The February meeting was held at the Expanse Hotel on Thursday when chairman John Heaton welcomed members and guests from Beverley Probus Club, who included John Townend the former Member of Parliament for this constituency. The speaker was Michael Fearon, a native of Filey and former pupil of Bridlington School. The title of his talk was “Maritime Engagements off the Yorkshire Coast”. Sitting in a hotel lounge looking out across Bridlington Bay to Flamborough Head it was easy to imagine the events being described actually taking place.
The speaker began by suggesting that the first peoples to come ashore in this bay were Anglo Saxons, with the evidence in many local village place names. These were followed by the Romans with evidence of a Roman jetty , extending from the Brig, and revealed at very low tides. In 1066 Harald Hardraada brought a huge fleet down the coast, burned down Scarborough, assembled off Flamborough Head and in the bay and sailed up the Humber before being defeated by Harold at Stamford Bridge.
In the Middle Ages Filey came under the jurisdiction of Bridlington Priory and the fishing fleet at Filey, which was much bigger than Bridlington’s, paid tithes to the Priory. A dispute arose when Filey fishermen landed their catch at Whitby but still were expected to pay tithes to the Priory and not Whitby. The Pope established a commission to adjudicate which found in favour of the Priory!
In the late 16th Century piracy was a serious problem off this coast and shipping was frequently attacked in these busy east coast shipping lanes. A commission under the Earl of Huntingdon identified 22 pirates at Scarborough, 3 at Filey, 2 at Whitby and 7 at Bridlington.
Smuggling was also a common practice in the area and continued until recent times. This was mainly centred on the smaller, more remote places such as Robin Hood’s Bay, Staithes and along the Holderness Coast. The main commodities smuggled were wool, gin and other liquors, tea and coffee
In an effort to control smuggling dragoons were stationed at strategic points along the coast.
54 vessels, including 2 galleys, of Mary, Queen of Scots fleet were in Bridlington Bay 1561 having reassembled after dispersing in fog after leaving Calais.
A substantial remnant of the Spanish Armada would have made an amazing sight as it sailed past Flamborough Head on its way home after defeat.
The speaker gave a graphic description of the Battle of Flamborough Head and how John Paul Jones, waiting off South Landing in the Bonhomme Richard, launched an attack in what was described as the bloodiest naval battle of the American War of Independence and thus became the father of the American navy.
In the two world wars the coast saw further action. In 1914 Scarborough was shelled and there were a number of fatalities. In the same action the Germans laid mines which were a constant danger to shipping. It was a common sight in the Second World War to see convoys slowly making their way along the horizon.
Michael concluded an absorbing talk by stating that the number of wrecks in the bay and off the Head give an indication of just how many engagements there have been off this coast.
The vote of thanks for a fascinating and entertaining talk was given by Jim Hornsby.
The speaker began by suggesting that the first peoples to come ashore in this bay were Anglo Saxons, with the evidence in many local village place names. These were followed by the Romans with evidence of a Roman jetty , extending from the Brig, and revealed at very low tides. In 1066 Harald Hardraada brought a huge fleet down the coast, burned down Scarborough, assembled off Flamborough Head and in the bay and sailed up the Humber before being defeated by Harold at Stamford Bridge.
In the Middle Ages Filey came under the jurisdiction of Bridlington Priory and the fishing fleet at Filey, which was much bigger than Bridlington’s, paid tithes to the Priory. A dispute arose when Filey fishermen landed their catch at Whitby but still were expected to pay tithes to the Priory and not Whitby. The Pope established a commission to adjudicate which found in favour of the Priory!
In the late 16th Century piracy was a serious problem off this coast and shipping was frequently attacked in these busy east coast shipping lanes. A commission under the Earl of Huntingdon identified 22 pirates at Scarborough, 3 at Filey, 2 at Whitby and 7 at Bridlington.
Smuggling was also a common practice in the area and continued until recent times. This was mainly centred on the smaller, more remote places such as Robin Hood’s Bay, Staithes and along the Holderness Coast. The main commodities smuggled were wool, gin and other liquors, tea and coffee
In an effort to control smuggling dragoons were stationed at strategic points along the coast.
54 vessels, including 2 galleys, of Mary, Queen of Scots fleet were in Bridlington Bay 1561 having reassembled after dispersing in fog after leaving Calais.
A substantial remnant of the Spanish Armada would have made an amazing sight as it sailed past Flamborough Head on its way home after defeat.
The speaker gave a graphic description of the Battle of Flamborough Head and how John Paul Jones, waiting off South Landing in the Bonhomme Richard, launched an attack in what was described as the bloodiest naval battle of the American War of Independence and thus became the father of the American navy.
In the two world wars the coast saw further action. In 1914 Scarborough was shelled and there were a number of fatalities. In the same action the Germans laid mines which were a constant danger to shipping. It was a common sight in the Second World War to see convoys slowly making their way along the horizon.
Michael concluded an absorbing talk by stating that the number of wrecks in the bay and off the Head give an indication of just how many engagements there have been off this coast.
The vote of thanks for a fascinating and entertaining talk was given by Jim Hornsby.