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Withernsea

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Withernsea
Pier Towers, Withernsea
Population6,159 (2011 census)[1]
OS grid referenceTA344277
• London150 mi (240 km) S
Civil parish
  • Withernsea
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townWITHERNSEA
Postcode districtHU19
Dialling code01964
PoliceHumberside
FireHumberside
AmbulanceYorkshire
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Yorkshire

Withernsea is a seaside resort town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, and forms the focal point for a wider community of small villages in Holderness. Its most famous landmark is the white inland lighthouse, rising around 127 feet (39 m) above Hull Road. The lighthouse – no longer active – now houses a museum to 1950s actress Kay Kendall, who was born in the town.

The Prime Meridian crosses the coast to the north-west of Withernsea.

According to the 2011 UK census, Withernsea parish had a population of 6,159,[1] an increase on the 2001 UK census figure of 5,980.[2]

History

St Nicholas' Church

Like many seaside resorts, Withernsea has a wide promenade which reaches north and south from Pier Towers, the historic entrance to the pier, built in 1877 at a cost of £12,000. The pier was originally 399 yards (365 metres) long, but was gradually reduced in length through several impacts by local seacraft, starting with the Saffron in 1880 before the collision by an unnamed ship in 1888, again by a Grimsby fishing boat and again by the Henry Parr in 1893, leaving the once grand pier with a mere 50 feet(15 metres) of damaged wood and steel, which was removed in 1903. The Pier Towers have been refurbished.[3]

During the mid-19th century the Hull and Holderness Railway was constructed, connecting the nearby city of Hull with Withernsea (via Keyingham and Patrington) and making possible cheap and convenient holidays for Victorian workers and their families, as well as boosting Withernsea's economy. It closed in 1964 and all that remains of it is an overgrown footpath where the track used to be.[4][5]

Withernsea, like many British resorts, has suffered from a decline in the number of visiting holidaymakers.[6]

Withernsea sea front

Economy

Following an unsuccessful attempt to purchase the Proudfoot Supermarket, Tesco opened a competing store which originally struggled to attract sales. Tesco resorted to a campaign of price flexing, offering customers £8 off for every £20 spent in their Withernsea branch.[7] This led to an investigation by the Competition Commission.[8][9] After their market share increased, Tesco prices returned to a level closer to the national average. Subsequently Aldi took over the former Proudfoot supermarket, and are now offering very competitive opposition to Tesco. Meanwhile the Withernsea Town Council has bought a former pub and nightclub, centrally located opposite Aldi, and has renamed it the Meridian Centre. A lottery bid for over £400,000 - Reaching Communities building fund - has been successful, and the building is now being refurbished to provide a community centre, including a cinema and performing arts venue.

There is a 9-hole golf course and leisure centre complex (with a gym and indoor pool) and a variety of pubs and restaurants are situated around the centre of the town.[10]

Landmarks

Withernsea Lighthouse

Some of the town's better-known tourist attractions and landmarks include:

  • The lighthouse situated on Hull Road with a museum dedicated to the actress Kay Kendall. The lighthouse was closed from January 2005 to March 2007, while extensive repairs to the building were carried out, before re-opening to the public.
  • The Pier Towers leading onto a Blue Flag beach.
  • Valley Gardens with a large square and outside stage for local events and celebrations.
  • Various amusement arcades (informally known as 'muggies') that line the road opposite the Valley Gardens.
  • An RNLI lifeboat museum.
  • The parish church of St Nicholas, a Grade II* listed building.[11]
  • The Greenwich Meridian; Just outside the town.

Media

The area is served by BBC Radio Humberside, Viking FM, Seaside FM, Capital Yorkshire, KCFM & Magic 1161 although these radio stations rarely report any local news or events. Ofcom awarded Seaside FM a community radio licence to broadcast to the town on 105.3 MHz and the station launched on 5 October 2007 from studios at 27 Seaside Road. Weekly newspaper The Holderness Gazette also has offices on Seaside Road.

