Oh we do love to be beside the seaside

1100s and was significant as a trading Port right up to the last century. in the 1820’s there were 17 ship owners in the town which provided the fastest transport for coal, timber salt etc. in 1643 Queen Henrietta Maria landed at Bridlington harbour. the Quay was only a 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 aided by the arrival of the railways in 1846, built by george Hudson. in 1898 the Quay and the beaches attracted 300,000 visitors in the summer season alone, all arriving by train. the main seaside and harbour areas had a huge expansion, that area is still developing and being regenerated today. in the last 20 years the town has had a major resurgence in tourism, Bridlington is in the top ten of places to visit according to trip Advisor. Bridlington Harbour is the main feature of the Quay, which is enclosed by two stone piers. Bridlington is the lobster Capital of Europe much of its lucrative catch is exported to France, Spain, and italy. they also house a lobster hatchery. on the Quayside you will find the Harbour Heritage Museum which is free to enter from Easter until the end of october. Bridlington Sailing Coble Preservation Society is also nearby with three historic Coble sailing craft either in the Harbour or being restored in their workshop.

Just south of the Harbour you will find The Spa, this is Bridlington’s home of entertainment and the arts, with a theatre, concert hall, Conference facilities and Restaurant looking out to sea. Nearby there is also the Spotlight Theatre which is community run.

The Quay and its environs in Bridlington offers visitors amazing beaches and family friendly activities. Park and Ride facilities offer access via the famous Land Train to take you into the Quay and on to Sewerby Hall. In the summer the Open Top Bus service offers a ‘hop on hop off’ circular route through Old Town, out to Sewerby and returns via the Quay for a single day rider ticket.

The countryside around Bridlington is also full of historic places all with a tale to tell. As you leave Bridlington towards Sewerby village there is Sewerby Hall, a grade one listed country house, and its grounds with lots for families to do. The Hall host the unique Amy Johnson memorabilia collection to commemorate our most famous and inspirational aviatrix.

Leaving Sewerby head towards Flamborough Head. The road takes you over Danes Dyke a prehistoric ditch and embankment, then on to Flamborough.

Flamborough is home to its Lighthouse but also to The Chalk Tower, one of the tallest chalk structures, built in 1674 as a lighthouse by Sir John Clayton and George Blake, which has a fascinating history.

Leaving Flamborough head for Bempton Cliffs and the RSPB reserve which is the largest mainland colony of Gannett’s, Puffins and most recently an Albatross that visits each summer.

St John’s Burlington Methodist Church

St John Street, Bridlington, YO16 7JS

St John’S Burlington originally known as the new Wesleyan Chapel, the Church was designed by the Architect Joseph Earnshaw and was completed on 2nd July 1884 at a cost of £3,892. the pipe organ is a fine example of the work of Forster & Andrews of hull and has been excellently maintained, left largely unaltered, and respected by all concerned. It is testament to the quality of the instrument that it is still functioning after 130 years. the Church is an important landmark in the town and continues to be a spiritual centre for worship and prayer within Bridlington and the old town community with the aim to develop its existing links

Methodist Church is a grade II listed building within the old town of Bridlington. Built in 1884, its distinctive exterior is built in the Italianate style in pale brick with stone dressing and end turrets with domed roofs.

OPENING TIMES:

Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11am and 2pm until the end of October with schools, care homes, charity organisations and to continue to be an encouraging and a welcoming Church to all.

Entrance is free but donations are very welcome and help to maintain the sailing cobles the three Brothers, the gratitude and the gansey lass that can be seen moored in the harbour. harbour heritage Museum is entirely staffed by volunteers.

Bridlington Harbour Heritage Museum

loCAtEd on Bridlington harbour, houses a wide range of displays showing nautical artefacts, historic photographs and details of the harbour history it seafarers and fishing fleet, there are models of vessels and a varied range of visual resources. there are also video presentations of the restoration of the three Brothers, a historic Sailing Coble. there are Coble Festivals each year and sailing cobles are moored in Bridlington harbour.

Entrance is free but donations are very welcome and help to maintain the sailing cobles the three Brothers, the gratitude and the gansey lass that can be seen moored in the harbour. harbour heritage Museum is entirely staffed by volunteers. the harbour Museum may open at other times when volunteers are available.

