Bridlington
Encyclopedia
Bridlington is a seaside resort
, minor sea fishing port
and civil parish on the Holderness
Coast of the North Sea
, in the East Riding of Yorkshire
, England. It has a static population of over 33,000, which rises considerably during the tourist season. The town is twinned with Millau
in France and Bad Salzuflen
in Germany.
One of the UK's coastal weather stations is located at Bridlington.
. It is an area which is said to have the highest coastal erosion rate in Europe.
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. 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.
The origins of the habitation of Bridlington are unknown but can be traced back to ancient times. The nearby Dane's Dyke on Flamborough Head, a 2.5 miles (4 km) long man made
dyke dates back to the Bronze Age
. Some writers believe that Bridlington was the site of a Roman
station. A Roman road
can be traced into the town and Roman coins have been found in the town.
The earliest written evidence of Bridlington is located in the Domesday Book
. It records that "Bretlinton" was the head of the Huntow Hundred and was held by Earl Morcar before it passed into the hands of William the Conqueror by the forfeiture. The survey also records the effect of the Harrying of the North
as the annual value of the land had decreased from £32 in the time of Edward the Confessor
to eight shilling
s at the time of the survey and comprised:
The land was given to Gilbert de Gant
, nephew of King Stephen
, in 1072. His eldest son, Walter de Gant, later founded an Augustinian priory on the land in 1133 which was confirmed by King Henry I
in a Charter. Several succeeding kings confirmed and extended Walter de Gaunt's gift: King Stephen granting in addition the right to have a port; King John
granted the prior permission to hold a weekly market and an annual fair in 1200. Henry VI
granted permission for three annual fairs on the Nativity of Mary
, and Deposition of and the Translation of Saint John of Bridlington
in 1446. In 1415 Henry V
visited the priory to give thanks for victory at the Battle of Agincourt
. The town began to be developed around the site of the priory as it grew in importance and size.
After the Dissolution of the Monasteries
, the manor remained with the crown until 1624 when Charles I
granted it to Sir John Ramsey, who had recently been created the Earl of Holderness. In 1633, Sir George Ramsey sold the manor to 13 inhabitants of the town on behalf of all the tenants of the manor. In May 1636, a deed was drawn up empowering the 13 men as Lords Feoffees
or trust holders of the Manor of Bridlington.
In 1643 Queen Henrietta Maria
landed at Bridlington with troops to support the Royalist cause in the English Civil War
before going on to York
, which then became her headquarters.
spring, the Quay developed in the 19th century to become a seaside resort. Bridlington's first hotel was opened in 1805 and it soon became a popular holiday resort for industrial workers from the West Riding of Yorkshire
. A new railway station was opened on 6 October 1846, between the Quay and the historic town.
The area around the new railway station was developed and the two areas of the town were brought together. Bridlington's popularity has declined with the industrial north and the popularity of cheap foreign holidays. Although the fishing fleet has also declined the port remains popular with sea anglers
for day trips along the coast or further out to local shipwreck
s.
Bridlington has lucrative export markets for shell fish to France, Spain and Italy, said to be worth several million pounds a year.
and Sewerby
. According to the 2001 UK census
, the Bridlington parish had a population of 33,837.
The town of Bridlington is divided into two parts:
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 later 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 strong Conservative presence on the council, while the number of Liberal Democrats
has recently decreased.
, on the Yorkshire Coast Line
that runs between Hull
and Scarborough. The station opened on 6 October 1846 between the Quay and the historic town.
newspaper. Yorkshire Coast Radio
used to broadcast from the town as the Bridlington area is a specific commercial radio licence, which operates as a peak-time opt-out service. However, all programming comes from Scarborough.
The town is the home of semi-professional Bridlington Town A.F.C., founded in 1918, refounded in 1994, and now playing in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division. The town also has a large junior club, Bridlington Rangers, with teams playing in the different age groups of the Hull Boys Sunday Football League. Bridlington Sports Club play in the Humber Premier League
. The first team at the Bridlington Cricket Club play in the York and District Senior League Division One.
