1086
The Cleethorpes area is recorded in the Domesday Book
The modern town of Cleethorpes did not yet exist in 1086. The area consisted of several separate settlements within the ancient parish of Clee. Clee, recorded as Cleia, Itterby and Thrunscoe appear in the Domesday record, while Oole (or Hole) was another of the settlements that later formed the town. The name Cleethorpes reflects this history: Clee refers to the clayey soil, while thorpe is a Scandinavian word for an outlying or secondary settlement.
April 1863
The Railway Comes to Cleethorpes
On Easter Monday, 6 April 1863, the Manchester, Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway opened its extension from Grimsby to Cleethorpes, bringing the railway directly to the seaside. Excursion trains soon carried thousands of visitors from the industrial towns of Yorkshire and beyond to enjoy the beach. On 3 August 1863, some 10,000 people arrived in Cleethorpes by train in a single day, demonstrating the railway's enormous impact on the growing resort.
July 1906
Lady Henderson Opens Kingsway
12 July 1906 – Lady Henderson officially opened Kingsway, Cleethorpes' magnificent new seafront promenade. Built to reclaim land from the sea and protect the town from coastal erosion, the project created a massive sea wall, broad promenade, carriage drive and landscaped gardens, transforming a once-fragile shoreline into one of England's finest seaside frontages. Lady Henderson, wife of Sir Alexander Henderson, Chairman of the Great Central Railway, performed the opening before large crowds during a day of celebrations, with streets decorated in bunting and tramcars specially adorned for the occasion. More than a century later, Kingsway remains one of Cleethorpes' defining landmarks.
September 1936
Cleethorpes Becomes a Municipal Borough
On 23 September 1936, Cleethorpes celebrated its new municipal borough status following the granting of its Charter of Incorporation by King Edward VIII, becoming one of the few towns to receive a Charter of Incorporation during his brief reign. During a ceremony in Sidney Park, Lord Heneage ceremonially presented the Royal Charter to Charter Mayor Sir George E. J. Moody.
December 1970
19 December 1970 – Genesis perform at Humberstone Foundation School
On a Saturday evening, progressive rock band Genesis performed at Humberstone Foundation School (better known locally as Clee Grammar Boys School) in Cleethorpes, giving pupils the opportunity to see the future rock legends just two months after the release of their second album, Trespass.
January 1971
Elton John performs at the Winter Gardens, Cleethorpes
Elton John appeared at the Winter Gardens, Cleethorpes, on 11 January 1971 as part of his Tumbleweed Connection Tour. He was accompanied by Dee Murray on bass, Nigel Olsson on drums and Davey Johnstone on lead guitar. The set included “Your Song”, “Border Song”, “Country Comfort”, “Take Me to the Pilot” and “Burn Down the Mission”, with “Your Song” soon to become his first major UK hit. It was an early appearance by an artist who would go on to become one of the world's most successful performers.
March 1974
19 March 1974 – Queen perform at the Winter Gardens
Queen performed at the Winter Gardens in Cleethorpes, supported by Nutz, giving local audiences the opportunity to see the future global rock legends just days after the release of their second album, Queen II.
