Bridlington
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bridlington | ||
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| Statistics | ||
| Population: | 32,000 | |
| Ordnance Survey | ||
| OS grid reference: | TA115807 | |
| Administration | ||
| District: | East Riding of Yorkshire | |
| Region: | Yorkshire and the Humber | |
| Constituent country: | England | |
| Sovereign state: | United Kingdom | |
| Other | ||
| Ceremonial county: | East Riding of Yorkshire | |
| Historic county: | Yorkshire | |
| Services | ||
| Police force: | Humberside Police | |
| Fire and rescue: | {{{Fire}}} | |
| Ambulance: | Yorkshire | |
| Post office and telephone | ||
| Post town: | BRIDLINGTON | |
| Postal district: | YO15/YO16 | |
| Dialling code: | 01262 | |
| Politics | ||
| UK Parliament: | East Yorkshire | |
| European Parliament: | Yorkshire and the Humber | |
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Bridlington is a town 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. 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.
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[edit] History
Dane's Dyke, a 2 1/2 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 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, though, it was a leading resort with a nationally famous dance venue at the Spa, and many famous entertainers have appeared in the town.
[edit] 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 Doomsday book. The name Burlington was used up until the 19th Century.
1113 Walter de Gaunt founded 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 Burlington Bank.
1805 The town's first hotel was built it was called George Hotel.
1806 The town’s first lifeboat was established.
1811 Town population reaches 3741 with 869 houses accounted for.
1822 The birth of Humphrey Sandwith who was the organizer of Crimean War.
1823 The town has its first policeman.
1833 Temperance Hall built.
1836 The Towns first newspaper was published it was called the Burlington Reporter.
1837 A steam mill was erected at Bridlington's 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 6840.
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 12482.
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)
1988 The Avenue becomes derelict.
1974 Bridlington becomes part of the county of Humberside.
1979 Population reaches 28590.
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 it Centenary Year.
[edit] 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.
Bridlington also holds the distinction of being the only remaining place in the UK to still have elected representatives from the Social Democratic Party (UK) (SDP), Cllr. Ray Allerston & his wife Christine on the East Riding Unitary Council, and both along with their friends Winifred Taylor & Leslie Taylor on Bridlington Town Council. Today's literal "Gang of Four" have recently seen an upturn in their fortunes with the election of Christine Allerston as Mayor of Bridlington for the municipal year 2005/2006.
[edit] Various
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 it. It is also 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.
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. RSPB Bempton Cliffs is a 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.
A major attraction 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.
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