History

17th Century

Without the head of Filey lieth a rock underwater called Filey Bridge betwixt it and the pier, you may safely lie afloat with a ship of 100 lasts in 5 fathoms at low water’
( Blaeu’s Sea Mirror, 1625)

The above entry and chart in Blaeus Sea mirror of 1625 appears to be a direct reference to the Spittals.

The Bedgroom's Harbour

‘There was an ancient pier on the north coast of county York called ‘Filo pier’ which has been for may years defaced and ruined…’

On 11th December 1637 King Charles 1st's Groom to the bed chamber Endymion Porter petitioned the King to undertake harbour works at Filey. Nothing came of his request, possibly because the English Civil War intervened. Endymion was elected to the House of Commons in 1640. He was a poet, courtier and made money through involvement in various monopolies, fine collections and customs dues. He backed the Royalist side in the Civil War and escaped to France in 1645