Jake Thackray
's song "The Hair of the Widow of Bridlington" mocked Bridlington for the small-mindedness of its inhabitants.
|url = http://www.bridlingtonfreepress.co.uk/news?articleid=3021622
|title = Bridlington Free Press
|accessdate = 22 September 2008
|publisher = Bridlington Free Press}}
In its heyday Bridlington was a leading entertainment resort with a nationally-famous dance venue at The Spa
where many famous entertainers have appeared.
Bridlington Priory
in the Old Town has a good-sounding ring of eight bells (tenor approx. 24 cwt) with a long draft. It also has a large four-manual organ that boasts the widest "scaled" 32 ft reed (contra tuba) in the United Kingdom.
Seaside resort
A seaside resort is a resort, or resort town, located on the coast. Where a beach is the primary focus for tourists, it may be called a beach resort.- Overview :...
, minor sea fishing port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
and civil parish on the Holderness
Holderness
Holderness is an area of the East Riding of Yorkshire, on the east coast of England. An area of rich agricultural land, Holderness was marshland until it was drained in the Middle Ages. Topographically, Holderness has more in common with the Netherlands than other parts of Yorkshire...
Coast of the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
, in the East Riding of Yorkshire
East Riding of Yorkshire
The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire, is a local government district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial county of England. For ceremonial purposes the county also includes the city of Kingston upon Hull, which is a separate unitary authority...
, England. It has a static population of over 33,000, which rises considerably during the tourist season. The town is twinned with Millau
Millau
Millau is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. It is located at the confluence of the Tarn and Dourbie rivers.-History:...
in France and Bad Salzuflen
Bad Salzuflen
Bad Salzuflen is a town in the Lippe district of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. At the end of 2006 it had 54415 inhabitants.-Details:Bad Salzuflen is a spa town and is known for its saltwater springs and thermal baths. In former times the town profited from the salt trade...
in Germany.
One of the UK's coastal weather stations is located at Bridlington.
Geography
Bridlington is a seaside resort and minor fishing port on the Holderness Coast of the North SeaNorth Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
. It is an area which is said to have the highest coastal erosion rate in Europe.
Southward the coast becomes low, but northward it is steep and very fine, where the great spur of Flamborough Head
Flamborough Head
Flamborough Head is a promontory of on the Yorkshire coast of England, between the Filey and Bridlington bays of the North Sea. It is a chalk headland, and the resistance it offers to coastal erosion may be contrasted with the low coast of Holderness to the south...
projects eastward. The sea front is protected by a sea wall and a wide beach encouraged by wooden groynes which trap the sand. 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.
Climate
The climate is temperate with warm summers and cool, wet winters. The hottest months of the year are from June to September, with temperatures reaching an average high of 19 °C (66 °F) and 11 °C (52 °F) at night. The average daytime temperature in winter is 9 °C (48 °F) and 5 °C (41 °F) at night.History
Artificial
See also: Synthetic ' or ' may refer to:* Artificial beaches* Artificial chemistry* Artificial consciousness* Artificial creation* Artificial elements* Artificial flower* Artificial food* Artificial fuel* Artificial harmonic...
dyke dates back to the Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
. Some writers believe that Bridlington was the site of a Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
station. A Roman road
Roman road
The Roman roads were a vital part of the development of the Roman state, from about 500 BC through the expansion during the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. Roman roads enabled the Romans to move armies and trade goods and to communicate. The Roman road system spanned more than 400,000 km...
can be traced into the town and Roman coins have been found in the town.
