(Image by David Wright)
The town of Grimsby has a rich and vibrant history and has been around since the 9th century AD. According to legend, the name Grimsby derives from the name Grim who was a Danish fisherman. During the last 1200 years, numerous iconic buildings have been built in Grimsby, and during this article, we will tell you about some of the oldest.
1. Old Clee Church, built before 1000 AD.
This beautiful church is the oldest building in Grimsby dating from before 1000 AD and retains its gorgeous 11th-century Saxon tower. The nave and transept date from 1192, when the church was rededicated by Bishop St Hugh of Lincoln, and the central tower was also added at this time. For many years it was the parish church for the farming and fishing villages of Clee and Clee Thorpes, now part of Grimsby.
2. St James Church, built before 1114 AD.
Another church makes our list, but this time the exact date when it was built is a mystery.
The first mention of a church being on the St James site is 1114 although the actual founding of St. James is not definite. At one time or another some of the rooms in the church have been used as a school room, storage for the town's fire engine, and also the venue for election of the town's mayors.
(info from http://www.visitoruk.com/Grimsby/st-james-church-C565-AT361.html & https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grimsby)
3. The Dock Tower, built in 1852 AD.
The famous Dock Tower was completed on 27 March 1852 with the purpose of containing a 30,000-imperial-gallon (140,000 L) reservoir at a height of 200 feet (61 m), that was used to provide hydraulic power to power the machinery of the Grimsby Docks.[1] The extreme height of the tower was necessary to achieve sufficient pressure, and as a result of this, the tower can be seen for several miles around, even far inland on the north bank of the River Humber in villages such as Patrington.
4. Waltham Windmill, built between 1878 and 1880 AD.
A working 19th-century six-storied, and six-sailed, windmill which shows how the life of a miller was in days gone by. It was built originally between 1878 and 1880 by John Sanderson on the site of two previous mills which had both been destroyed by gales. During the 20th-century the mill suffered from damage and decay and it was not until the formation of the Waltham Windmill Preservation Society in 1966 that its restoration began. Today, you can enjoy some lovely tea and cakes at the local cafe, as well as a ride on the miniature train.
5. Cleethorpes Pier, built in 1872 AD.
Finally we talk about one of the areas most famous buildings, which is Cleethorpes Pier. Cleethorpes Pier was originally built in 1872 by Head Wrightson at a cost of £8000. Measuring 1200 feet it was officially opened on August Bank Holiday 1873. Fifteen years later a concert hall was added at the pier head but unfortunately this was destroyed by fire in 1903. The pavilion which exists today was built in 1906. Visitors may wonder why the pier is considerably shorter than its original length and today is only 355 feet long. During World War 2, measures to combat enemy invasion meant that a middle section of the pier was removed and later the Government were not able to afford its replacement. As a result the isolated seaward section was demolished.
Over recent time the pier has been a nightclub, tea rooms and is currently a large fish and chip restaurant.