Folios 334-335. William Constable of Burton Constable in the County of York[shire]...

Folios 334-335. William Constable of Burton Constable in the County of York[shire] to the King. Petition showing that his ownership of the manor of Kilnsea in Holderness includes the common and waste ground (the soil and freehold of which belongs solely to him) which ground extends to the extreme point of Holderness to the south where the Humber meets the sea. Two lighthouses were erected by Justinian Angell on a small tract of land, which was supposed to extend beyond the manor of Kilnsea', by virtue or under colour' of certain grants by the late King Charles ll [in 1672]. Angell and those claiming under him have demanded and received payment from all homeward and outward vessels 'passing by, or cross or having any benefit of the lights. Over time the lower lighthouse has been moved closer to the upper one because of erosion rendering the lights useless and, so Constable is informed, 'far from being a secure guide to ships in the night the pilots of such ships are more likely to be deceived and mislaid than assisted'. He has been informed of the petition by Trinity House [see SP 37/4 ff.98-101 above]. He says that no useful lighthouse can be built at or near the Spurn Point except on the common of Kilnsea which is in his undoubted ownership. He is willing to erect and maintain two new lighthouses for which he will incur great expense and therefore prays that he be granted Letters Patent to enable him to demand and collect from and after the building and lighting of the lighthouses, of the masters or owners of all ships (except the King's ships of war) going north or south or into the River Humber such rates and duties as the King thinks just and reasonable to reimburse the said expenses.