Bannister and the Hull and Holderness Railway Company had a vision to implant a seaside community which would attract well off persons keen to benefit from the bracing air, sea views, sandy beach and a walkway along which to promenade and meet persons of similar standing (see above), a sea defence promenade providing the public walk. This plan was proposed for what is now the northern part of Withernsea hence the name Owthorn in Holderness. In fact only two of the proposed houses were ever built, the money was always running out at Withernsea.
Some years later later a second town plan was drawn up and a development company formed, the Withernsea Pier, Promenade, Gas and General Improvement Company, 1871. Again the aim was to create a high status resort incorporating: tree-lined avenues, numbers of detached residences and gardens, a park, a longer promenade, a large hotel and a pier. A revision to this plan meant that the pier was built due east of the railway station with the distance between the two relatively short.
(to be continued)