BandstandFiley Heading Wishing Well

Fishing
Cobble LandingFiley has supported a fishing station for over 800 years, which reached its peak around 1870 with no less than 100 vessels employing 400 men. After 1870 the number of men employed fell to about 250 and stayed at that figure up to the First World War but by 1959 the figure had dropped to 58.Today the industry in Filey is struggling to survive, with only three cobles and one fishing boat remaining.
Many visitors to Filey for the first time, and perhaps aware of Filey's fishing history, are surprised to find that there is no harbour and are fascinated to see the launching and recovering of the present day cobles by the tractor. Before the introduction of the tractors in 1940 horses did this work.

Sailing
Filey Sailing Club The sheltered Filey Bay is an ideal place for dingy sailing.Since the formation of the Filey Sailing Club in 1951 there has been a continuing growth in the use of the bay for sailing. The club's popular annual regatta is held in July The premises of the club on cliff face north of Arndale Ravine have experienced continual storm damage and cliff slippage in the past, which led to a large new purposeful clubhouse being built towards the bottom of the same ravine.Further information can be obtained from the Society's web page. (see Links)

Filey Lifeboat
Keep Fit Association Inshore boat There has been a lifeboat station since 1804, the RNLI taking over the running of the station in 1853. The lifeboat house built in 1889 was demolished and rebuilt in 1991 to form the present building to house the new and present lifeboat the Mersey Class "The Keep Fit Association". The new lifeboat arrived at Filey on the 21st May 1991 and took up duty on the 2nd June 1991 The first launch was on the 5th June 1991 to go to the assistance of a Filey coble, the "Ocean Reward B" which had developed engine failure, some 3 miles east of Filey Brigg. The Keep Fit Association and a local "lifeboat appeal", together with other gifts and legacies, had raised the cost of the boat, £455,000.
click here to see photos of the Filey Lifeboat

To replace the D class inflatable Inshore Lifeboat,"Rotary District 1120", on the 25th January 2010 the Filey lifeboat station took delivery of a new inshore lifeboat, IBI/D-728 Class Lifeboat, "Braund", paid from the legacy of the late Joan Braund.

Sea Angling
Beacon Filey is a popular spot for sea angling both from the Brigg and from boats in the bay. The Filey Brigg Angling Society runs its popular annual Fishing Festival during the first week in September, which attracts anglers from afar.
Further information can be obtained from the Society's web page. (see Links)




Bird Watching
Yellow browed Warbler Grey PhalaropeFiley is a popular bird watching spot. At migration times it never fails to turn up some rarity. The local group fresh from its success in creating the Dams Nature Reserve turned its attention to creating further suitable habitats for both breeding and wintering birds at Parish Wood, the Old Tip and lately the Totem Pole Field. All of which are attractive to migrants.



Filey Floods
After continuous heavy rain during the early hours of Saturday 10th August 2002, Filey woke up to find severe flooding in several parts of the town. Public and private properties were damaged. Many residents had to leave their flooded homes and were not able to return for many months. All this occurred because of the failure of the antiquated drainage/sewerage system to cope.

Five years later, on Wednesday 18th July 2007, Filey again suffered heavy flooding.
This time it followed several short but dense showers in less than an hour early that afternoon. One resident described the downfalls like a solid pouring of water out of large bucket. Many homes were flooded, some the same as in 2002, some on the Seadale Gardens estate, built since the flooding of 2002. Parts of the cliff at Crescent Gardens and Crescent Hill collapsed. Martins Ravine was severely damaged. Filey School, Downcliffe House Hotel, and several shops in the town centre suffered flooding and severe damage. Again the drainage system was found wanting.

After much local pressure, Yorkshire Water made some improvements in an attempt to alleviate the problems of heavy rainfall in the town. Further work was started in December 2009 to prevent flooding in the main to properties in Muston Road, near the railway crossing. The second stage of this work, started at the beginning of January 2010, and was completed in the following April.