The earliest written evidence of Bridlington is located in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
. It records that "Bretlinton" was the head of the Huntow Hundred and was held by Earl Morcar before it passed into the hands of William the Conqueror by the forfeiture. The survey also records the effect of the Harrying of the North
Harrying of the North
The Harrying of the North was a series of campaigns waged by William the Conqueror in the winter of 1069–1070 to subjugate Northern England, and is part of the Norman conquest of England...
as the annual value of the land had decreased from £32 in the time of Edward the Confessor
Edward the Confessor
Edward the Confessor also known as St. Edward the Confessor , son of Æthelred the Unready and Emma of Normandy, was one of the last Anglo-Saxon kings of England and is usually regarded as the last king of the House of Wessex, ruling from 1042 to 1066....
to eight shilling
Shilling
The shilling is a unit of currency used in some current and former British Commonwealth countries. The word shilling comes from scilling, an accounting term that dates back to Anglo-Saxon times where it was deemed to be the value of a cow in Kent or a sheep elsewhere. The word is thought to derive...
s at the time of the survey and comprised:
“two villeins, and one socmanSocageSocage was one of the feudal duties and hence land tenure forms in the feudal system. A farmer, for example, held the land in exchange for a clearly defined, fixed payment to be made at specified intervals to his feudal lord, who in turn had his own feudal obligations, to the farmer and to the Crown...
with one and a half CarucateCarucateThe carucate or ploughland was a unit of assessment for tax used in most Danelaw counties of England, and is found for example in Domesday Book. The carucate was based on the area a plough team of eight oxen could till in a single annual season...
. The rest is waste.”
The land was given to Gilbert de Gant
Gilbert de Gant, Earl of Lincoln
Gilbert de Gant, 1st Earl of Lincoln was an English nobleman who fought for King Stephen during The Anarchy.He was the son of Walter de Gant and Maud of Brittany...
, nephew of King Stephen
Stephen of England
Stephen , often referred to as Stephen of Blois , was a grandson of William the Conqueror. He was King of England from 1135 to his death, and also the Count of Boulogne by right of his wife. Stephen's reign was marked by the Anarchy, a civil war with his cousin and rival, the Empress Matilda...
, in 1072. His eldest son, Walter de Gant, later founded an Augustinian priory on the land in 1133 which was confirmed by King Henry I
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
in a Charter. Several succeeding kings confirmed and extended Walter de Gaunt's gift: King Stephen granting in addition the right to have a port; King John
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
granted the prior permission to hold a weekly market and an annual fair in 1200. Henry VI
Henry VI of England
Henry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. Until 1437, his realm was governed by regents. Contemporaneous accounts described him as peaceful and pious, not suited for the violent dynastic civil wars, known as the Wars...
granted permission for three annual fairs on the Nativity of Mary
Nativity of Mary
The Nativity of Mary, or Birth of the Virgin and various permutations, is celebrated as a liturgical feast in the Roman Catholic calendar of saints and in most Anglican liturgical calendars on 8 September, nine months after the solemnity of her Immaculate Conception, celebrated on 8 December...
, and Deposition of and the Translation of Saint John of Bridlington
John of Bridlington
Saint John of Bridlington is an English saint of the 14th century...
in 1446. In 1415 Henry V
Henry V of England
Henry V was King of England from 1413 until his death at the age of 35 in 1422. He was the second monarch belonging to the House of Lancaster....
visited the priory to give thanks for victory at the Battle of Agincourt
Battle of Agincourt
The Battle of Agincourt was a major English victory against a numerically superior French army in the Hundred Years' War. The battle occurred on Friday, 25 October 1415 , near modern-day Azincourt, in northern France...
. The town began to be developed around the site of the priory as it grew in importance and size.
After the Dissolution of the Monasteries
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
, the manor remained with the crown until 1624 when Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
granted it to Sir John Ramsey, who had recently been created the Earl of Holderness. In 1633, Sir George Ramsey sold the manor to 13 inhabitants of the town on behalf of all the tenants of the manor. In May 1636, a deed was drawn up empowering the 13 men as Lords Feoffees
Lords Feoffees
The charitable trust known as The Lords Feoffees and Assistants of the Manor of Bridlington, based in England, was created in 1636.The Manor of Bridlington had been confiscated by Henry VIII from the monks of Bridlington Priory during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, in 1537. In 1624 James I...
or trust holders of the Manor of Bridlington.
