Coates is a township in the ecclesiastical parish of Barnoldswick.

The Humber River flows into the North Sea, dividing Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, with the major ports of Hull and Grimsby located on the river. Defence of these ports has been critical during wars. This book traces the history of those defences which were located on Spurnhead in the parish of Kilnsea, Paul Point in the parish of Paull, both in Yorkshire, and at North Coates and Grimsby in Lincolnshire.