William Kent, eminent English architect, landscape architect and furniture designer.
- Scott Langton, fashion designer who founded the 'Artful Dodger' clothing range.[8]
- A.E. Matthews, Actor.
- David Pinkney, British businessman and auto racing driver.
- David Savage, furniture designer and maker.
- Craig Short, football player.
Notable people connected with Bridlington
- T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) who worked in the town during his last months on RAF service in the 1930s[9]
- Malcolm McDowell, actor, was raised in the town.[10]
- St. John of Bridlington, English Saint who was the Prior at Priory of Bridlington.
- John Paul Jones, an American naval hero in the American Revolutionary War who fought the Battle of Flamborough Head in Bridlington Bay.
[edit] Landmarks
One of Bridlington's districts, Flamborough, is famous for its seven mile long headland, Flamborough Head, and its dramatic views. It features excellent trails for both bikes and the public. Between Bridlington and Flamborough is the village of Sewerby, where the gardens and museum at Sewerby Hall also attract tourists.
Another attraction for visitors to the area is Bempton Cliffs. Bempton Cliffs is an RSPB nature reserve frequented by avid bird watchers and is a popular breeding ground for the Northern Gannet and Atlantic Puffin of which there are thousands along the cliffs.
Notable is the Priory Church in the Old Town, with a good sounding ring of 8 bells (tenor approx 24 cwt) but with a long draft and a large 4 manual organ boasting the widest 'scaled' 32 ft reed (Contra Tuba) in the UK.
[edit] Facts
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Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones. |
- The town gives its name to the Bridlington Agreement, a concordat between British Trade Unions not to poach each others' members.
- Burlington, New Jersey (and subsequently, Burlington County, New Jersey), is named after Bridlington.
- It is believed that the town of Burlington, Massachusetts is named after it as well.
- Bridlington is served by the Bridlington Free Press, and Yorkshire Coast Radio broadcasts from the town.
[edit] Gallery
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[edit] References
- ^ a b 2001 Census: Key Statistics: Parish Headcounts: Area: Bridlington CP (Parish). Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved on 2008-05-15.
- ^ Erosion & Flooding in the Parish of Bridlington. Coastal Observatory. University of Hull. Retrieved on 2008-06-02.
- ^ a b c d Humber Estuary & Coast. East Yorkshire Coastal Observatory, University of Hull (November 2004). Retrieved on 2008-06-02.
- ^ The Priory and its Bells: Brief History of the Priory. The Priory Church of St Mary, Bridlington. Retrieved on 2008-06-02.
- ^ Bridlington Eye (html). Retrieved on 2008-06-02.
- ^ UK Attraction. Danes’ Dyke at Flamborough. Retrieved on 2008-05-29.
- ^ CNN Sports Illustrated. CNN. Retrieved on 2008-06-03.
- ^ Artful Dodger Clothing Bebo profile. Retrieved on 2008-06-03.
- ^ Memorials to T. E. Lawrence. Society for T.E. Lawrence Studies. Retrieved on 2008-06-03.
- ^ Malcolm McDowell's Biography. Retrieved on 2008-06-03.
[edit] External links
- Official Tourism information for Bridlington
- Bridlington Information
- Bridlington Tourist Information
- Bridlington Town Council
- Local newspaper
- Bridlington History 1
- Bridlington History 2
- Guide to Bridlington
- The Priory - St. Mary's, Bridlington
- History of Bridlington Amusement Arcades
- Royal Yorkshire Yacht Club
- Visitor's Guide to Bridlington
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