In 1643 Queen Henrietta Maria
Henrietta Maria of France
Henrietta Maria of France ; was the Queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland as the wife of King Charles I...
landed at Bridlington with troops to support the Royalist cause in the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
before going on to York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, which then became her headquarters.
Fishing
From early in the history of Bridlington, a small fishing port grew up near the coast, later known as Bridlington Quay. After the discovery of a chalybeateChalybeate
Chalybeate waters, also known as ferruginous waters, are mineral spring waters containing salts of iron.-Name:The word "chalybeate" is derived from the Latin word for steel, "chalybs", which follows from the Greek word "khalups"...
spring, the Quay developed in the 19th century to become a seaside resort. Bridlington's first hotel was opened in 1805 and it soon became a popular holiday resort for industrial workers from the West Riding of Yorkshire
West Riding of Yorkshire
The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of the three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county, County of York, West Riding , was based closely on the historic boundaries...
. A new railway station was opened on 6 October 1846, between the Quay and the historic town.
The area around the new railway station was developed and the two areas of the town were brought together. Bridlington's popularity has declined with the industrial north and the popularity of cheap foreign holidays. Although the fishing fleet has also declined the port remains popular with sea anglers
Recreational fishing
Recreational fishing, also called sport fishing, is fishing for pleasure or competition. It can be contrasted with commercial fishing, which is fishing for profit, or subsistence fishing, which is fishing for survival....
for day trips along the coast or further out to local shipwreck
Shipwreck
A shipwreck is what remains of a ship that has wrecked, either sunk or beached. Whatever the cause, a sunken ship or a wrecked ship is a physical example of the event: this explains why the two concepts are often overlapping in English....
s.
Bridlington has lucrative export markets for shell fish to France, Spain and Italy, said to be worth several million pounds a year.
Governance
The civil parish is formed by the town of Bridlington and the villages of BessingbyBessingby
Bessingby is a village in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately south west of the town of Bridlington. It lies to the east of the A614 road....
and Sewerby
Sewerby
Sewerby is a village in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England approximately north east of Bridlington on the North Sea coast.Sewerby forms part of the civil parish of Bridlington....
. According to the 2001 UK census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
, the Bridlington parish had a population of 33,837.
The town of Bridlington 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 MaryBridlington PrioryPriory Church of St. Mary, Bridlington, , commonly known as Bridlington Priory Church is a parish church in Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire, England, in the Diocese of York...
, on the site of an AugustinianAugustiniansThe term Augustinians, named after Saint Augustine of Hippo , applies to two separate and unrelated types of Catholic religious orders:...
priory which was dissolved by King Henry VIIIHenry VIII of EnglandHenry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
when the last prior was executed for taking part in the Pilgrimage of GracePilgrimage of GraceThe Pilgrimage of Grace was a popular rising in York, Yorkshire during 1536, in protest against Henry VIII's break with the Roman Catholic Church and the Dissolution of the Monasteries, as well as other specific political, social and economic grievances. It was done in action against Thomas Cromwell...
. - 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. 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 seafront and after some struggle with planning permission, a 'London EyeLondon EyeThe London Eye is a tall giant Ferris wheel situated on the banks of the River Thames, in London, England.It is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe, and the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom, visited by over 3.5 million people annually...
'-style wheel has been built.
Greg Knight
Gregory Knight is a British politician and author. He is Conservative Member of Parliament for East Yorkshire.-Education and professional life:...
(Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
), who represents the East Yorkshire
East Yorkshire (UK Parliament constituency)
East Yorkshire is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Boundaries :...
constituency, which has included the town since 1997. Previously (since 1950) there had been a constituency named Bridlington
Bridlington (UK Parliament constituency)
Bridlington was a constituency in East Yorkshire, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1950 until it was abolished for the 1997 general election....
