Above is a copy of a postcard which in turn shows a copy of a painting by a Mr. Gammidge of a ship beached in 1880 just south of Withernsea pier following a storm having crashed through the pier, which would then have been quite new, previously. The bottom left shows no evidence of a promenade south of the pier at that time, vegetated sand dunes being the natural coast. I believe that this breach of the pier was repaired but other such incidents were to follow.
The two figures shown are interesting as for centuries citizens of coastal settlements had seen it as their right to steal items from a wreck, at least until the Lord Lieutenant sent in the militia. Whether the two shown are scavenging is not clear and, presumably, by 1880 punishments for such behaviour would have been harsh.
The picture shows a solid groyne which, probably further damaged the ship’s hull, installed to reduce the loss of sand on Withernsea’s beach through longshore drift.
And what of the future? The experts envisage that in the next couple of millennia not all of Holderness will be lost to coastal erosion, mostly about two-thirds. If correct, this will save the site of Hull but not of Bridlington, Hornsea and Withernsea. So how long has the last one got and how will it happen? Rising sea level as a result of global warming will be the main threat as they will compromise the sea defences (s.p.b.s). Will the unconsolidated cliffs to the south and north (s.p.b.) of the promenade be eroded back to such an extent that the town will become a peninsula, if so, an the neck of the landform were to be broken, Withernsea Island, would be created. But who knows?