26 o 
The Spittal at Filey Brig. 
Geological, Topographical, and Antiquarian in Eastern 
Yorkshire 5 (210 pp.), now a scarce book. He wrote, ‘ In 
this bay there is some evidence of an attempt having been 
once made by some long bygone people (possibly the Romans), 
to form a harbour in its bosom, but no proof exists of its 
having ever been completed. A foundation about two^ 
hundred yards in length, and thirty in width, drying at low 
spring -tides (composed of unshaped stones, each of which a 
man or two may carry), projects obliquely from the rocky 
ledge, Filey Bridge, and points 12 or 13 degress within Flam- 
borough Head (or S. 36° E. true bearing). This foundation, 
which is named Spittle, was probably laid before any attempt 
to construct a harbour at Scarborough was made. But the 
castle -hill there, being always a stronger natural fortress than 
Filey Point (for in former ages one lawless tribe, without 
much provocation, invaded another), the harbour here was. 
doubtless therefore abandoned, and one finally fixed at the 
foot of Scarborough castle-hill, which was afterwards improved 
from that town having become early privileged. The harbour 
at Filey was at all events left unfinished/ And on Plate 6 
he gives a plan of the Brig, etc., showing the position of the 
Spittal and the way in which he considers it might be utilised. 
This plan (which is reproduced herewith) also shows the 
‘ Old Keys Rock ’ referred to below. 
Three years later Dr. W. -S. Cortis printed some ‘ Remarks 
on the Discovery of Roman and British Remains at Filey/’ 
in the Transactions of the Scarborough Philosophical and 
Arch ecological Society. He wrote, ' Somewhat beyond the 
middle of the Brig, striking off from it at an angle of 45 0 , we 
find the foundations of a pier or breakwater, now called the 
Spittal Rocks (from Hospitium?), and at the angle of the 
bay another work still known as the Old Key Rocks ; when 
these works existed above high water mark, they would com- 
plete an excellent harbour for vessels of the size of Roman 
galleys ; easy of access at all times of. the tide, protected 
from every wind, and sufficiently capacious for one of their 
fleets. A few years ago there still existed here a stone to 
which the Roman sailors had often moored their galleys, and 
is even yet remembered as ‘ the old mooring stone * ; it was 
a flat piece of rock projecting from the cliff, having through 
it a large hole worn by the frequent passing of ropes. It was 
some years since removed by some Goth, who attempted to 
get stone from Filey Brig, with which to build a pier at 
Bridlington/ 
It is such reports as these, unsupported by a single scrap 
of evidence, which have given rise to the rumours as to the 
Roman origin of the Spittal. But zoological friends to whom 
I have spoken — who have known the Spittal for years, and 
Naturalist 
