The Day The City Split In Two / A River Full Of Stories
These photographs are by the late George Parkes and are held at Hull History Centre. The copyright belongs to the heirs of George Parkes. The restoration and re-processing of the original slides are by Richard Duffy-Howard and are licenced from, and with thanks to, Hull University Archives. If you have any information regarding George and … Continue reading George Parkes: Old Harbour Bridges and Barges
The New River Ancholme is a tributary of the Humber Estuary. The river drains the Ancholme Valley in North Lincolnshire, that lies between Ermine Street to the west and the North Lincolnshire Wolds to the east. It runs straight and north for 17 miles from Harlam Hill Lock in the south below Snitterby Carrs to … Continue reading Bridges over the River Ancholme
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Steven Oakden contacted us last year with his own personal story about the river. His story evocatively captures the last movements of the motor barge Swinderby in 2022. This is the third of four parts. All text and photographs copyright Steven Oakden. River Hull visit - November 16, 2022 A glorious sunny autumn day with … Continue reading Chasing the Swinderby by Steven Oakden – Part 3
Steven Oakden contacted us last year with his own personal story about the river. His story evocatively captures the last movements of the motor barge Swinderby in 2022. This is the first of four parts. All text and photographs copyright Steven Oakden. Urban Exploration My first sighting of the River Hull was on a very … Continue reading Chasing the Swinderby by Steven Oakden – Part 1
We first met David Hamilton of Brigham Sailing Club sailing at Emmotland on the River Hull, on the footbridge above West Beck at the confluence with Frodingham Beck that makes the River Hull. It was 2018 and we were in the midst of a heatwave wandering up the river on the Rotsea side. David owns … Continue reading Racing on the River Hull with Brigham Sailing Club 1960s
1982 - 1984 Bernard’s black and white photographs are all taken between 1982 and 1984 apart from the first photo in the gallery - a 1975 image taken with a Brownie. Along with the River in Colour posts Bernard’s documenting of the River Hull covers almost 50 years capturing the changing landscape with fantastic images … Continue reading The River in Black & White by Bernard Sharp
2005 - 2021 All of the images and accompanying text are copyright Bernard Sharp and used with permission and under licence (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0). All of the photographs are numbered with the corresponding text by Bernard to accompany each photograph below the gallery. Humber Street, Kingston upon Hull Wednesday, 29 December, 2010. Central Dry Dock, 1820, extended … Continue reading The River in Colour by Bernard Sharp – Part 5
1982 - 1989 All of the images and accompanying text are copyright Bernard Sharp and used with permission and under licence (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0). All of the photographs are numbered with the corresponding text by Bernard to accompany each photograph below the gallery. River Hull, Stoneferry, Kingston upon Hull Sunday, 15 August, 1982 Upstream of Ferry Lane … Continue reading The River in Colour by Bernard Sharp – Part 4
1990 - 2021 All of the images and accompanying text are copyright Bernard Sharp and used with permission and under licence (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0). All of the photographs are numbered with the corresponding text by Bernard to accompany each photograph below the gallery. Old Harbour, River Hull, Kingston upon Hull. Friday, 16 March, 1990. At left, the … Continue reading The River in Colour by Bernard Sharp – Part 3
1978 - 1989 All of the images and accompanying text are copyright Bernard Sharp and used with permission and under licence (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0). All of the photographs are numbered with the corresponding text by Bernard to accompany each photograph below the gallery. Old Harbour, River Hull, Kingston upon Hull. June 1978. A busy harbour, looking towards … Continue reading The River in Colour by Bernard Sharp – Part 2
The Launch of the Hoo Pride We stumbled across the image of the launch being photographed on-line and became particularly interested as the photographer in the suit bears a striking resemblance to my Dad. He set up and ran an industrial and marine switchgear and controls company from Scale Lane in the 70's and 80's, … Continue reading The River in Colour by Bernard Sharp – Part 1
At 17:50 on June 2nd 100 passengers boarded Bridlington's famous Pleasure Cruiser - the just turned 75 year old Yorkshire Belle - on Albert Dock to join the flotilla sailing to the Humber Bridge before the lighting of Hessle Town Council's beacon to mark the Platinum Jubilee. Four galleries of photgraphs by Richard Duffy-Howard below … Continue reading Humber Platinum Jubilee Flotilla
Rich & I are thrilled that Open Bridges is featured in arts magazine The Critical Fish. It's full of fantastic photos and especially good to see Rich's Engines & Insects exhibition pieces described and displayed in the article. Thank you to all the team and to Jill Howett for putting this lovely piece together. https://thecriticalfish.co.uk/open-bridges/ … Continue reading The Critical Fish
