The Bayle Museum

The Bayle stands stoically in the heart of Bridlington’s Old Town area. It’s bordered by a green, the impressive Priory Church and private houses of some antiquity. Nearby stands the well preserved, historic High Street (mainly 18th century). The Bayle itself is a squat, rugged affair that defies the passing centuries. The interior seems deceptively larger than the exterior suggests.

Bridlington was originally two settlements: Burlington, near the Augustinian Priory, plus the lesser Bridlington Quay. Conventional wisdom said that the Bayle had been built in 1388 as a fortified entrance for the Priory. Modern examination of the brickwork suggests that it may actually have been a gatehouse as early as the 12th century. From the outside you can see the labour of countless hands that have patched it up through the ages. Why did men of God need a fortified gatehouse you might ask? Well, Bridlington had long been troubled by sea raiders; indeed Yorkshire had been settled by Vikings as part of the ‘Danelaw’. Danger didn’t always come from the sea. In 1143 the Earl of York had attacked and occupied the Priory as a castle for four years (during a conflict between two great families). It’s possible that he – William le Gros - had the original gatehouse built. In later centuries the coast would see fighting in the Anglo-Dutch wars and the American war of independence.

Saint John of Thwing was prior at Bridlington by 1363; the last English saint made before the Reformation. He would have been familiar with the original Bayle. Accounts say that John cured the sick, raised the dead and even walked on water. Many pilgrims, including Henry V, would have passed through or by the Bayle on their way to St John’s shrine. Imagine watching as King Henry arrived, on pilgrimage, prior to the great battle of Agincourt.

Henry VIII dissolved the priory in 1537, during the Reformation. The Manor of Bridlington passed to the crown and then into private hands. Most crucially for the Bayle, thirteen townsmen became custodians of the manor under the Great Town Deed of 1636. The elected Lords Feoffees (assisted by twelve others) still meet at the Bayle although they are now a registered charity and major local landlord. A flag flies from the roof when they are in session. On the wall is a stone plaque bearing the BBB device (the meaning of which is much debated).

On stepping through the Bayle’s iron gates one should note the vaulted ceiling and the corbels (including depictions of King Richard II and - perhaps - Anne of Bohemia). The heavy interior doors are redolent of a prison. For nearly 400 years the Bayle was in fact a place of justice and punishment. Trials were conducted in the Court Room and, until 1840, petty criminals held in the Kidcote (a small gaol). A figure behind bars represents Jane King, who was imprisoned in 1667 for theft and prostitution. The Lords Feoffees and Assistants now meet in the Court Room. It’s worth looking at the furniture there, purchased during the 20th century. It was made by the renowned Robert Thompson of Kilburn – the ‘Mouseman’ – whose pieces are decorated with a carved mouse. The room also contains the 17th century court rolls, and Constable’s accounts.

A winding, stone staircase leads one past the figure of a monk in the Garderobe chamber. Sorry brother! Waste from this medieval toilet fell down the chute and collected outside. Please note that the upper three floors of the museum may be inaccessible for people with restricted mobility. It’s not the fault of the owners; 14th century architects didn’t trouble with such things. Certainly there is no wheelchair access to those levels.

During the English civil war Queen Henrietta Maria was forced to take shelter at Bridlington Quay, in the February of 1643. She’d been in the Netherlands to raise arms, money and munitions for her husband (Charles I). The queen then spent two weeks at a house in the old town and, as a token of appreciation, left a pair of gloves that may still be seen in the Bayle museum.

During the Napoleonic wars (1793 to 1815) Bridlington – and the Bayle – were garrisoned. Graffiti from the period, etched on the walls, is preserved behind clear plastic. There is a special display relating to the Green Howards regiment which has long been associated with Bridlington. Amongst many other military items is a rare breech loading swivel gun, used on ships between 1550 and 1650.

From 1636 until 1826 the Bayle also served as a boys’ Grammar School. Sundry skittles and wooden tops from that period have been found in the garderobe chutes.

One of the most impressive treasures in the Bayle Room is the 14th century Breviary. It is an illuminated manuscript book, used in services. The Breviary was actually written at the original Augustinian Priory and the Lords Feoffees bought it at auction in 1993.

The Bayle is a little gem of a museum. It’s not just for lovers of local affairs but proof that the tides of history wash many a shore.

Further information

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Dean Maxwell

Dean Maxwell is a lifelong Bridlingtonian and is very interested in local history. The museum that he has chosen reflects the history of the town of Bridlington.