Withernsea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Withernsea |
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 Pier Towers, Withernsea |
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 Withernsea
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| Population | 6,159 (2011 census) |
| OS grid reference | TA344277 |
| • London | 150 mi (240 km) S |
| Civil parish |
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| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WITHERNSEA |
| Postcode district | HU19 |
| Dialling code | 01964 |
| Police | Humberside |
| Fire | Humberside |
| Ambulance | Yorkshire |
| EU Parliament | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| UK Parliament |
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Withernsea is a seaside resort town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, and forms the focal point for a wider community of small villages in Holderness. Its most famous landmark is the white inland lighthouse, rising around 127 feet (39 m) above Hull Road. The lighthouse – no longer active – now houses a museum to 1950s actress Kay Kendall, who was born in the town.
The Prime Meridian crosses the coast to the north-west of Withernsea.
According to the 2011 UK census, Withernsea parish had a population of 6,159, an increase on the 2001 UK census figure of 5,980.
History
Like many seaside resorts, Withernsea has a wide promenade which reaches north and south from Pier Towers, the historic entrance to the pier, built in 1877 at a cost of £12,000. The pier was originally 399 yards (365 metres) long, but was gradually reduced in length through several impacts by local ships, starting with the Saffron in 1880 before the collision by an unnamed ship in 1888, again by a Grimsby fishing boat and again by the Henry Parr in 1893, leaving the once grand pier with a mere 50 feet (15 metres) of damaged wood and steel, which was removed in 1903. The Pier Towers have been refurbished.
During the mid-19th century the Hull and Holderness Railway was constructed, connecting the nearby city of Hull with Withernsea (via Keyingham and Patrington) and making possible cheap and convenient holidays for Victorian workers and their families, as well as boosting Withernsea's economy. It closed in 1964 and all that remains of it is an overgrown footpath where the track used to be.
Withernsea, like many British resorts, has suffered from a decline in the number of visiting holidaymakers.
Landmarks
Some of the town's better-known tourist attractions and landmarks include:
- The lighthouse situated on Hull Road with a museum dedicated to the actress Kay Kendall.
- The Pier Towers leading onto a Blue Flag beach.
- Valley Gardens with a large square and outside stage for local events and celebrations.
- Various amusement arcades (informally known as 'muggies') that line the road opposite the Valley Gardens.
- An RNLI lifeboat museum.
- The parish church of St Nicholas, a Grade II* listed building.
- The Greenwich Meridian; Just outside the town.
Withernsea Town Council
Withernsea Town Council has been in existence since 1986 and contains 11 councillors; 5 from the North Ward and 6 from the South. Preceding the Town Council was the Withernsea Parish Council which existed from 1984-1986 and preceding that was the Withernsea Urban District Council which existed from 1898-1974.
The current Mayor of Withernsea is Cllr. Matthew Lloyd who has been Mayor since May 2016 and his current term ends in May 2017. The Deputy Mayor is Cllr. Terry Dagnell.
The next full council election is due to take place in 2019 when all councillors will be up for election. Here are the results of the last full council election and the subsequent by-elections:
| Withernsea Town Council election 5 May 2011 North Ward | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Anne Blake | 254 | ||||
| James Arthur Blake | 140 | ||||
| Loraine Frances Clark | 133 | ||||
| Gordon Mervyn Hodgson | 300 | ||||
| Terry Render | 307 | ||||
| Independent | John Windas | 467 | |||
| Married father of one daughter | Stewart Winters | 186 | |||
For the North Ward the following were elected: Anne Blake, Gordon Mervyn Hodgson, Terry Render, John Windas, and Stewart Winters.
| Withernsea Town Council election 5 May 2011 South Ward | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Brian Michael Cloke | 307 | ||||
| Graham John Gibson | 216 | ||||
| Keith Hardcastle | 474 | ||||
| Heather Jean Hilton | 172 | ||||
| Michael Kevan Hough | 360 | ||||
| Georgie Owens | 324 | ||||
| Patrick Michael Spicer | 335 | ||||
| Sandra White | 191 | ||||
| Independent | Stuart Woodruff | 470 | |||
For the South Ward the following were elected: Brian Michael Cloke, Keith Hardcastle, Michael Kevan Hough, Georgie Owens, Patrick Michael Spicer, and Stuart Woodruff.
A by-election for the North ward was called following the resignation of Terry Render.
| Withernsea Town Council by-election 20 December 2012 North Ward | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Fiona Edgington | 64 | 48.48% | |||
| Callum Hollingworth | 67 | 50.76% | |||
| Majority | 3 | 2.28% | |||
| Turnout | 132 | 5.4% | |||
The following was elected for the North Ward: Callum Hollingworth.
A by-election was called for the South Ward following the resignation of Stuart Woodruff.
| Withernsea Town Council by-election 21 February 2013 South Ward | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Fiona Edgington | Uncontested | ||||
The following was elected in the South Ward by-election: Fiona Edgington.
A by-election was called for the South Ward following the resignation of Michael Kevan Hough.
| Withernsea Town Council by-election 24 July 2014 South Ward | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Dave Edwards | 67 | 28.76% | |||
| Matthew Lloyd | 99 | 42.49% | |||
| Alisdair James Watson | 67 | 28.76% | |||
| Majority | 32 | 13.73% | |||
| Turnout | 233 | 8.92% | |||
The following was elected for the South Ward: Matthew Lloyd.
