The Day The City Split In Two / A River Full Of Stories
Hull's River Bridges: Wilmington SWing Bridge, 1853 This was the original wrought iron railway swing bridge, erected by Thomas Cabry in 1853, to carry the Victoria, or East Dock, Railway over the River Hull from Sculcoates in the west to Wilmington in the east, destined for the eastern docks in Hull (Engineering, 1908). Due to it … Continue reading 7 Old Wilmington Bridge 1853
Hull's River Bridges: Michael Pinsky - Symposium at Wilmington Bridge "Michael Pinsky is a British artist whose international projects challenge the status quo on climate change, urban design and societal wellbeing. He explores issues which shape and influence the use of our public realm to create ambitious and provocative installations in galleries and public spaces. Taking the combined roles of … Continue reading 35 Michael Pinsky – Symposium
Hull's River Bridges: Wilmington Railway Swing Bridge, 1907, Wincolmlee Hull City Records Office (TSJ 28) describes Wilmington as: “a swing railway bridge, now a footbridge, spanning the River Hull. Circa 1870 and 1905, for the North Eastern Railway. Converted and restored in 1991. Arch topped riveted wrought-iron girders form the span, which is carried on a … Continue reading 6 Wilmington Bridge
Hull's River Bridges: Unravelling Banksy The Open Bridges exhibition opened inside Scale Lane Bridge and we welcomed 2000 visitors on Saturdays at the end of 2017 and early in 2018. As the exhibition was coming to a close a new street art work by Banksy titled “Draw The Raised Bridge!" appeared overnight on Scott Street … Continue reading 21 Banksy – Draw the Raised Bridge
Hull's River Bridges: The Hull and Barnsley Railway Swing Bridge The Hull and Barnsley Railway Swing Bridge was built in 1885 over the River Hull on Bankside. It is still in use, carrying freight to and from King George and Queen Elizabeth Docks. The bridge and its operating cabin are Grade II listed. The bridge can … Continue reading 5 Railway Bridge
Hull's River Bridges: Jack Pell - Iron Bridges "These sculptures depict six of Hull’s cast-iron bridges, two of which are no longer in existence. The inspiration to make sculptures from the bridges came from sitting in the back of the car on the way to my Dad’s work (he worked as a printer in Wincolmlee), I … Continue reading 34 Jack Pell – Iron Bridges
Hull's River Bridges: Stoneferry Swing Bridge 1905 Stoneferry swing bridge was built by the Motherwell Bridge Company and opened in 1905 to replace the existing ferry. Lots of us can remember driving over this wonderful old swing bridge before it was replaced by the two Shadoof-type lifting bascule bridges in 1991. The plans show the original … Continue reading 4 Stoneferry Swing Bridge 1905
Hull's River Bridges: Stoneferry Bridge Stoneferry Bridge, like Ennerdale Link, is actually two bascule bridges, working independently and each carrying two lanes of traffic. Built between 1988 and completed on 23rd July 1991, they replaced the original swing bridge built in 1905. The website Structurae notes they are "twin Shadoof-type bascule bridges with 32 meter counterbalanced … Continue reading 3 Stoneferry Bridge
Hull's River Bridges: John Dean - Delivering Stoneferry and Other Stories We first met John during A River Full of Stories. His invitation to travel with him and shipmate Kevin on the George Dyson from Hull to York via Goole in january 2020 was a once in a lifetime experience which we'll never forget. John runs … Continue reading 24 John Dean – Delivering Stoneferry
Hull's River Bridges: Syd Young - Hull's Bridges from a Bicycle Syd Young is an artist and photographer. His most recent exhibition - Relics and Rails - at Goole Museum and Gallery and Nordic House in Hull, was a multi-media retrospective of over 40 years' work. The photographs below show how he's captured the beauty of … Continue reading 41 Syd Young – Hull’s Bridges from a Bicycle
Hull's River Bridges: Sutton Road Bridge 1937 Sutton Road Bridge is a Scherzer type rolling bascule bridge, built by the Cleveland Bridge and Engineering Company and opened on 8 July 1937, to complete the Corporation's ring road at the time. The photograph, on the left below, from Britain from Above shows the new Sutton Road taking … Continue reading 2 Sutton Road Bridge
Hull's River Bridges: Joseph Cox - Bridges of the River Hull Joseph Cox is a graphic artist and illustrator based in Hull, East Yorkshire with 15 years’ experience in the creative industries. His work encompasses illustration, product design, graphic design, animation and print. Inspired by music, technology, architecture, his local surroundings, engineering and more. He … Continue reading 22 Joseph Cox – Bridges of The River Hull
Hull's River Bridges: Ennerdale Link Photographs by Rich & Lou Duffy-Howard The most recent and northerly of Hull's (road) River Bridges opened on April 3rd 1997 aimed to ease traffic and improve access to the docks in the east of the city, the original idea being a tunnel under the river. The first plan in … Continue reading 1 Ennerdale Link
Welcome and thank you to everyone who has subscribed to Open Bridges new project 'Hull's River Bridges' this week. We are very pleased that it is part of the national Heritage Open Day festival 2025. Heritage Open Days is England’s largest festival of history and culture which runs from 12th - 21st September. Hull's River … Continue reading Thank You!
