It is situated on the North Sea coastline in an area known as Holderness, lying approximately 3 miles (5 km) south of the seaside resort of Hornsea.

A public school was established in 1820 by subscription and run under the ideas of educationalist Andrew Bell.

Occupations included six farmers, a carpenter, a corn miller, and a schoolmaster who was also the parish clerk.

The success of this project has created a larger higher sandy beach for Mappleton, and the erosion has slowed to a point where it is no longer a threat to the settlement.

Due to these sea defences, the area directly south of the village now suffers from an even greater rate of erosion.