The Sea Wall in Robin Hood’s Bay: History, Purpose and Art

Last week I took a walk along the sea wall and I noticed that the restored mosaic panels along the sea wall have been reinstalled, bringing colour and life back to this part of the Bay.  If you haven’t walked along it before, the sea wall offers a quieter, gentler alternative to the steep hill and a lovely way to reach the top of the village.

The sea wall in Robin Hood’s Bay plays a vital role in protecting the village from the power of the North Sea. Often overlooked, it is both a key flood and coastal defence and, home to one of the Bay’s most colourful and meaningful public artworks.

Why Is There a Sea Wall in Robin Hood’s Bay?

The sea wall in Robin Hood’s Bay was built in 1974 to protect the village from coastal erosion and storm damage. Between 1780 and 1974, more than 200 properties were lost to the sea, including much of what was once King Street, the original main road into Lower Bay.

Today, the sea wall protects around 40 nearby properties and, in total, 186 properties, many of them listed buildings, depend on it for protection. A plaque on the wall commemorates its construction and was unveiled on 4th November 1975 by the Marquis of Normanby, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant.

Standing 46ft (19m) high and stretching 525ft (160m) long, the sea wall is the largest structure maintained by the local council. In 2023, a £1.7 million refurbishment ensured the sea wall remains strong and effective for the future.

It is an essential structure, as without the sea wall the North Sea would have claimed far more of Robin Hood’s Bay than it already has.

The Sea Wall Mosaic: The Story of Bay – Footprints Through Time

One of the most striking features of the sea wall is The Story of Bay – Footprints Through Time, a 50-metre mosaic artwork created by mosaic artist Ruth Wilkinson.

Commissioned in 2016 by the North York Moors National Park, the mosaic runs along the sea wall and tells the story of Robin Hood’s Bay through 50 vibrant panels. The timeline begins in the Jurassic period and continues through smuggling, shipwrecks, fishing, storms, wildlife, and modern tourism.

The mosaics were inspired by stories and memories shared by the local community and are believed to form one of the longest public mosaic artworks in the UK. The project took 15 months to complete and used around 300,000 tiles, known as tesserae.

After years of exposure to the coastal weather, the mosaic panels were removed, restored and reinstalled in late 2024. They now look fantastic and are once again ready to be enjoyed by visitors and locals alike.

Walking the Sea Wall in Robin Hood’s Bay

A walk along the sea wall in Robin Hood’s Bay is well worth doing. It offers beautiful sea views, a glimpse into the village’s long history, and a chance to see the mosaics up close.

From Dock Cottage, head up King Street, past Tea, Toast and Post, and you’ll find the entrance to the sea wall on the right-hand side. On stormy days, it’s an especially dramatic spot to watch the waves crash against the wall and appreciate just how important it is to the Bay. Equally when the tide is out, take a walk along the beach and you can see it close up which gives you a totally different perspective.