What's In A Name?

We were recently asked by University of Salford student Rahela Choudhury if we could provide her with information about the origins of the name Cleethorpes. Friends of Cleethorpes Heritage are always happy to help and group member Jennie Mooney has hit the books and come up with the following information.  

CAMERON, Kenneth

A Dictionary of Lincolnshire Place Names published in Nottingham by the English Place Name Society 1998

Clee: from Old English claeg, clay, clayey soil

Thorp: Old Danish

DAVENPORT'S Illustrated Guide to Cleethorpes 1884

The township forms part of the old part of Clee, which is said to have derived its names from the Celtic word 'cleis' chalk.

Davenport's Guide goes on to describe Cleethorpes as 'a long, straggling, but improving village…..'

DOWLING, Alan

Cleethorpes: the creation of a seaside resort published by Phillimore in 2005

The parish includes the inland parent village of Clee and four separate hamlets. One of these, Weelsby, lay inland, but the other three Oole, Itterby and Thrunscoe, were on the coast. The hamlets were known as 'thorpes of Clee' signifying that they were only settlements.'

If you have any other burning questions about the history of Cleethorpes and the surrounding areas, please submit them to us using our 'contact us' page and we will do our best to supply the answers.