We took a trip over to Eastrington to meet up with Les Reid and Tony Carrigan. We recorded their conversations about the times spent working on the River Trent gravelling, the dangers of the Humber and 'Between Bridges', 'Up Harbour', on the River Hull. Les Reid of the Newark Heritage Barge 'Leicester Trader' and Tony … Continue reading Les Reid and Tony Carrigan Reminisce
Yesterday belied the thunderous downpour warnings as we ventured south to Newark to visit Les Reid, as part of our new Open Bridges Project for Heritage Open Days – Hull’s River Bridges. It turned out to be a glorious day as we met Les and jumped aboard Les’s workboat the Ruffian and headed down the … Continue reading Adventure on the Ruffian
Hull's Waterfront In the late Fifties We came across the work of Frank Drasdo when we were working on the book ‘A River Full of Stories’. Frank’s work features extensively in the book and we are indebted to Frank’s nephew, photographer Dave Drasdo, for permission to publish them there and in this new gallery of … Continue reading Frank Drasdo
We came across this fascinating message on the back of a Half Penny Packet Post Panoramic Card of Victoria Pier sent in 1905 to May Brewin in Burnley from her friend, W, who was having a great time in Hull. I've carefully restored the photographs below the letter from the original glass plate negatives. All … Continue reading Victoria Pier and a Postcard from 1905
Wawne and Stoneferry Wawne This magic lantern slide of the ferry at Wawne on the River Hull was taken at some point in the late 1890s. By the time I came across it, it had gathered about 125 years’ worth of dirt and dust. However, after a few days of careful restoration this remarkable image … Continue reading Ferry Part 4
We had another great day out in Newark visiting Les Reid of the Newark Heritage Barge 'Leicester Trader'. Les showed us a remarkable rare cine film of a working barge trip with Alec Carrigan on the barge Girton showing a run from Hull to Girton Gravel Pit and back circa 1965. We filmed Les's commentary … Continue reading Working Barge Trip Video Circa 1965 Hull to Girton with Commentary by Les Reid
Here are the photographs from the second day of our trip from Hull to York with John Dean on the barge George Dyson making a working trip from Hull's Albert Dock to York city centre, stopping overnight in Goole along the way. Thank you to John Dean for inviting us on the journey, which was … Continue reading Hull to York on the Barge George Dyson – Day 2
On January 24th and 25th 2020 the Dean's Marine barge George Dyson made a working trip from Hull's Albert Dock to York city centre, stopping overnight in Goole along the way. Thank you to John Dean for inviting us on the journey, which was a truly amazing experience. We took this gallery of photographs. They … Continue reading Hull to York on the Barge George Dyson – Day 1
We are very grateful to the anonymous contributor who sent us these photographs for sharing on the website. They were taken with the glorious - and much missed - Kodak colour transparency film - Kodachrome 64. I've digitised and restored the slides and they look as good as the day they were taken. At the … Continue reading Hull Docks 1965 – 1973
1940 - 1981 There are many photographs, postcards and fond memories of the Humber Ferries running between Hull's Corporation Pier to New Holland Pier, which connected communities, north and south of the estuary, before the Humber Bridge opened to connect counties. The photographs in the gallery below are previously unpublished and I've reprocessed and restored … Continue reading Ferry Part 3
The railway swing-bridge over the River Ouse at Goole was designed by Sir William Armstrong and opened in 1869. It's Grade II listed and has a couple of different names: Hook Bridge (if you come from Hook) and the Skelton Viaduct (if you live in Skelton) but if you're on a train it's more than … Continue reading Railway Swing Bridge over the Ouse at Goole 2023
