Sheppard : Coast Changes at Hornsea. 



115 



there are considerably less. Whytehead, writing in 1786, 

 recorded that ' there is nothing now worth notice in the place, 

 consisting only of one or two farm houses.' 



Between 1845 and 1876 the loss of land at Hornsea Burton 

 farm house was four feet a year, whilst between 1876 and 1882 

 the loss was fifteen feet a year, the increase being probably due 

 to the erection o^ groynes at Hornsea. Thus a strip of land 

 71 yards wide was washed away between 1845 and 1882. The 

 view of the cottage on the accompanying photograph (plate 

 VIIL), shows that its future life will not be a long one. 





The Marine Hotel, Hornsea, in 1845. 



Much of the clift shown in this copy of an old print, has since been washeil away. 



About the year 1550 Holinshed published a ' list of such 

 ports and creeks, as our seafaring men doo note for their benefit 

 upon the coasts of England,' and in it he mentions ' Hornessie- 

 becke.' A little later, just before the Armada scare, a gaudily- 

 coloured ' Plotte made for the description of the Rivxr of 

 Humber and of the sea and Seacoost from Hull to Skarburgh ' 

 was prepared, an excellent reproduction of which was published 

 by Messrs. Peck & Son, Hull, some years ago. Upon this a 

 creek at Hornsea, for the anchorage of small vessels, is distinctly 

 shewn, as well as a pier. To-day, of course, there is absolutely 

 no creek or harbour whatever, the only water joining the sea 

 being the Mere 'stream-dyke,' which can be easily jumped over, 

 and is dried up in the summer. 



With regard to this pier, from an Inquest held in the reign 

 of James I., it seems that the structure had cost /3000 (a Very 



J912 April 1. 



