Kilnsea is a small hamlet of approximately 280 hectares (700 acres). In 1988, to
protect the area from inappropriate development, from Long Bank to the tip of Spurn
Point was designated as the Spurn Heritage Coast. From the boundary with Long Bank
to Spurn gate is about two kilometres or just over one and a half miles. Kilnsea
has less than 30 households, a pub, (the Crown and Anchor), and an Information Centre/tea-
About us. We moved to Kilnsea,in 2001, having been associated with the area since the early 1980s.. Pete died on May 4th 2012, after he suffered a serious stroke in November 2011. I believe he would want me to continue this web site, because we made it together.
P
Pete . I was born in Hull into a seafaring family and was brought up in Beverley
in the East Riding of Yorkshire. After completing full-
I have been interested in Lepidoptera since the late 1980s and operate a garden moth
trap. My moth records include those from our previous Cottingham garden trap (1989
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Since retiring I became interested in modern poetry, particularly the work of the locally born (Easington) British and Canadian poet, Robin Skelton. I have also written poetry myself (since 2002). Most of my poems are published on the website of Poem Hunter. I have also included a selection of my poems on this site .
Other interests include motorcycling (owner of a Kawasaki ZRX 400), Egyptology, art,
photography, Asmara and the country of Eritrea, local history (especially early 19th-
Jan. I was born in Smethwick, near Birmingham. My maiden name was Beal. I worked at Birmingham University Library, where I met Pete. After our marriage we lived in Bearwood, Smethwick, and had a son, William (Bill), and a daughter, Lorraine (Rainie). Subsequently we moved to East Yorkshire, where I became a student at Hull University studying history and gaining a Ph.D. I began teaching courses on the history of the East Riding for Hull University and for the Workers' Educational Association, and on the arts and family and community history for the Open University. I have written books and articles on local history, on a variety of topics, including Victorian Beverley, agricultural history, and aspects of the history of Spurn and Kilnsea.
When we moved to the coast I retired from teaching, but continued my research, which
in the last few years has concentrated upon Spurn and Kilnsea. My book on the area,
entitled The People Along the Sand: the Spurn peninsula and Kilnsea, a history, 1800
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I have gathered an extensive collection of photographs, maps, tapes of interviews and documents and continue to collect material both locally and via the internet. I am always willing to share it. A local group, the Spurn, Kilnsea and Easington Area Local Studies Group (SKEALS) has been formed to undertake further research. Its web page may be accessed by clicking on its name above.
In my spare time I enjoy this unique area, walking our dog, Kelbi, and visiting our
little nature reserve, which is a two-
After Pete died I had no hesitation in staying in Kilnsea, where we have been so
happy, have so many good friends, and where I feel closest to him. My life is enhanced
by my wonderful grand-
Why Wilgilsland?
Wilgils was a hermit, and the first known resident of a peninsula at the mouth of the Humber, in the late 7th century.