CORDEAUX : THE SPURN. 



3 



those of the latter empire, have frequently been picked up on the 

 beach below the cliffs. 



The chief historical interest associated with the promontory 

 centres in the ancient port of Ravenspurne, Ravensrode, 

 Ravensburgh or Ravenser — for the name is variously written. 

 Northmen and Danes probably made much use of this port, which, 

 like Grimsby on the opposite coast, afforded them unusual facilities in 

 their marauding excursions ; and of both it may be said — 



' The old sea- faring men 

 Came to me now and then, 



With their Sagas of the seas ; 

 Of Iceland and of Greenland, 

 And the stormy Hebrides. ' 



The Humber port was a large and flourishing place at a time when Hull 

 was a poor fishing village, a borough also in the reign of the first, 

 second, and third Edwards, sending two members to Parliament. 

 There was a fair here which lasted thirty days, commencing on th^ 

 eve of the nativity of Our Lady (Sept. yth), besides two weekly 

 markets. In 1332 Edward Baliol sailed from Ravensburgh with 

 a considerable army, and on arriving in Scotland was crowned king. 

 In 1399 the young Duke of Lancaster landed and commenced 

 the campaign which placed him on the throne as Henry IV., and 

 in 147 1 Edward of York, returning from Flanders, landed and 

 moved on York, subsequently to march southward and fight the 

 battle of Barnet, an event which placed him likewise on the throne 

 of England, and dyed the white rose of York a crimson red. 



Leland, writing circa 1540, places Ravensburg at the extreme 

 point of Yorkshire just within the Humber, and from this date 

 we hear no more of the famous port. The actual site of old 

 Ravenspurne is probably somewhere in the bay to the north-westward 

 of the lighthouses. 



There was probably a watch tower, or a light, on the promontory, 

 at the time ot the Romans, and some think Ptolemy's ocellum (the 

 little eye) may have reference to this. The first historical light or 

 beacon was placed on the Spurn by the hermit Richard Reedbarrome 

 in 1428; and in 1677 a lighthouse was erected on Conny hill 

 (wherever that may be) by Mr. Justinian Angel, of London, by 

 patent of Charles II. In later years (1786) Smeaton erected a 

 lighthouse which was superseded by the present modern erections. 



To have a just idea of the position and proportions of the 

 headland we should view it from the lantern of the higher lighthouse, 

 from which point of vantage we overlook the entire length of 

 ' The long low dune, and lazy plunging sea. * 



Aug. 1884. 



