ii6 Sheppard : Coast Changes at Hornsea. 



large sum in those days), and that 2500 tons of timber had been 

 necessary to repair it. 



In more recent years a pleasure pier was erected at Hornsea, 

 but this, too, has gone. 



So long ago as 1228, Walter de Spiney gave to Meaux Abbey,; 

 near Beverley, his ' whole profit of merchandise and of every 

 ship applying at the port of Hornsea.' The power of making 

 this grant was disputed, the profits collected on vessels lying 

 north of Hornsea Beck apparently belonging to the domain of 

 Hornsea, while south of the stream they belonged to the lord 

 paramount of Holderness. As a consequence Meaux Abbey 

 did not benefit from the tolls. 



In these early times, too, we get evidence of the effects of the 

 loss of land. From an inquisition held at Hedon in the year 

 1400, it is evident that in 1334 Meaux Abbey held at Hornsea 

 Burton 2^ acres of arable land, for which they received 2s. 

 per annum, but of which at the close of the century one acre 

 alone remained. Thus, in the fourteenth century, 26 acres 

 had been washed away during a period of seventy-six years. 



Similarly, in 1609, an oath was made to the following effect : 

 ' We find decayed, by the flowing of the sea in Hornsea Beck, 

 since 1546, 38 houses, and as many closes adjoining. Also 

 we find, since the same time, decayed in ground the breadth 

 of 12 score yards throughout the field of Hornsey, being a mile 

 long, and pai'cel of the aforesaid manor. We further find that 

 there will be great hurt and damage to the king's demesnes, 

 and pasture grounds near adjoining the said Hornsey Beck, 

 within the manor of Hornsey, to the great hurt and impoverish- 

 ing of the inhabitants of Hornsey, if that a present remedy be 

 not made, either by re-edification of a peare or some other 

 good defence for the same, for the safeguard of the said lands 

 and country adjoining. And further, for the charge of the 

 same, we find that the last peare built at Hornsey cost £3000 or 



thereabouts, and it will cost much more than it did then 



John Galloway, of Hornsey, pannierman, of the age of 80 years, 

 says he had known 39 houses and 39 closes wasted away, of the 

 yearly rent to the king of 58sh. 6|d., and that thei-e doth 

 usually every year waste the breadth of 40 feet, which is more 

 than heretofore ; and that there are divers meadows and pasture 

 grounds, called the King's Demesnes, of the yearly value of 

 £11 i8s. antient rent, which will in short time be wasted and 

 consumed, with a great part of the town of Hornsey, without 

 a peare, which he thinketh will amount to 2500 trees. Edward 

 Harrison, of Seeton, husbandman, aged eighty years, says that 

 he has known 300 yards washed away, and that there was a 

 peere at Hornsey Beck, during the continuance whereof the 

 decay was very little." 



On November ist, 1757, Mr. Joseph Harrison measured 



Naturalist,. 