, but like the present constituency it included a substantial part of the county as well as the town itself; its MPs included Richard Wood
Richard Wood, Baron Holderness
Richard Frederick Wood, Baron Holderness PC, DL was a British Conservative politician who held numerous ministerial positions from 1955 to 1974...
, 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
Buckrose (UK Parliament constituency)
Buckrose was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was a county constituency comprising the northern part of the East Riding of Yorkshire, represented by one Member of Parliament, and was created for the 1885 general election.It was redefined in...
constituency.
Bridlington was designated a municipal borough
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
in 1899. After local government re-organisation in 1974 it was included in the new county of Humberside
Humberside
Humberside was a non-metropolitan and ceremonial county in Northern England from 1 April 1974 until 1 April 1996. It was composed of land from either side of the Humber Estuary, created from portions of the East and West ridings of Yorkshire and parts of Lindsey, Lincolnshire...
, 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
East Yorkshire (district)
The Borough of East Yorkshire was one of nine local government districts of the county of Humberside, England from April 1, 1974 to April 1, 1996....
but later changed to the Borough of East Yorkshire
East Yorkshire (district)
The Borough of East Yorkshire was one of nine local government districts of the county of Humberside, England from April 1, 1974 to April 1, 1996....
. The district disappeared when the county of Humberside was abolished in the 1990s, the new East Riding of Yorkshire
East Riding of Yorkshire
The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire, is a local government district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial county of England. For ceremonial purposes the county also includes the city of Kingston upon Hull, which is a separate unitary authority...
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 strong Conservative presence on the council, while the number of Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
has recently decreased.
Rail
Bridlington is served by the Bridlington railway stationBridlington railway station
Bridlington railway station serves the town of Bridlington in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is located on the Yorkshire Coast Line and is operated by Northern Rail who provide all passenger train services....
, on the Yorkshire Coast Line
Yorkshire Coast Line
The Yorkshire Coast Line is a railway line in northern England. It runs northwards from Hull Paragon to Bridlington and Scarborough calling at other intermediate stations.-History:...
that runs between Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
and Scarborough. The station opened on 6 October 1846 between the Quay and the historic town.
Education
Primary
- Bay Primary School
- Burlington Infant School
- Burlington Junior School
- Hilderthorpe Primary School
- Martongate Primary School
- Quay Primary School
- St Mary's RC Primary School
- New Pasture Lane Primary School
Media and sport
Bridlington is served by the Bridlington Free PressBridlington Free Press
The Bridlington Free Press is owned by Johnston Press and is distributed in the Bridlington area of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. There is also an online edition available at ....
newspaper. Yorkshire Coast Radio
Yorkshire Coast Radio
Yorkshire Coast Radio is an Independent Local Radio station based in the seaside resort of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. YCR is officially two Ofcom licenses, one for Scarborough and Whitby in North Yorkshire and one for Bridlington in the East Riding of Yorkshire.-History:For many years several...
used to broadcast from the town as the Bridlington area is a specific commercial radio licence, which operates as a peak-time opt-out service. However, all programming comes from Scarborough.
The town is the home of semi-professional Bridlington Town A.F.C., founded in 1918, refounded in 1994, and now playing in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division. The town also has a large junior club, Bridlington Rangers, with teams playing in the different age groups of the Hull Boys Sunday Football League. Bridlington Sports Club play in the Humber Premier League
Humber Premier League
The Humber Premier League was formed in 2000 and sits at the 12th tier of the English football pyramid. It began as a single division and expanded to include a Division One for the 2005-06 season. Reckitts won the league five times in the first six seasons of its existence.The league is based...
. The first team at the Bridlington Cricket Club play in the York and District Senior League Division One.
