North Riding, East Riding and West Riding are the real parts of Yorkshire, a riding being a third part of an area. A South Riding therefore could never have existed, but was created by Winifred Holtby to cover the East Riding south of Flamborough (Hardrashead) and east of Hull (Kingsport). The main town in the story, Kiplington, is a hybrid of Withernsea and Hornsea.