Bridlington Priory Church Bridlington Priory Church Rooms

on 9th September, in both the Priory and the Priory rooms, the annual ‘history on your doorstep’ event will showcase organisations that promote and preserve our diverse local heritage.

regular participants include Yorkshire Wolds heritage trust, East Yorkshire library Services, Campaign for the Protection of rural England, archaeologist richard Myerscough, Bridlington Augustinian Society and Civic Society, together with local authors and residents who have their own stories to tell about, amongst other things, the Alexandra hotel, the history & making of the fisherman’s ‘ganseys’, researching the history of your own home, the life & career of William Kent

OPENING TIMES:

Saturday and much more. this year local artist and sculptor Steve Carvill will again be on hand to tell us about his work in the Priory, the making of the gansey girl sculpture on the harbour, plus plans for his latest commission on Bridlington railway Station forecourt. Examples of his work will be on show. the Priory’s musical heritage dates from at least 1450 when henry II established a Choir School for ‘twelve quarasters and a maister’. today this tradition continues to a high standard with a thriving choir and

BrIdlIngton Priory, founded in 1113 as an Augustinian monastery, is a stunning example of mediaeval architecture. the most illustrious of Bridlington’s priors John of thwing, was the last English saint to be created before the reformation. learn about his life and times and take the chance to dress up as an Augustinian canon. the fascinating history of the Priory from foundation through dissolution to the present day is portrayed in 12 appliquéd panels. Visitors will also find fine examples of ‘Mousey’ thompson woodwork, pieces by local artist & sculptor Stephen Carvill and beautiful stained glass.

OPENING TIMES:

10 - Noon to 4pm to Friday 11am to 3pm world-renowned organ. An annual season of concerts ‘live@ the Priory’ brings a wide variety of musical genres to Bridlington and on Saturday September 9th the Priory is delighted to present a concert with the new Mill Male Voice Choir

Bridlington Trails

The QR code below provides links to Trails and Guides to many parts of Bridlington and the nearby Wolds.

David hockney lived in Bridlington and painted the Wolds, you can see the locations he used. Dad’s Army was filmed in the Old Town and surrounding area.

There are walking Trails along the cliffs, a pre-historic trail along the Gypsey Race as well as Maritime and Old Town trails

The QR Code opens a page in the Visit east Yorkshire website where you will find all of the Trail documents, which can be downloaded onto your phone or printed to suit your preferences.

The Chalk Tower

BuilT in 1674 as a lighthouse by Sir John Clayton and George Blake.

Ships passing the tower were supposed to pay a tax, based on the weight of their cargo to Clayton to support the provision of fires at the top of the lighthouse.

Payment of the tax was voluntary, so mariners refused to pay, and Clayton went bankrupt.

This was the end for the tower as a lighthouse.

As the chalk tower was visible from afar, it was used as a signalling point.

OPENING TIMES: September Sundays 10 and 17, 2pm to 4pm

Semaphore telegraphy was devised in 1792 to transmit coded messages using coloured flags on top of the tower. Messages were transmitted during the Napoleonic wars.

Since 1952, the tower has been listed Grade ii* as a beacon tower.

The Friends of the Chalk Tower have a licence with eRYC to open the ground floor to the public for special events.

Rudston Road, Driffield YO25 4NB

iN 1274 both passed by marriage to another notable family, the Somervilles. in about 1323 Joan Somerville married Rhys ap Gruffud. Their descendant Sir Walter Griffith is credited with restoring the Old hall and adding its present roof in the 15th century. The hall, like the village, was named after one of his daughters.

The adjacent new hall (not in the care of english heritage, but open to the public) was built by Sir henry Griffith between 1601 and 1610, probably to designs by Robert Smythson.

in 1654 the estate passed to Sir henry’s nephew Sir Francis Boynton, and it remains in the ownership of the Boynton family.

in the early 18th century the Old hall was partly rebuilt in

Burton Agnes Manor House Lighthouse Road, Flamborough

OPENING TIMES:

In the care of English Heritage and free to enter. Open daily 11am to 5pm brick and converted to a laundry.

The new hall was partly remodelled around the same period.

The Old hall was taken into guardianship in 1948 and a programme of restoration was undertaken, including the repair and remodelling of some of the original openings.

Hebblethwaite House

Old Town, Bridlington

built c.1670 as a Merchants House. An eight-bay building of brick with Artisan Mannerist details. Mullioned and transomed windows and a coved cornice enriched with Acanthus leaves. Moulded brick dressings including quoins and a band breaking forward above the ground floor windows. the former doorway has a triangular brick pediment with a window above with shouldered architrave and flanking consoles. the building was a bank for 200 years until 2008, it was then empty until 2020.

You will be able to see the bank Managers entrance hallway which leads to the main stair. this leads into the banking Hall which is a two-storey room with a highly

OPENING TIMES: Currently being restored as a family home. Pre-booked tours only decorated plaster ceiling and oak panelling with a strongroom. leading off from this room is the Managers office which is panelled in painted softwood. Outside to the rear is a range of outbuildings which include the service aspects of the house and a stable block which has all of its St. Pancras ironworks fittings.