Jake Thackray
Jake Thackray
John Philip "Jake" Thackray , was an English singer-songwriter, poet and journalist. Best known in the late 1960s and early 1970s for his topical comedy songs performed on British television, his work ranged from satirical to bawdy to sentimental to pastoral, with a strong emphasis on storytelling,...
's song "The Hair of the Widow of Bridlington" mocked Bridlington for the small-mindedness of its inhabitants.
Notable people
- Cecil BurtonCecil BurtonDavid Cecil Fowler Burton, better known as Cecil Burton, was a first-class cricketer, who played for Cambridge University , MCC and Yorkshire . He captained Yorkshire from 1919 to 1921.He was born in Bridlington, Yorkshire, England...
(1887–1971), cricketCricketCricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er. - Claude Burton (cricketer)Claude Burton (cricketer)Robert Claude Burton was an English first-class cricketer, who played for Oxford University and Yorkshire....
(1891–1971). - Richard CresswellRichard CresswellRichard Paul Wesley Cresswell is an English footballer who plays for Sheffield United. Cresswell is a centre-forward who has adapted to life as a left midfielder.-Early career:...
, footballer. - Andrew DismoreAndrew DismoreAndrew Hartley Dismore is a British Labour Party politician and a Vice-Chair of the Labour Friends of Israel group who was the Member of Parliament for Hendon from 1997 until 2010 when he was beaten by Conservative Party candidate Matthew Offord.-Early life:Dismore was born in Bridlington,...
(born 1954), politicianPoliticianA politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and lawyerLawyerA lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
. - Angela EagleAngela EagleAngela Eagle is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Wallasey since 1992. She served as the Minister of State for Pensions and Ageing Society from June 2009 until May 2010. Eagle was elected to the Shadow Cabinet in October 2010 and was appointed by Ed...
, member of ParliamentMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for WallaseyWallaseyWallasey is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, in Merseyside, England, on the mouth of the River Mersey, at the northeastern corner of the Wirral Peninsula...
. - Benjamin FawcettBenjamin FawcettBenjamin Fawcett was one of the finest of English nineteenth century woodblock colour printers. The son of a ship's master, he was apprenticed at age 14 for seven years to William Forth, a Bridlington bookseller and printer...
, nineteenth-century woodblock colour printerWoodblock printingWoodblock printing is a technique for printing text, images or patterns used widely throughout East Asia and originating in China in antiquity as a method of printing on textiles and later paper....
. - Thomas FenbyThomas FenbyThomas Davis Fenby was a British Liberal politician and blacksmith.-Early life:Fenby was born in Bridlington in the East Riding of Yorkshire, the son of a master of a local blacksmith’s forge. He was educated at Bridlington School...
, Liberal politician and blacksmithBlacksmithA blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
. - Henry FreemanHenry Freeman (1835-1904)Henry Freeman was a Whitby fisherman and lifeboatman.Born in Bridlington, Yorkshire, Henry worked in his youth as a brickmaker. He was successful at his work rising to the position of manager. With the decline of the brick trade Henry turned to the sea and fishing.He moved to Whitby and became a...
, WhitbyWhitbyWhitby is a seaside town, port and civil parish in the Scarborough borough of North Yorkshire, England. Situated on the east coast of Yorkshire at the mouth of the River Esk, Whitby has a combined maritime, mineral and tourist heritage, and is home to the ruins of Whitby Abbey where Caedmon, the...
fisherman and lifeboatmanLifeboat (rescue)A rescue lifeboat is a boat rescue craft which is used to attend a vessel in distress, or its survivors, to rescue crewmen and passengers. It can be hand pulled, sail powered or powered by an engine...
. - Mark HermanMark HermanMark Herman is an English film director and screenwriter best known for writing & directing the 2008 film The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas....
(born 1954), film director. - David HockneyDavid HockneyDavid Hockney, CH, RA, is an English painter, draughtsman, printmaker, stage designer and photographer, who is based in Bridlington, Yorkshire and Kensington, London....
