7 fascinating facts about the Yorkshire Coast

Well it turns out folks have been living on the Yorkshire Coast for 11,000 years! From medieval traditions in Whitby and architectural masterpieces in Scarborough, North Yorkshire to the changing name of the town we now call Bridlington in the East Riding of Yorkshire. We’ve been looking at some of the stranger history and unusual claims to fame of our Yorkshire Coast...

Scarborough's record breaking Victorian hotel: The Grand

Built over four years, at a cost of more than £100,000, the Grade II listed Grand Hotel overlooks the South Bay and harbour. When it opened in 1867, it was the largest hotel in Europe. It is in the shape of a 'V' in honour of Queen Victoria. It has four towers to represent the seasons, 12 floors for the months of the year, 52 chimneys – one for each week and originally there were 365 bedrooms - one for each day of the year.

The first residents of the Yorkshire Coast

The oldest house in Britain was found at Star Carr near Seamer. It’s dates back to around 9000BC. Archaeologists started work on the site back in the 1950s. They’ve found headdresses thought to be used in rituals, harpoons used for hunting and fishing and the earliest evidence of carpentry anywhere in Europe.

Did the folklore legend ever visit Robin Hood's Bay?

No one really knows why we have a village that seems to be named after a character from Nottinghamshire folklore. There doesn’t seem to be any evidence to suggest that Robin Hood, or any historical character he may have been based on, ever visited the Yorkshire Coast. What we do know is that in the 18th century, Bay was the busiest smuggling port in the area. There was a network of secret hiding places and passages under the houses.

Bretlinton, Burlington and Bridlington: The town's changing name

Bridlington has had a few names over the years. In The Domesday Book back in 1086 it was known as Bretlinton. Later it became Burlington – which you still see around town in the names of local businesses and the school. The original town centre was what we now call the Old Town. The town spread out towards the coast when tourism became popular in Victorian times.

Scarborough in World War I

The first civilian killed on British soil during World War One died in Scarborough. On the morning of Wednesday 16th December 1914, two German battlecruisers shelled the town for half an hour, before heading up the coast to do the same to Whitby and Hartlepool. Leonard Ellis, one of 18 killed that day, died outside the chemist shop in which he worked in South Street.

Whitby’s “Penny Hedge” tradition

Not just a pub near Sainsbury’s, “The Penny Hedge” is an ancient tradition in the town. It dates back to 1159 when three hunters killed a monk who protected a Wild Boar they were chasing. As punishment, The Abbot of Whitby said every year on Ascension Eve (which usually falls in May or June) the hunters and their descendants would have to build a short hedge from stakes woven together on the banks of the Esk. They were only allowed to use a knife “of a penny price” but the hedge had to be strong enough to survive three tides.

Scarborough: Home to the longest railway bench in the world!

Scarborough Railway Station has what is thought to be the longest bench in any railway station in the world. It’s 139 metres long!

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