Paull’s attractions can be grouped around two interests: coastal history embodied in buildings, and walks with a particular landscape in mind. They include Paull Holme Tower and Paull Point Battery, as well as several lighthouses; there is also a route along the coastal path and a walk with views over the Humber Estuary. If you’re looking for a hotel in Paull, this distinction can help you choose the focus of your stay: architectural features and historical dates, military coastal history, or a particular walking route and its scenery.

Coastal history embodied in buildings

Paull Holme Tower is a brick tower dating from the late 15th century. It has a tunnel-vaulted basement and two upper floors. Its materials, basement design and number of floors offer a specific starting point for exploring the tower’s architecture. Its date also provides useful context: the tower was built long before The Old Lighthouse, erected in 1836, and the Low Lighthouse, dating from 1870.

Paull Point Battery brings military coastal history to the fore. It comprises an enclosed Victorian coastal artillery battery and the remains of an underwater mine installation. It was built between 1861 and 1864 and was originally armed with 19 guns. The construction dates and armament provide different historical reference points: the years indicate when it was built, while the number describes its original equipment. Historical re-enactments at Fort Paull cover a period ranging from the Civil War to the 1940s. The Battery therefore focuses on specific construction and armament details, while the re-enactments span a broad period of history.

The Church of St Andrew is a Grade I listed building. There is a café and toilet facilities inside the church. The café in the church provides a practical point of reference for visitors to the historic buildings, while the church itself remains a distinct architectural highlight.

Lighthouses: height, purpose and construction dates

The form of Thorngumbald Clough High Lighthouse is clearly described: its tower has three tiers and stands approximately 12 metres high. Thorngumbald Clough Low Lighthouse, by contrast, can be placed in context by its origins: it was built in 1870 for Trinity House. The available points of comparison therefore differ: the High Lighthouse is defined by its layout and approximate overall height, while the Low Lighthouse is defined by its construction date and commissioning body.

It is important to distinguish the construction phases of The Old Lighthouse and Adjoining Keepers' Houses. Francis Dale built the lighthouse in 1836 for Trinity House; the adjoining keepers’ houses date from the later 19th century. The year 1836 therefore refers to the lighthouse, not the keepers’ houses. Looking at the building’s history, you can distinguish two dates and different structures in this example.

Choose a walk based on its scenery

Walk: Paull follows the coastal path alongside the Fort Paull Museum. The route is therefore characterised by the coastal path and its connection to the museum. Route details may change, so check the current route description before setting out.

A walk at The Old Lighthouse passes an old fort and a new “lagoon” and offers views across the wide Humber Estuary. The description is shaped both by the landmarks along the way and by the views across the water. When choosing between the two walks, you can therefore decide based on the scenery you prefer: the coastal path and Fort Paull Museum on one hand, or the fort, “lagoon” and views over the Humber on the other.

You can also group the historic sites by interest when planning your visit: Paull Holme Tower offers architectural features dating from the late 15th century, the Battery provides specific details about 19th-century coastal defences, and the lighthouses have their own distinctive designs or construction phases. The walks offer a different focus, with either a route description or views over the estuary. This way, you can shape your stay in Paull around the subject that interests you most, rather than treating the different buildings and walks as a single attraction.

Discover more destinations: Skipsea, Beeford, Thwing, Arnold, Ulrome, Eastrington, Beverley, Swanland.

For the broader travel guide: East Riding Of Yorkshire.