Welcome to Richard Clarke's website.
Having been a secondary school history teacher for 36 years and prison tutor for three I now focus on developing my interest in landscape history and on fostering an interest in others as a speaker, tutor, writer, guide and researcher (house and church).
I am available for consultation in areas such as:
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Illustrated talks;
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Presentations;
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Guiding;
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Articles;
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Research.
Recent Posts
Withernsea Improvement Co. 4.
One big part of Bannister’s grand plan (s.p.b.s) was the building of a pier, this considered essential to the success of the project in 1860s. Engineering plans were prepared for an ultra-modern structure but... [more]
Withernsea Improvement Co. 3.
The Hull and Holderness Railway Co. was promoted and largely funded by Anthony Bannister, businessman of Hull. He wanted to develop the terminus at Withernsea as an up-market resort and in anticipation of this... [more]
Withernsea Improvement Co. 2..
The photo above is of a painting by a Mr. Gammidge dated 1880 and showing a sailing ship, the Saffron’, which punched a hole through the newly built Withernsea Pier and was then beached... [more]
Ravenscar – Withernsea.
When thinking about coastal studies, and resorts in particular, it soon happens that similar histories crop-up in different places, indeed this is why local history alone can fall short. The financial failure of the... [more]
Ravenscar 2.
Most of the man-made scars on the cliff-face in the coastline north and south of Ravenscar are not the result of the planned gardens of a new resort (s.p.b.s) but a result of the... [more]
South Cliff Gardens, Scarborough 3 and Ravenscar.
The photo above shows one of the restored shelters (s.p.b.) with a children’s play area being created above on the cliff face. The creation of gardens on a cliff-face is a project that can... [more]