Hornsea

Coordinates: 53°54′39″N 0°10′03″W / 53.9108°N 0.1676°W / 53.9108; -0.1676

Hornsea
Hornsea coast
Hornsea  Hornsea shown within the East Riding of Yorkshire
Population	8,243 (2001 Census)[1]
OS grid reference	TA203476
Parish	Hornsea
Unitary authority	East Riding of Yorkshire
Ceremonial county	East Riding of Yorkshire
Region	Yorkshire and the Humber
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	HORNSEA
Postcode district	HU18
Dialling code	01964
Police	Humberside
Fire	Humberside
Ambulance	Yorkshire
EU Parliament	Yorkshire and the Humber
UK Parliament	Beverley and Holderness
List of places: UK • England • Yorkshire

Hornsea is a small seaside resort town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England at the eastern end of the Trans Pennine Trail. According to the 2001 UK Census Hornsea parish had a population of 8,243.^[1] It is well known for its former pottery factory, which closed in 2000, Hornsea Pottery. Along with exhibits of fascinating local history, the largest display of Hornsea Pottery in the world can be seen at the Hornsea Museum, which is located in Newbegin, the main street of Hornsea. Opposite stands the unique 'Folly', although currently its future is in doubt; built by local business man Bettison in the 19th century, this tower contains the only fully working retractable flag pole in the country^{[citation needed]}. It has many coastal defences such as sea walls, groynes and beach nourishment. Despite these defences, Hornsea's primarily cliff-based shoreline is eroding at one of the fastest-known rates in Europe.^[2]

Like the larger resorts in the area, (such as Withernsea, Bridlington, Filey and Scarborough), the town has a promenade with shops selling fish and chips, ice cream, bucket and spade sets and other traditional seaside paraphernalia. Like many seaside resorts of yesteryear its facilities have been allowed to deteriorate.

Hornsea Mere, a large lake and bird sanctuary, lies near the town and is popular for sailing. Hornsea Mere is a natural lake (not manmade) which was created by glacial movement during the Ice Age.

Trans Pennine Trail end marker on Hornsea seafront

From 1854 to 1964 Hornsea had a railway station on the Hull and Hornsea Railway which connected it to Hull. This line was opened by Joseph Armitage Wade, whose house once stood where Hornsea School and Language College stands today. A cottage close to the school was once visited regularly by Lawrence of Arabia; and Winston Churchill visited, and was photographed in, another house nearby. Other famous visitors to the town are Anne, Princess Royal who opened the lesiure centre, and the Victorian novelist Charlotte Brontë.^[3] After the railway was recommended for closure by Dr Richard Beeching (see British Rail) in his report The Reshaping of British Railways, the trackbed became the final lap of the Trans Pennine Trail. The old railway line is now a well-maintained walking and cycling (bicycles only) trail. It is a very pleasant trail with appropriate stopping points for picnic lunches. On the southern edge of Hornsea (near the site of Hornsea Pottery, closed 2000) is a large shopping centre known as Hornsea Freeport, which was the first shopping centre of its kind in this part of the north-east, adapting the original UK theme park set up by Hornsea Pottery in its heyday.

Governance

Hornsea sits in the Parliamentary constituency of Beverley and Holderness.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Hornsea

• Hornsea Town Council
• Hornsea Scouts
• Hornsea School
• Hornsea Museum