Vintage Views with Aled Jones: a classic cobles fleet image
This vintage postcard captures the essence of Bridlington’s once thriving leisure boat industry, as traditional sailing cobles joyfully sail through the harbour mouth on a beautiful summer’s day.
Harking back to 1908, this image offers an enchanting look at the Edwardian era, where the coble boats played a pivotal role in the town’s lucrative holiday trade.
The coble boats, with their powerful lug sails and shallow draughts, are a sublime example of the age-old craftsmanship that was once a characteristic part of harbour life at Bridlington.
During the winter, these iconic boats were primarily used for both line-fishing and distribution of goods between Bridlington and the neighbouring towns and villages along the coast.
Cobles were even used as lifeboats in the town, especially by local fishermen and as the initial rescue vessel before the formal establishment of the RNLI station in 1805.
Their sturdy build made them adept at handling the unpredictable currents and stormy waters of the North Sea. The coble design first appeared as early as the 5th century, and was brought here by the invading Angles who established fishing settlements on the coast north of the Humber.
In Edwardian Bridlington cobles could be chartered for the day – for a trip to one of the fish banks where good catches could be made by rod-and-line.
For those who preferred sightseeing at Flamborough or Bempton rowing boats were hired by teams of men eager for a splendid view of the coast.
The rowers (left) show what the average male wore on a rowing trip around the bay in the 1900s - a suit, shirt, collar, tie, and of course, a hat!
By the time this photograph was taken the kings of the sea at Bridlington were the mighty paddle steamers Scarborough and Frenchman. Both ran regular trips around the bay, to “blow the cobwebs away,” and “grand” excursions running to Scarborough and Whitby.
Built by Lewis & Stockwell in 1866 for Gainsborough United Steam Packet Company, the 150 ft long Scarborough must have found it difficult to get in and out of harbour.
The earliest recorded paddle steamer at Bridlington was the United Kingdom, which in 1845 charged 2s 6d for a one-way trip to Scarborough – equivalent to £45 in 2025!
The huge crowds packed along the North Pier show just how popular Bridlington was at that time, but there is also the likelihood of the image having been taken on Regatta Day in August.