Clarabella Bridle

Born on September 3, 1790, Clarabella Bridle belongs to a departed golden age of true British eccentrics. Much mocked during her lifetime, she was remembered with such affection that her hometown changed its name to permanently memorialise a cherished daughter.

Born to an affluent family on the North sea coast of Yorkshire, Bridle was expected to grow up and marry well. These hopes were dashed in early adolescence, when Bridle developed scoliosis that left her essentially unmarriageable. A remarkable physician from York recommended that she take regular exercise in order to minimise the impact of the deformity on her quality of life. In order to strengthen her back and mitigate the worst effects of the condition that would not be curable by surgery for more than a century, Bridle took to swimming in the sea off Flamborough head.

Swimming at the time was virtually unheard of as a recreational pursuit. The North Sea, particularly in winter, makes the undertaking daunting even in the era of neoprene wetsuits. Nevertheless, from the age of fourteen until her death at the age of 50, Bridle would take to the waters every day, except when ill-health or adverse weather made it impossible, and swim great distances, sometimes covering as much as four miles at a time. Since swimwear in a recognisable form would not be available for some decades, Bridle would perform this feat fully clothed. She became something of a curiosity, with locals gathering on Flamborough head to watch and cheer, not always in the best spirit.

As time went on, she attracted imitators, who, either for sport or their own health, joined her on her daily swim. The activity became known as ‘Bridling’, and her hometown became so well known for this diversion the people would travel from larger resorts like Scarborough and Filey in order to participate. After her death, the local mayor took the decision to rename the town ‘Bridlington’, a name it retains to this day.