Source : 'HOLLYM a Yorkshire Village' by Kathleen Fisher , Highgate Publications (Beverley) Ltd. 1990

Hollym is a small village in the Holderness region of East Yorkshire. The settlement appeared as Holderness Lake in the Domesday Book, but was known as Holam, Holeym and others, all of which meant 'homesteads near the hollow' in the Language of the ' Angles ' who occupied much of the region. Hollym is a linear settlement, typical of many small villages in Holderness, spread out along two parallel roads... Northside Road and South Carr Dales Road (Originally) Southside Road. The village is located on very fertile boulder clay soils, with a red clay sub-soil. The village is 7m above sea level, but nearby a lofty height of 15m asl is achieved and near the Winestead Drain, the land descends to 7m below sea level. The Plough Inn : It seems that in the 1700's there were two Public Houses in the village, but now, only the Plough remains. It is a building which has undergone much change over the years, but the older part, now forming the 'public bar' was constructed of 'boulders and soil' and possibly dates from the 16th Century. There is also a phase of 'Victorian' building, forming the 'Lounge Bar' and much of the 'private accommodation' has been developed in the storage / hay lofts from this era. Modern extensions and improvements provide the ' letting accommodation' on the first floor and parts of the 'games room' and 'kitchen / storage' area on the ground floor.

The Coastline of Holderness

The Holderness coast is the most rapidly eroding coastline in Europe. Low cliffs of Boulder Clay and Glacial Till are easily worn away by the force of the North Sea. Coastal erosion of more than a metre per year is not unusual.

The Holderness Region extends from the Chalk Cliffs North of Bridlington, at Flamborough Head to Spurn Point on the Humber Estuary. The coastline tells a story of villages and land lost to the sea since people occupied the region and this pattern has continued to the present day.

Spurn Point itself, a feature formed by the deposition of the material eroded from the Cliffs to the north, is under constant attack by the waves, especially in winter. There are fears that the point may soon be 'cut off''. Spurn has undergone many such episodes over time, and is in fact a temporary and ever changing feature.

Late Summer 2006 produced some of the highest tides in history. The coast was exposed to the full force of the sea, but fortunately winds remained fairly light, so erosion was not extensive.

However, much beach material was transported south and wave cut platforms of clay exposed in many areas around Withernsea. Autumnal Tides were also high at times and the removal of beach material continued resulting in continued erosion ;