Bridlington

Bridlington, or BURLINGTON, a town in the East Riding of Yorkshire, 6 miles SW. of Flamborough Head, and 23 SSE. of Scarborough. An old-fashioned place, with narrow irregular streets, and with a considerable trade in corn, it is supposed to have been the site of a Roman station. From 1664 till 1753 it gave title of Earl of Burlington in the peerage of England to the Boyle Earls of Cork. An Augustinian priory of immense wealth, founded in the reign of Henry I., is represented by the nave of its splendid church, which, mixed Early English and Perpendicular in style, was restored by Sir Gilbert Scott in 1857. On Bridlington Quay, a mile to the south-east, is Bridlington Quay, the port of the town, which has risen into repute as a watering-place, has fine sands, a parade, ornamental gardens, a chalybeate mineral spring, and hot and cold baths. The bay has good anchorage, and the harbour is inclosed by stone piers. In 1643 Henrietta, queen of Charles I., landed here from Holland with arms and ammunition bought with the crown-jewels, when Bridlington was cannonaded for giving her refuge. Bridlington is noted for its chalk-flint fossils. Hundreds of windbound vessels may sometimes be seen in Bridlington Bay, stretching north to Flamborough Head, which affords good shelter and anchorage. Pop. (1861) 5775; (1891) 8916.