(born 1937), painter, draughtsman, printmaker, stage designer and photographer - Francis JohnsonFrancis Johnson (architect)See Francis Johnston for Irish architect of similar name.Francis Frederick Johnson CBE, , was an English architect, born in Bridlington in the East Riding of Yorkshire.-Education and Early career:...
(1911–1995), church architect. - William KentWilliam KentWilliam Kent , born in Bridlington, Yorkshire, was an eminent English architect, landscape architect and furniture designer of the early 18th century.He was baptised as William Cant.-Education:...
, architectArchitectAn architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, landscape architect and furniture designer. - Adam Khan (born 1985), racing driver
- Gordon LakesGordon LakesGordon Harry Lakes MC was a former Deputy Director General in the UK Prison Service. He is credited with helping to achieve improved working conditions among UK prisons.-Life and career:...
(1928–2006), prison reformer. - Sir John Major, 1st BaronetSir John Major, 1st BaronetSir John Major, 1st Baronet was a British merchant and Member of Parliament.Major was born at Bridlington in Yorkshire, and started in business there, commanding a ship in the Stockholm trade. He apparently abandoned the sea at the age of around 30, but subsequently developed a thriving iron trade...
(1698–1791), merchant and member of Parliament. - A. E. MatthewsA. E. MatthewsA.E. Matthews OBE was an English actor who played numerous character roles on the stage and in film for eight decades, and who became known for his longevity.-Biography:...
(1869–1960), actor. - William of NewburghWilliam of NewburghWilliam of Newburgh or Newbury , also known as William Parvus, was a 12th-century English historian and Augustinian canon from Bridlington, Yorkshire.-Biography:...
(c. 1136–c. 1198), chronicler. - Helene PalmerHelene PalmerHelene Palmer was a British actress best known for her portrayal of Ida Clough, a machinist on the long running television series, Coronation Street.-Entertainment career:...
(1928–2011), actress who portrayed Ida Clough on Coronation StreetCoronation StreetCoronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
. Palmer also ran the Nags Head pub in Bridlington with her husband, Alex, from 1986 to 1990. - David PinkneyDavid PinkneyDavid Pinkney is a successful businessman and auto racing driver.-Early Racing Career:David was a semi-regular BTCC driver in the late 1980s and early 1990s, in a BMW from 1992 to 1993...
, businessman and auto racingAuto racingAuto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
driver. - John RichardsonJohn Richardson (Quaker)John Richardson was an English Quaker minister and autobiographer.-Early life:John Richardson was born in 1667, probably in the village of North Cave, East Riding of Yorkshire, where his father, William Richardson , a shepherd, had been converted to Quakerism by William Dewsberry or Dewsbury in...
(1667–1753), Quaker minister and autobiographer - Craig ShortCraig ShortCraig Jonathan Short is a former football player who played as a central-defender...
, footballer.
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- Bob WallisBob WallisRobert 'Bob' Wallis was a British jazz musician, who had a handful of chart success in the early 1960s, during the UK traditional jazz boom.-Biography:...
(1934–1991), jazz musician - St. John of BridlingtonJohn of BridlingtonSaint John of Bridlington is an English saint of the 14th century...
, English saint of the 14th century
Landmarks
The Spa, Bridlington
The Spa Royal Hall and Theatre in Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire, England, was named the New Spa and Gardens when it was built, together with the adjoining sea wall, in 1896 by Whitaker Brothers of Horsforth, Leeds...
where many famous entertainers have appeared.
Bridlington Priory
Bridlington Priory
Priory Church of St. Mary, Bridlington, , commonly known as Bridlington Priory Church is a parish church in Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire, England, in the Diocese of York...
in the Old Town has a good-sounding ring of eight bells (tenor approx. 24 cwt) with a long draft. It also has a large four-manual organ that boasts the widest "scaled" 32 ft reed (contra tuba) in the United Kingdom.