Open Bridges is an independent not for profit project conceived and organised by Rich & Lou Duffy-Howard. We continue to gather, create and curate memories, stories, photographs, films and exhibitions about life on and around the River Hull.
Hull is situated on the north bank of the Humber estuary, and is known for the Humber Bridge. But Open Bridges is not centred on that bridge or The Humber. It’s about a different river, the River Hull which flows down from the Yorkshire Wolds to the north of the city, cutting the city in half, and out into the Humber. East and west Hull have distinct personalities and people with historically, the fishing communities living west of the river and people working on the commercial docks in the east.
Open Bridges Freedom? or Freedom Withheld? Open Bridges started in 2017 when we wanted to draw attention to and celebrate the River Hull and it’s 13 movable bridges. Lou had been the community manager of Wilberforce 2007 and Rich was working as health and safety officer and working with the bridges in Hull. Our background is in community engagement, culture, events and music so as the City of Culture year approached we discussed how to celebrate ‘real Hull culture’. We found ourselves exploring the meaning of freedom to people in Hull, and the idea that to really understand a concept such as freedom, you have to experience what it feels like to lose it. This led to our ideas for Open Bridges. We worked up the ideas and engaged with numerous helpful and interested local people, businesses and organisations. We held community workshops and discussions around the meaning of freedom. We commissoned new music and films for the project. It was very challenging, but rewarding.
Open Bridges made history when for the first, and only time, all 13 of the bridges over the River Hull raised, swung or closed simultaneously splitting the city of Hull in two at 20:17 hours on the autumn equinox, 22nd September 2017. All the aspects of the project, workshops, events of the night and continuing oral histories are captured on the Open Bridges website, book, and films.
The award winning Open Bridges film made by Humber Film Creative Community recorded the night when historic vessels sailed down the river and were met by 21st century tugs, to the sound of composer John Stead’s especially commissioned new musique concrète work ‘Moments in Time’.
A River Full of Stories
The idea for A River Full Of Stories came about when many of the 2000 visitors to the Open Bridges exhibition inside Scale Lane Bridge told us fascinating stories and memories of their lives working on and around the River Hull in its heyday. We wanted to capture these memories and stories and preserve them for future generations. So we embarked upon a follow up project – A River Full of Stories.
In 2020 we published A River Full of Stories book of memories and photographs of life on and around the River Hull. The first edition is available from all Hull & East Riding Libraries and to order from UK libraries and the British Library.
In October 2023, a new branch of Open Bridges ‘What Makes The Humber’ exhibition opened at at Hull Truck Theatre as part of Humber Eco Fest and is now online – here – exploring the confluences and waterways which drain a fifth of Englands water into the North Sea.
The project has continued to grow and spread. In 2024 our ‘Goole by Barge‘ exhibition of 60 photographs, music and videos took place at Goole Museum February 9th – April 13th 2024. Info here
In 2025 we are still gathering and posting stories.
Visit the People and Places page here for the latest memories. Scroll down and click on the posts or blog roll here for more Open Bridges stories.
‘Hull’s River Bridges’ – September 2025, the next chapter of Open Bridges, Hull’s River Bridges is new for for Heritage Open Days. Click here
We are continuing to gather and publish stories and photographs of life on and around the River Hull. Keep an eye on the website for news of upcoming exhibitions.
‘Open Bridges: A River Full Of Stories’ oral history project preserves and publicises the heritage of the River Hull, its bridges and vessels which have used it over the years. We have collected and recorded people’s memories of the River Hull, its bridges and the vessels which have used it over the years. With the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund, we have produced films, exhibition, website and a book which is available in UK libraries.
Open Bridges is an independent not for profit Hull/East Yorkshire based project. Project concept, website, narrative and photography © Rich & Lou Duffy-Howard (unless otherwise stated)
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