BRIDLINGTON

'Bridlington' is a town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It has a population of over 32,000 (expanding greatly in the summer months) and is twinned with Millau, France and Bad Salzuflen, Germany.
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.
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.
It is divided into two parts, the ancient market town lying about 1 mile from the coast, while the modern houses of Bridlington Quay, the watering-place, fringe the shore of Bridlington Bay. Southward the coast becomes low, but northward it is steep and very fine, where the great spur of Flamborough Head projects eastward. In the old town of Bridlington the church of St Mary and St Nicholas consists of the fine Decorated and Perpendicular nave, with Early English portions, of the priory church of an Augustinian foundation of the time of Henry I. There remains also the Perpendicular gateway, serving as the town-hall. The founder of the priory was Walter de Gaunt, about 1114, and the institution flourished until 1537, when the last prior was executed for taking part in the Pilgrimage of Grace. A Congregational society was founded in 1662, and its old church, dating from 1702, stood until 1906. At Bridlington Quay there is excellent sea-bathing, and the parade and ornamental gardens provide pleasant promenades. Extensive works have been carried out along the sea front. There is a chalybeate spring. The harbour is enclosed by two stone piers. Recently, after some struggle with planning permission, a 'London Eye' style wheel has been built.

Contents

History

Timeline

Political Environment and History

Education

Notable features

Trivia

References

External links

History

Dane's Dyke, a 2½ mile long prehistoric manmade dyke cuts through Flamborough, a district of Bridlington, and dates back to the Bronze Age; despite its name, it was not made by Danes. The dyke was excavated by Major-General Augustus Pitt-Rivers in 1879 and Bronze Age arrowheads were found.
The mention of four burgesses at Bridlington (Brellington, Burlington) in the Domesday survey 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 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.

Timeline

'1072' William the Conqueror confiscated the manor of Bridlington.
'1086' The previous names of Bridlington are known to be Brellington, Britlington and Bretlington mentioned in the Doomsday Book.
The name Burlington was used up until the 19th century.
'1113' Walter de Gaunt founded the monastery and church of St. Mary's.
'1113' Gilbert de Gant granted the manor of Bridlington and with it the harbour to the Prior of Bridlington. De Gant was given Bridlington manor after the Battle of Hastings.
'1388' The Bayle is built as the gatehouse to the Priory and still remains intact.
'1450' Choir School founded by Henry VI.
'1538' The king claimed possession of the monastery and dissolved it in 1538 along with the Priory and its buildings.
'1637' The grammar school founded by W. F. Hustler.
'1664' First Earl of Burlington created by Charles II.
'1666' The town was raided by Dutch boats.
'1667' A fort was built next to the sea where Leisure World now stands.
'1697' The second Baptist church in Yorkshire was built.
'1714' The Avenue was built for the Pickett family.
'1752' The birth of Samuel Standidge the famous whaler.
'1760' The Avenue was bought by Thomas Pickett.
'1767' The town receives its first fire engine.
'1802' Bridlington’s first bank was built. It was called the Burlington Bank.
'1805' The town's first hotel was built. It was called the George Hotel.
'1806' The town’s first lifeboat was established.
'1811' Town population reaches 3,741 with 869 houses accounted for.
'1822' The birth of Humphrey Sandwith who was the organizer of the Crimean War.
'1823' The town has its first policeman.
'1833' Temperance Hall built.
'1836' The town's first newspaper was published. It was called the Burlington Reporter.
'1837' A steam mill was erected at Bridlington Quay where production of malt and beer was done.
'1840' Christ Church built.
'1846' A railway built from Hull to Bridlington opened in October.
'1847' The railway carried on to Scarborough.
'1867' First sea stone wall built.
'1871' A great storm in Bridlington claims the lives of 70 seamen.
'1889' Bridlington Priory organ is built. It is one of the largest in the world.
'1891' Population reaches 6,840.
'1896' Donkey rides introduced on the beach. Opening of new Spa and Gardens.
'1899' Bridlington Grammar School for Boys opens.
'1899' First Mayor of Bridlington Mr. R. Medforth.
'1901' Population stands at 12,482.
'1906' Spa Hall destroyed by fire.
'1928' Opening of Princess Mary Promenade.
'1931' New north sea wall completed.
'1932' The Avenue becomes a hospital.
'1940' Woolworth's store hit by bomb (WWII)
'1974' Bridlington becomes part of the county of Humberside.
'1979' Population reaches 28,590.
'1988' The Avenue becomes derelict.
'1993' The Avenue is transformed into apartments.
'1995' The new Spa Promenade opened.
'1996' High Street refurbished and Harbour Footbridge demolished.
'1999' Bridlington School, now a mixed comprehensive, celebrates its centenary year.

Political Environment and History

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. 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 and the SDP will be up against it this year at the 2007 Municipal Elections. There will be a lot more people seeking election this time and they will remember the SDP for what happened to the Deputy Mayor Cllr. Cyril Mysburg.

Education

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. It achieved national notoriety after two teachers were jailed in August 2006 and February 2007 having been convicted of sex with under-age girl pupils.^[1]

Notable features

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 24cwt) but with a long draft and a large 4 manual organ boasting the widest 'scaled' 32ft reed (Contra Tuba) in the UK.
The noted architect William Kent was born in the town.

Trivia

★ 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.

Bridlington beach

Bridlington beach photographed on the millennium dawn (2000)

References

1. "The school shamed by under-age sex", Chris Brooke, Daily Mail, 7 February 2007

External links

★ Bridlington Information

★ Bridlington Tourist Information

★ Bridlington Town Council

★ Local newspaper

★ Guide to Bridlington

★ The Priory - St. Mary's, Bridlington

★ History of Bridlington Amusement Arcades

★ Royal Yorkshire Yacht Club