A town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It has a population of over 33,000 (expanding greatly in the summer months). The town is a sister town with Millau, France, and Bad Salzuflen, Germany.Bridlington is a seaside resort area and minor seaport on the coast of the North Sea. The town lies just south of the promontory of Flamborough Head. It is served by the Bridlington railway station, which is on the Yorkshire Coast Line that runs between Kingston upon Hull and Scarborough, North Yorkshire. Bridlington sits on the Holderness Coast, an area which is said to have the highest seacoast erosion rates in Europe. Southward the coast becomes low, but northward it is steep and very fine, where the great spur of Flamborough Head projects eastward. The sea front is protected by a sea wall and a wide beach encouraged by wooden groynes which trap the sand. The beaches are part of a large deposit of Smithic Sand which stretches out into the bay in sand banks which are an important habitat for many marine species. The civil parish is formed by the town of Bridlington and the villages of Bessingby and Sewerby. According to the 2001 UK census, the parish had a population of 33,837. The town of Bridlington is divided into two parts The Old Town, the ancient market town (once known as Burlington) lying about a mile from the coast. The old town contains the historic site of the town’s market and The Priory Church of St Mary, on the site of an Augustinian Priory which was dissolved by Henry VIII when the last prior was executed for taking part in the Pilgrimage of Grace. Bridlington Quay, which is the home of the tourist area and the harbour. It has excellent sea-bathing, and the parade and ornamental gardens provide pleasant promenades. The Bridlington Harbour is the key feature of the Quay, which is enclosed by two stone piers. Recently extensive works have been carried out along the sea front and after some struggle with planning permission, a 'London Eye'-style wheel has been built. The origins of the inhabitation of Bridlington area are unknown but can be traced back to ancient times. The nearby Dane's Dyke, a 2.5-mile (4.0 km) long manmade dyke dates back to the Bronze Age. Also some writers believe that Bridlington was the site of a Roman station, as a Roman Road can be traced into the town and Roman coins have been found in the town. The earliest written evidence of the town can be found in the Domesday Book. It records that "Bretlinton" was the head of the Huntow Hundred and was held by Earl Morcar before they passed into the hands of William I of England by the forfeiture. The survey also records the effect of the Harrying of the North as the annual value of the land had decreased from 32 pounds in the time of Edward the Confessor to 8 shillings at the time of the survey and comprised:
“two villeins, and one socman with one carucate and a half. The rest is waste.”
The land was given to Gilbert de Gant, nephew of the King, in 1027. His eldest son, Walter de Gant, later founded an Augustinian priory on the land in 1133 which was confirmed by King Henry I in a Charter. Several succeeding kings confirmed and extended Walter de Gaunt's gift: King Stephen granting in addition the right to have a port; King John granted the prior permission to hold a weekly market and an annual fair in 1200; and Henry VI granted permission for three annual fairs on the Nativity of Mary, and Deposition of and the Translation of St. John of Bridlington in 1446. Also in 1415, Henry V visited the priory to give thanks for victory at the Battle of Agincourt. The town began to be developed around the site of the priory as it grew in importance and size. After the Dissolution of the monasteries, the manor remained with the crown until 1624 when Charles I granted it to Sir John Ramsey, who had recently been created the Earl of Holderness. In 1633, Sir George Ramsey sold the manor to 13 inhabitants of the town on behalf of all the tenants of the manor. In May 1636, a deed was drawn up empowering the 13 men as Lords Feoffees or trust holders of the Manor of Bridlington. In 1643 Queen Henrietta Maria landed at Bridlington with troops to support the Royalist cause in the English Civil War before going on to the city of York which became her headquarters. From early in the history of the town, a small fishing port grew up near the coast, later known as Bridlington Quay. After the discovery of a chalybeate spring, the Quay developed in the 19th century to become a Seaside resort. Bridlington's first hotel was opened in 1805 and it soon became a popular holiday resort for industrial workers from West Yorkshire. The railway station opened on 6 October 1846 between the Quay and the historic town. The area around the new station was developed and the two areas of the town were brought together. Bridlington's popularity has declined with the industrial north and the popularity of cheap foreign holidays. In its heyday it was a leading resort with a nationally-famous dance venue at The Spa, and many famous entertainers have appeared in the town.
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