We are delighted that The Hull Story announces the next chapter of Open Bridges / A River Full of Stories. Find out about it at the link: https://www.thehullstory.com/allarticles/open-bridges-churches The Hull Story is an excellent news magazine. It's great to have a quality independent voice for Hull which is an ideal fit with the Open Bridges … Continue reading The Hull Story
It three years since Open Bridges! Have a look through our gallery of photo memories: Comrade photo by SydpixA River Full of Stories book launchMemory sharing on board The SyntanBrigham Scows race on the River Hull through Emmotland by RDHKeith and JanetDrypool Bridge by RDHOpen Bridges by Phil WithersOpen Bridges Engines and Insects exhibitionRich & … Continue reading Open Bridges Third Anniversary Photos
Open Bridges made history when for the first, and only time, all the bridges over the River Hull were raised, swung or closed simultaneously splitting the city in two at 20:17 hours on the autumn equinox, 22nd September 2017. HMS Pickle at Open Bridges by Graeme OxbyDrypool Bridge by RDHSouth from Scott Street to North … Continue reading Open Bridges Third Anniversary
The last post of the HDM archive detail posts starts with an intriguing image. At first glance the picture of the BOCM building from 1911 appears deserted but on the bank-side on the left hand edge you can see what appears to be a man and a woman presiding over the contents of a bag, … Continue reading River Hull Archive #27
One of the main threads running through A River Full of Stories is that of the Lighterman. The following photographs and details from the HDM river archive focus on the lighters and Lightermen on the River Hull. The first images below show the lighter Tort and crew just North of the new Myton Bridge in … Continue reading River Hull Archive #26
This series of posts will complete our record of River Hull archive photographs from the Hull Daily Mail which we repaired and restored. They are published with many thanks to Angus Young, and used with permission. This next series of photographs of details were taken on and around the piers, Corporation - Victoria - and … Continue reading River Hull Archive #25
This series of posts will complete our record of River Hull archive photographs from the Hull Daily Mail which we repaired and restored. They are published with many thanks to Angus Young, and used with permission. They've all been published previously on here and some included in the River Full of Stories book. Whilst we were … Continue reading River Hull Archive #24
These next few posts will complete our record of River Hull archive photographs from the Hull Daily Mail which we repaired and restored. They are published with many thanks to Angus Young, and used with permission. This gallery of photographs contain images from 1885 to the 1990s. The following two posts will focus on the … Continue reading River Hull Archive #23
Thanks to Ian Halstead for contributing his superb photograph to A River Full of Stories: River Hull 1993 "Taken one Sunday morning in April or May 1993, a very calm and still day, and I remember the fantastic quality of the light that elevated anything it shone on. You still get a hint of how … Continue reading River Hull 1993
It was a special day on Saturday when the culmination of Open Bridges 'A River Full of Stories' book was launched at Hull Maritime Museum. It was marvellous that there were so many people there who have contributed stories and photographs to the book. It was a whirlwind for us and went by in a … Continue reading A River Full of Stories, book launch
Here's a selection of photographs taken of the working river this year. Click on an image to see the full picture and caption and scroll through. The Open Bridges: A River Full of Stories exhibition is open at Hull Maritime Museum until the end of the year. The films will be on continuous loop throughout the … Continue reading The Working River 2019
Thanks to Mal Scott for these evocative images of an autumn day in 2015 travelling under all of the bridges over the river in a small pleasure craft taken looking north up the Hull. Click on Millenium Bridge to see the full picture and scroll through to travel up the river past each bridge north … Continue reading Journey up the River Hull in 2015
Open Bridges A River Full Of Stories, River Hull archive photographs #22 1985-1989
Open Bridges A River Full Of Stories, River Hull archive photographs 1981-1984
Saturday 20th April 2019 It was a beautiful day when the Humber keel Comrade sailed down the River Hull to spend the summer in the Marina. We had a great time talking to Bill Midgley in the Comrade at Beverley before the trip. Our friend the photographer Syd Young was cycling from Stoneferry to Scott … Continue reading Comrade down the Hull
Open Bridges A River Full Of Stories, River Hull archive photographs #20 1980
Open Bridges A River Full Of Stories, River Hull archive photographs #19 1977-1979
Open Bridges A River Full Of Stories, River Hull archive photographs #18 1976
Open Bridges A River Full Of Stories, River Hull archive photographs #17 1975
Open Bridges A River Full Of Stories, River Hull archive photographs #16 1974
Open Bridges A River Full Of Stories, River Hull archive photographs #15 1973
Open Bridges A River Full Of Stories, River Hull archive photographs #14 1972
Open Bridges A River Full Of Stories, River Hull archive photographs #13 1971