David Vernon the chairman, welcomed members to the April meeting and gave an update of the progress of members who are ill. After an excellent lunch he then introduced the guest speaker, Chris Robinson whose presentation was about Filey’s Ancient Harbour or the Spittals Project. Chris is a marine engineer and had worked on ships and rigs at sea for more than 10years. He has a degree in Environmental Science. His interest in local history was inspired by Harry Freer the onetime head at Filey School.
Jutting from Filey Brigg is an area of rocks and Chris once asked an old Filey fisherman what it was and was told that it was the old pier remains. Chris was then determined to discover more and via a group from Filey Diving Club research was carried out, supported by a grant of £25000 from the EU. Preliminary work was done to discover more about the origins of Spittals (pier rocks). This was done by aerial light aircraft, a shore survey and by boat using differential GPS. The conclusion was that it was made of stone in the form of boulders, it stands alone on a sloping sandy plain and is clearly defined from the surrounding seabed.
The next stage of the investigation was conducted by the Nautical Archaeological Society, whose leader was John Buglass, who had been involved in the raising of the Mary Rose. After examining the site and a detailed survey using transects and studying stone samples and types, Buglass was convinced that it was a pier. In February 2018 “the beast from the East” scoured away much sand and stone from the site and revealed what looks like the side of a wooden jetty.
An Admiralty Hydrographic Survey produced a bathymetric chart which has revealed a long structure. Chris made reference to historical references to a pier at Filey. In 1278 there was a reference to “the right to bring whales ashore at Fiveley pier. In 1588 there was reference to an anchor point between “Filey pier and Filey Bridge”, in 1637 “Filo pier had been defaced and ruined”. On an 1866 Ordnance Survey map a pier is apparent.
Chris concluded his talk with questions ....Could it be a Glacial Moraine? Is it a tidal accumulation of boulders? And Are the boulders from the Brigg? He answered these questions by saying that it is a man made structure. Further investigations continue. The number of questions and discussion indicated how well members had been entertained and on their behalf David Palin gave an appropriate vote of thanks.
Further information can be found on www.probusbridlington.weebly.net
Jutting from Filey Brigg is an area of rocks and Chris once asked an old Filey fisherman what it was and was told that it was the old pier remains. Chris was then determined to discover more and via a group from Filey Diving Club research was carried out, supported by a grant of £25000 from the EU. Preliminary work was done to discover more about the origins of Spittals (pier rocks). This was done by aerial light aircraft, a shore survey and by boat using differential GPS. The conclusion was that it was made of stone in the form of boulders, it stands alone on a sloping sandy plain and is clearly defined from the surrounding seabed.
The next stage of the investigation was conducted by the Nautical Archaeological Society, whose leader was John Buglass, who had been involved in the raising of the Mary Rose. After examining the site and a detailed survey using transects and studying stone samples and types, Buglass was convinced that it was a pier. In February 2018 “the beast from the East” scoured away much sand and stone from the site and revealed what looks like the side of a wooden jetty.
An Admiralty Hydrographic Survey produced a bathymetric chart which has revealed a long structure. Chris made reference to historical references to a pier at Filey. In 1278 there was a reference to “the right to bring whales ashore at Fiveley pier. In 1588 there was reference to an anchor point between “Filey pier and Filey Bridge”, in 1637 “Filo pier had been defaced and ruined”. On an 1866 Ordnance Survey map a pier is apparent.
Chris concluded his talk with questions ....Could it be a Glacial Moraine? Is it a tidal accumulation of boulders? And Are the boulders from the Brigg? He answered these questions by saying that it is a man made structure. Further investigations continue. The number of questions and discussion indicated how well members had been entertained and on their behalf David Palin gave an appropriate vote of thanks.
Further information can be found on www.probusbridlington.weebly.net