A by-election for the North Ward was called following the resignation of John Windas
| Withernsea Town Council by-election 21 August 2014 North Ward | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Dave Edwards | Uncontested | ||||
The following was elected for the North Ward: Dave Edwards.
A by-election for the South Ward was called following the resignation of Fiona Garnett (née Edgington)
| Withernsea Town Council election 21 August 2014 South Ward | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Peter David Millard | 72 | 34.95% | |||
| John Michael Tasker | 79 | 38.35% | |||
| Alisdair James Watson | 55 | 26.7% | -2.6% | ||
| Majority | 7 | 3.4% | |||
| Turnout | 207 | 7.9% | -1.02% | ||
The following was elected for the South Ward: John Michael Tasker.
The full council elections due to be held on 7 May were unconstested.
| Withernsea Town Council election 7 May 2015 South Ward | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Terry Dagnall | UNCONTESTED | ||||
| Keith Hardcastle | UNCONTESTED | ||||
| Matthew Lloyd | UNCONTESTED | ||||
| Patrick Michael Spicer | UNCONTESTED | ||||
| John Tasker | UNCONTESTED | ||||
| Majority | |||||
| Turnout | |||||
Terry Dagnall, Keith Hardcastle, Matthew Lloyd, Patrick Michael Spicer and John Tasker were subsequently elected. Brian Cloke was co-opted to fill the sixth seat.
| Withernsea Town Council election 7 May 2015 North Ward | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Pete Barker | UNCONTESTED | ||||
| Dave Edwards | UNCONTESTED | ||||
| Silvia Lafleur | UNCONTESTED | ||||
| Stewart Anthony Winters | UNCONTESTED | ||||
| Majority | |||||
| Turnout | |||||
Pete Barker, Dave Edwards, Silvia Lafleur and Stewart Anthony Winters were duly elected. Gary Chambers was co-opted to fill the fifth seat.
A by-election for the North Ward was called following the resignation of Pete Barker.
| Withernsea Town Council by-election 26 November 2015 North Ward | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Loraine Frances Clark | 46 | 26.14% | |||
| Patrick Wilkinson | 130 | 73.86% | |||
| Majority | 84 | 47.8% | |||
| Turnout | 176 | 8% | |||
Patrick Wilkinson was duly elected. Note when he was elected he was the youngest Councillor in the UK aged just 18 years and 43 days old.
A by-election was called following the resignation of Gary Chambers
| Withernsea Town Council by-election 30th June 2016 North Ward | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Darren England | UNCONTESTED | ||||
| Majority | |||||
| Turnout | |||||
Darren England was duly elected
A by election was called following the resignation of Patrick Spicer
| Withernsea Town Council by-election 15th September 2016 South Ward | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| David Hillman-Barnett | 38 | 22.75% | |||
| Eric Leslie Saxby | 129 | 77.24% | |||
| Majority | 91 | 54.5% | |||
| Turnout | 167 | 6.1% | |||
A by-election was called following the resignation of Silvia LaFleur and Darren England.
| Withernsea Town Council by-election 3rd November 2016 North Ward | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Lucy Carter | 100 | 39.53% | |||
| Independent | David Hillman-Barnett | 57 | 22.53% | -0.22% | |
| Felicity Walmsley | 96 | 37.94% | |||
| Majority | |||||
| Turnout | 7.3% | ||||
Lucy Carter and Felicity Walmsley were duly elected.
Gallery
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Withernsea Bus Depot
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Teddy's Amusements
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Valley Gardens
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Withernsea Bowling Club
- Withernsea in the Domesday Book
- Images of England — details from listed building database (166637) – St Nicholas' Church
Economy
Following an unsuccessful attempt to purchase the Proudfoot Supermarket, Tesco opened a competing store which originally struggled to attract sales. Tesco resorted to a campaign of price flexing, offering customers £8 off for every £20 spent in their Withernsea branch. This led to an investigation by the Competition Commission. After their market share increased, Tesco prices returned to a level closer to the national average. Subsequently, Aldi took over the former Proudfoot supermarket, and are now offering very competitive opposition to Tesco. Meanwhile, the Withernsea Town Council has bought a former pub and nightclub, centrally located opposite Aldi, and has renamed it the Meridian Centre. A lottery bid for over £400,000 - Reaching Communities building fund - has been successful, and the building is now being refurbished to provide a community centre, including a cinema and performing arts venue.
There is a 9-hole golf course and leisure centre complex (with a gym and indoor pool) and a variety of pubs and restaurants are situated around the centre of the town.
Education
There are a number of primary schools located in Withernsea which serve the surrounding area. Withernsea High School is the main secondary provider and has a technology college. The high school was refurbished in 2015.
Notable people
- Dick Davis, English-American poet, teacher, and award-winning translator of Persian poetry, grew up in Withernsea during the 1950s.
- Charles Hotham was vicar of Withernsea from 1640 to 1644.
- Birthplace of jazz musician Kenny Baker (1921–1999).
- Actress Kay Kendall was born in Withernsea in 1927.
- Birthplace of footballer Stuart Gray.
- The Ruby Red Performers, a group of dancers who appeared on the 9th series of Britain's Got Talent in 2015, are from Withernsea.
