King George Dock, May 1961 Part 1

Blue Star Line This set of images were taken one day in May in 1961, the photographer unknown. The cleaning and restoration took me days. The first seven are mainly of the Blue Star Line, which looks like the main subject and what the photographer was specifically focussing on. However, a closer look reveals the … Continue reading King George Dock, May 1961 Part 1

From Grosvenor Mill – Andy Hazell

Our friend Andy Hazell contributed a chapter to our book 'A River Full of Stories', with some evocative photographs from Grosvenor Mill, and the Old Harbour and dry docks at night. Here Andy revisits his time living at the mill overshadowing Scott Street Bridge, with a great view from above, of the bridge and traffic, … Continue reading From Grosvenor Mill – Andy Hazell

From a Wincolmlee Warehouse

These photographs were taken from the same vantage point at the same time from the fourth (or fifth) floor of a Wincolmlee Warehouse at some point before 1979. Before '79 presumably because there's still steam emanating from the Sculcoates power station cooling tower, in the distance behind Scott Street Bridge. It's great to see the … Continue reading From a Wincolmlee Warehouse

Drypool Bridge – The Engineer

The original bridge linking west and east Hull at Drypool was also known as Salthouse Lane Bridge. The article below, along with the engravings, is the original report as it was published in the Engineer, in London on the evening of Friday 3rd January 1890. The map of the bridge site prior to its development … Continue reading Drypool Bridge – The Engineer

Goole by Barge – Thankyous

We would like to thank everyone who came to, and contributed to, Goole by Barge at Goole Museum and helped to make it happen. We are really pleased that 2200 people visited the exhibition and we had a lovely response. We both had a great time working with the Goole Museum team, Alex Ombler, Richard … Continue reading Goole by Barge – Thankyous

Goole by Barge Last Few Days

There are only a few days left to go to see the Goole by Barge exhibition at Goole Museum and Gallery, the last day is Saturday 13th April. Opening times are under the poster below. We are delighted that there have been over 1700 visitors so far. Thank you to everyone who’s left a comment … Continue reading Goole by Barge Last Few Days

Dean’s Marina Open Weekend, Rawcliffe Bridge

Ex-Commercial Barge Get-together We've just got back from a great afternoon at Rawcliffe Bridge, and the ex-commercial barge get together, sharing a pint and stories at Dean's Marina and the Anchorage Inn. The barges moored for the weekend so far included Hargreaves' No.10, Harkers ex-tankers the Freda Carless and Londsdale, Hogson's Sectan, the Maureen Eva, … Continue reading Dean’s Marina Open Weekend, Rawcliffe Bridge

Ferry Part 1

THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS SATURDAY APRIL 15, 1848 This is the first of our posts about the local ferries. The aim is to contribute to the Humber Ferry story with previously un-published or hard to come-by photographs and images. There are a number of authoritative books written about the ferries, a favourite being The Humber … Continue reading Ferry Part 1

Goole by Barge and Reuben Chappell

Current and Permanent Exhibitions Thanks very much to everyone who's visited our Goole by Barge exhibition so far and left some lovely comments in the vistor's book. The exhibition runs until April 13th, so there's still plenty of time if you're planning to go. There is more than Goole by Barge to be seen if … Continue reading Goole by Barge and Reuben Chappell

The Launch of the George Dyson

John Harker's Shipyard, Knottingley, 10.09.1964 Built at the John Harker shipyard in Knottingley, the George Dyson was launched on 10th September 1964. From the Pontefract & Castleford Express 17th September 1964 page 6: "BARGE LAUNCHED Mrs. F.S. Poole, wife of the Chairman of Laporte Acids, launched an all welded general cargo barge for G.D. Holmes … Continue reading The Launch of the George Dyson

Svitzer – Revisited

Immingham September 2017 In September 2017 we were deep into organising the original Open Bridges event. These photographs were taken two weeks before the event. Svitzer, along with SMS Towage, had agreed to provide Tugs and water cannon at the mouth of the River Hull following the opening of the bridges and splitting the city … Continue reading Svitzer – Revisited

Build Your Own George Dyson

Coming Soon - Build own George Dyson! Our friend at the museum, Syd Young, is currently working on a build your own Deans Marine Services barge George Dyson. His next job is to create an instruction sheet that's easy to follow for the fiddly bits. We'll let you know when they're available from Goole Museum. … Continue reading Build Your Own George Dyson

Beverley’s Historic Shipyard

Yesterday, and a flooded wharf and tow path at Beverley. A lovely bright morning and a swollen River Hull, drifting lazily by. The second gallery of photographs were taken on a hot midsummers day in 2015. Photo's by Richard Duffy-Howard Rich and Lou Duffy-Howard If you've enjoyed the post, we'd be grateful if you'd subscribe … Continue reading Beverley’s Historic Shipyard

What Made the Humber – Barton Tile Works

We've come across many photographs and stories during our research and travels exploring the geography and histories of What Makes the Humber. This is the first of the galleries of 'What Made the Humber'. Barton Tile Works There are - and were - tile works east, under and west of the Humber Bridge between New … Continue reading What Made the Humber – Barton Tile Works

‘Goole By Barge’ Exhibition opens tomorrow

We've spent the day hanging the 'Goole by Barge' exhibition ready for tomorrow night's opening. Excited to see it in situ! The exhibition is at Goole Museum until April 13th. It's free entry and there's a big free car park behind the museum. As well as 60 of Rich's photos there are three of my … Continue reading ‘Goole By Barge’ Exhibition opens tomorrow

Rawcliffe Bridge

We recently caught up with John Dean about our upcoming exhibition Goole by Barge at Goole Museum and Gallery and he told us about developments over at Rawcliffe Bridge. It was great to meet Sarah behind the bar and Capt. Cod (at the bar) at Dean's Marina at Rawcliffe Bridge and hear about their recent … Continue reading Rawcliffe Bridge

Maps and Plans

We’ve come across a number of maps and plans whilst preparing articles for Open Bridges / A River Full of Stories and more recently ‘What Makes the Humber’. The River Humber chart below was first printed in 1693 and published until 1792, by Freeman Collins in London and is ‘dedicated and presented to the Worshipful … Continue reading Maps and Plans

NEWS! Goole By Barge Exhibition

Introducing, 'Goole by Barge' exhibition at Goole Museum and Gallery, opens 9th February 2024. We are delighted to announce that the latest chapter in our Open Bridges project, 'Goole by Barge' is an exhibition of photographs, videos and music documenting our two day journey on the working barge, the George Dyson. The exhibition opens at 6:30pm … Continue reading NEWS! Goole By Barge Exhibition

Hull’s World War II Concrete Barges Part 3

By Richard Lewis The Copenhagen Connection In 1947 and 1948, 17 Open Barges built in Hull by Tarran Industries between 1944 and 1945 were sold to a Danish towage company, Det Forenede Bugserselskab A/S. of Copenhagen. Once in their ownership, they were confusingly prefixed F.B., which denoted ‘Forenede Bugserselskab’, but with new numbers. When built … Continue reading Hull’s World War II Concrete Barges Part 3