Education

Withernsea's education sector includes a primary and a high school which serve the surrounding area. Withernsea High School is a specialist technology and humanities college and was judged as Grade 2 (good), "with outstanding features" in its most recent Ofsted report.[citation needed]

Public services

Withernsea has its own hospital owned by the NHS which was subject to services cuts and lost its Accident and Emergency Department facility,[12] it is now a community hospital. Withernsea has four emergency service stations located within the town, Yorkshire Ambulance Service; Humberside Fire and Rescue Service; Humberside Police and Royal National Lifeboat Institution station.

Notable people

Charles Hotham was vicar of Withernsea from 1640 to 1644.

The town is the birthplace of jazz musician Kenny Baker (1921-1999).[13] Actress Kay Kendall was born in Withernsea in 1926[14]

Withernsea Town Council

Withernsea Town Council has been in existence since 1986 and contains 11 councillors; 5 from the North Ward and 6 from the South. Preceding the Town Council was the Withernsea Parish Council which existed from 1984-1986 and preceding that was the Withernsea Urban District Council which existed from 1898-1984.

The current Mayor of Withernsea is Cllr. Anne Blake and her consort is Cllr. Gordon Hodgson, she has been Mayor since May 2014 and her current term ends in May 2015. The Deputy Mayor is Cllr. Graham Gibson and the Deputy Mayoress is Janet Gibson.

The next full council election is due to take place on the 7th of May 2015 when all councillors will be up for election. Here are the results of the last full council election and the subsequent by-elections:

Withernsea Town Council election 2011 North Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
{{{party}}} Anne Blake 254 {{{percentage}}} {{{change}}}
{{{party}}} James Arthur Blake 140 {{{percentage}}} {{{change}}}
{{{party}}} Loraine Francis Clark 133 {{{percentage}}} {{{change}}}
{{{party}}} Gordon Mervyn Hodgson 300 {{{percentage}}} {{{change}}}
{{{party}}} Terry Render 307 {{{percentage}}} {{{change}}}
{{{party}}} John Windas 467 {{{percentage}}} {{{change}}}
{{{party}}} Stewart Winters 186 {{{percentage}}} {{{change}}}

"Parish and Town Council elections". www2.eastriding.gov.uk. Retrieved 30 July 2014. </ref>


  • Withernsea Bus Depot
    Withernsea Bus Depot
  • Teddy's Amusements
    Teddy's Amusements
  • Valley Gardens
    Valley Gardens
  • Withernsea Bowling Club
    Withernsea Bowling Club

References

  1. ^ a b "Key Figures for 2011 Census: Key Statistics: Area: Withernsea CP (Parish)". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  2. ^ "2001 Census: Key Statistics: Parish Headcounts: Area: Withernsea CP (Parish)". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 20 May 2008.
  3. ^ "BBC Bus – Withernsea". BBC Humber. BBC. 22 August 2003. Retrieved 22 July 2008.
  4. ^ Price, Peter (1 January 1989). Lost Railways of Holderness, The Hull Withernsea and Hull Hornsea Lines. Hutton Press Ltd. ISBN 0-907033-86-5. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  5. ^ Butt, R. V. J. (October 1995). The Directory of Railway Stations: details every public and private passenger station, halt, platform and stopping place, past and present (1st ed.). Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 978-1-85260-508-7. OCLC 60251199. OL 11956311M.
  6. ^ "Reinventing the seaside". BBC News Online. BBC. 19 August 2006. Retrieved 22 July 2008.
  7. ^ Pratley, Nils (6 January 2005). "Shop tactics". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 22 July 2008.
  8. ^ "main party responses emerging thinking no 3" (PDF). Retrieved 19 September 2008.
  9. ^ "Groceries Market inquiry: Main party submission" (PDF). Retrieved 19 September 2008.
  10. ^ "Withernsea Town Council – home page". Withernsea Town Council. Retrieved 22 July 2008.
  11. ^ Historic England. "Church of St Nicholas (1366257)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  12. ^ "Hospital – Withernsea Community Hospital Managing Trust Information". National Health Service. Retrieved 22 July 2008.
  13. ^ "Jazz great Baker dies". BBC News Online. BBC. 9 December 1999. Retrieved 22 July 2008.
  14. ^ "Kay Kendall". www.imdb.com. Retrieved 22 July 2008.
  • Gazetteer – A–Z of Towns Villages and Hamlets. East Riding of Yorkshire Council. 2006. p. 12.

Media related to Withernsea at Wikimedia Commons

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