The railway swing-bridge over the River Ouse at Goole was designed by Sir William Armstrong and opened in 1869. Its Grade II listed and has a couple of different names: Hook Bridge (if you come from Hook) and the Skelton Viaduct (if you live in Skelton) but if you're on a train it's more than … Continue reading Railway Swing Bridge over the Ouse at Goole 2023 – the Engine Room
This post has been transcribed from the published minutes and meeting of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers chaired by William Armstrong in 1869. Sir William describes his hydraulic design and construction of the brand new railway swing bridge built over the River Ouse at Goole for North Eastern Railways' network link to Hull. I've transcribed … Continue reading Railway Swing Bridge over the Ouse at Goole 1869
Goole by Train My husband and fellow band partner Rich and I were invited, as part of our Open Bridges project, to produce photographs and art content about the renovation of the railway swing bridge over the Ouse at Goole. With this in mind we travelled both to and from Saltmarshe to Thorne, either side … Continue reading Goole By Train
Syd Young, Ferry Memories My mum had an Auntie who owned the Welbeck Guest House in Cleethorpes. In the 1960s and early 70s, we'd go and stay occasionally on a weekend when there were no guests. Her husband, "Uncle George", was a retired sailor and made wooden model boats, some of which he gave to … Continue reading Ferry Part 2 by Syd Young
It’s seven years today since Open Bridges night! We chose the autumn equinox for the event, to draw attention to, and celebrate the lifeblood of the city, the River Hull, by separating the city east and west, raising or closing all the bridges over the river simultaneously with priority to river vessels. The equinox is … Continue reading Open Bridges 7th Anniversary
It was great to return and meet up again with Les Reid on the Heritage Barge, the Leicester Trader. He has fascinating stories about sailing barges to tell. You can hear about it in the film below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjvjoE8I78Q Newark's unique Heritage Barge 'Leicester Trader' is the last Trent size cargo barge built to fit the old … Continue reading Les Reid and the Leicester Trader
Phil McNally My father Philip McNally worked for James W Cooks Tankers, with offices in Bowlalley lane in Hull. The manager was called Mr Cobby. The firm’s main operations were shipbuilding and lighterage at Wivenhoe in Essex. They established the oil tanker barges side of the business at Hull many years ago. All of their … Continue reading This Barging Life – George ‘Mac’ McNally
Sunday was a glorious summer's day in Newark-on-Trent. We paid a visit to the the Newark heritage barge, Leicester Trader to meet up with Les Reid. The dumb barge and Les's service vessel Ruffian are moored on the Trent in the lee of the imposing 900 year old castle ruins. Les has got a wealth … Continue reading The Leicester Trader
We have linked up with artist Jack Pell, whose first institutional solo exhibition 'Byland's Super Saga' (currently at Humber Street Gallery, Hull) is a fascinating and magical multi media exploration of Hull and surrounding areas' waterways, bridges, myths, legends, and history reimagined. You are invited to join us in conversation with artist Jack Pell, as we explore … Continue reading Byland’s Super Saga – Jack Pell
Barges, Tugs and Blue Star Line This is the second set of images taken one grey day in May in 1961, by an unknown photographer. The cleaning and restoration took me days, but I think it was definitely worth the effort. The second seven show more of the tugs and barges and I've cropped some … Continue reading King George Dock, May 1961 Part 2
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Our exhibition of photos and videos of a two day working barge journey 'Goole by Barge' is now open at Goole Museum and Gallery. If you get to see it, we hope you enjoy it. Thanks to everyone who came to the launch, and to Sydpix for the photos.
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