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

Today’s image is a drawing of the parish church at Withernsea, date uncertain. Withernsea’s original early medieval church was destroyed by coastal erosion in the 15th century. In 1488 a new replacement church was opened further inland. This church remains in pretty good condition although in 1609 its roof was ripped off in a violent

This photo shows the cliff line immediately north of the concrete promenade at Withernsea. Crossing the fields to the east of their hamlets the people of Owthorne and Withernsea in the 18th century, for example, (s.p.b.) would have had to create some safe way of getting down to the beach to collect stones rounded by

Today’s photo shows a section of the seafront at Withernsea with the large blocks of Norwegian granite breaking the force of the waves at the base of the concrete promenade. Jeffrey’s map of the East Riding, 1775, shows the two ‘sister kirk’ communities of Owthorne and to its south Withernsea as two tiny communities, with

At the northern end of Withernsea’s concrete promenade and granite boulders is a flight of stairs from the beach to the top of the promenade. Beyond this some boulders were deposited (see above) but it is surprising how little coastal erosion there has been north of these. There was some expectation that reinforcing bits of

Withernsea beach at low tide reveals an expanse of sandy beach that would be the envy of many more prestigious seaside towns. In fact the whole of the Holderness coast is made up of pristine sandy beaches often completely deserted, although this is, to a large extent, a result of there being very few access