Filey Through Time

This fascinating selection of photographs traces some of the many ways in which Filey has changed and developed over the last century

The North Yorkshire seaside town of Filey started life as an important fishing village. Whole families were employed in the industry and the fish caught here were transported to Lancashire and beyond, first by horse and cart and later by train. The railway''s arrival in North Yorkshire had a dramatic effect, as suddenly fish was available to the workingclass masses of the industrial towns and cities. By the late nineteenth century, 160 fish wagons were leaving Filey station daily.As tourists began to flock to the town to ''sea bathe'' for their health, hotels sprang up on the seafront, hosting many wealthy and distinguished Victorian visitors, such as Charles Dickens, J. R. R. Tolkein, and even royalty! Tourism has remained the lifeblood of Filey ever since. In the 1950s, the heyday of seaside holidays, Filey and the nearby Butlins holiday camp attracted thousands of visitors every year and day trippers still flock to the town today.