A VANISHING YORKSHIRE VILLAGE. 
51 
rivers in definite channels has less influence in this direction than 
the quiet suffusing of the incoming tides. 
The following points are specially desirable to note : the erosion 
of the Holderness coast is constant and exceedingly rapid, and it 
is manifested at Kilnsea and Easington beaches more than any¬ 
where else; next, “in Tunstall there were 7 carucates in soke to 
Kilnsea, and one c.arucate in soke to Withernsea,” we are told in 
the Domesday Survey, and that was equal to some 1280 acres. 
At the enclosure in 1777, there were 800 acres of arable land, 480 
acres having been washed away. The “ Blue Bell ” Inn at Kiln¬ 
sea was erected in 1847, and according to an inscribed stone in 
the wall, it was then 534 yards from the cliff. In 1876 it was 392 
yards away, and at the present time the distance between the 
cliff and the Inn is only 200 yards. Lastly, the original Kilnsea 
village with its church is absolutely and entirely gone, having been 
swallowed up years ago by the voracious sea. 
Kilnsea (the ancient) stood in a totally different position there¬ 
fore relative to the Point to the straggling collection of houses we 
now see, and much further to eastward. 
It will be obvious that if the sea cannot be artificially kept back 
by groining and embanking, in course of time Spurn Point will 
become Spurn Island, and Kilnsea had better remove bodily 
further inland and join itself to Easington. 
Among the most fascinating books I have read is one written by 
Mr. Boyle, entitled, “The Lost Towns of the Humber.” It would 
appear that some three or four more or less important towns have 
during historic times been situated where the Humber mud-flats 
are now the only feature of the landscape, every one of them 
swallowed up by sea and mud. 
Ravenspurne, Ravenserodd, Friskmersk, Sunthorp, and others, 
all gone, and no trace left to mark their former existence. Of 
Friskmersk and Sunthorp comparatively little is known, and 
Boyle will best tell you what there is if you read his admirable 
book. 
Ravenspurne and Ravenserodd, however, are so intimately 
connected with the subject of this paper, that it is necessary to 
touch upon their origin and history. 
So far as can be ascertained, the most ancient place of fixed 
habitation in the Southern part of Holderness, as far as written 
evidence can be produced, appears to have been the Presidium 
(or Garrison) of the Romans, which there is reason to believe was 
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