St John’s Burlington Methodist Church

St John’s burlington Methodist Church is a grade ii listed building within the old town of bridlington. built in 1884, its distinctive exterior is built in the italianate style in pale brick with stone dressing and end turrets with domed roofs.

Originally known as the New Wesleyan Chapel, the Church was designed by the Architect Joseph Earnshaw and was completed on 2nd July 1884 at a cost of £3,892.

the pipe organ is a fine example of the work of Forster & Andrews of Hull and has been excellently maintained, left largely unaltered, and respected by all concerned. it is testament to the quality of the instrument that it is still functioning after 130 years. the Church is an important landmark in the town and continues to be a spiritual centre for worship and prayer within bridlington and the Old town community with the aim to develop its existing links with schools, care homes, charity organisations and to continue to be an encouraging and a welcoming Church to all.

Bridlington Sailing Coble Preservation Society

tHE bridlington Sailing Coble Preservation Society (Charity no 1095946) was formed in 1983 to maintain, preserve and sail the last remaining 40 foot coble, three brothers, built during 1912 in bridlington after she had been restored under the ownership of the bridlington Harbour Commissioners. Since then, the Society has gone from strength to strength with further sailing cobles being added to the Society’s fleet to preserve them for future generations.

in more recent years, the acquisition of the Society’s beck Hill workshop not only allows volunteer members to carry out the yearly maintenance work on the Society cobles, it has also

The Bayle Museum

tHE bayle is a Grade i listed building and scheduled Ancient Monument. Archaeological surveys conclude the original stonework dates back to the 12th Century when it is originally thought to have been a gatehouse to a wooden palisade castle built by William le Gros in 1143. in the 14th Century the bayle was adapted to become the Gatehouse to the bridlington Priory. Other prior uses include a Prison, a Court of the town, a Schoolroom for merchant’s apprentices, a Garrison for Napoleonic soldiers on route to Scarborough Castle, a town Hall and a meeting room for the lords Feoffees.

OPENING TIMES:

September Saturday 9 - 10am to 4pm allowed members to complete restoration projects on a number of privately owned sailing cobles. under the leadership of retired coble builder John Clarkson, members have been given an insight into the skills of boatbuilding which are now in danger of being forgotten forever.

Please visit our workshop to learn more about traditional East Coast cobles and the work done by the bridlington Sailing Coble Preservation Society.

OPENING TIMES:

September Saturday 9 - 11am to 4pm and Monday to Friday - 11am to 4pm the bayle Museum’s collection is dedicated to the history of the town and local area. the current main exhibition is “beside the Seaside,” a nostalgic history of the traditional seaside holiday. Other exhibits include the Kidcote, Military Room, Victorian Kitchen and more… the bayle Museum is a non-profit establishment and funded and managed by the lords Feoffees to ensure local history is preserved.

Spotlight Theatre Behind the Scenes tour.

55A West Street, Bridlington, YO15 3DZ

The Spotlight Theatre is situated on the South side of Bridlington at 55a West Street.

Very close to the harbour and The Spa Theatre.

Bridlington Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society, run by an enthusiastic and talented team of volunteers, both on and off stage.

B.A.O.D.S was formed in 1909 and offered the residents of Bridlington the opportunity to be involved with Amateur Theatre.

In 1999 the society had the ambition to own their own building and purchased with a loan a building in West Street.

From then onwards the building slowly turned into the most wonderful intimate Theatre in the east Riding of Yorkshire.

Its members perform Musicals, Plays Panto and a Fabulous summer season as well as bringing in cinema and touring shows. Its affordable Theatre too. We care about our community and visitors to Bridlington.

Offering 83 comfortable raked seats, a bar, and the latest in theatrical lighting and sound.

Behind the scenes tours available by pre-booked tours only via email: julie. spotlight@hotmail.com.

Bridlington Lobster Hatchery and Laboratory

Address

OPENING TIMES: September

Saturday 16 and Sunday 17. Pre-booked tours only please, email: j.terschak@hfig.org.uk exPeRIence first-hand how we raise baby lobsters from eggs to three months old. experience first-hand how we raise baby lobsters from eggs to three months old.

Learn about their lives, their regional significance, and the important science we are doing.

See them up close in stunning detail through our microscope!

Learn about their lives, their regional significance, and the important science we are doing.

See them up close in stunning detail through our microscope!

Our facility is normally closed to the public, but in support of heritage Open Days, groups of up to ten people may attend a behind-the-scenes tour of Bridlington’s fisheries and coastal marine research station and its lobster hatchery located on South Pier of Bridlington harbour.

Full details on hOD’s Website.