We continued our quest to explore the origins of the River Hull with a sweltering Sunday stroll. Heading north from Hull Bridge we followed the river along a beautiful stretch, past the deserted medieval village of Eske and as far as the lightning tree at the lake where the river makes an S bend through the fields.
North of Beverley where the river is at its most pastoral we flush meadow brown and green veined white butterflies from the grasses. Meadow-sweet, teasels and willow herb dot the hedges. The chattering of grasshoppers is only disturbed by a pair of yellow hammers calling to each other, ‘little-bit-of-bread-and-no-cheese.’ It is hot and peaceful. We meet only the odd dog being taken for a plod. Further along dozens of bright blue damselflies dart and a couple of dragonflies – greater banded helicopters – fly out over the river to a family of ducks. We stand for a while looking over the deserted medieval village of Eske.
It’s this quiet all the way…
Below, the start and finish of our walk. Rich’s photographs. Click on any of the images to see the full picture.
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 tales of their lives working on and around the river. With the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund A River Full Of Stories captures memories and stories to share with future generations through film, exhibition, website and a book for each library and museum in Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire.
Open Bridges made history when for the first time all 13 of the bridges over the River Hull in the UK’s City of Culture 2017 raised, swung or closed simultaneously splitting the city of Hull in two at 20:17 hours on 22nd September 2017. Historic vessels sailed down the river, met by 21st century tugs, to the sound of a new musique concrète work by composer John Stead.
Open Bridges is an independent Hull/East Yorkshire based project.
Rich & Lou Duffy-Howard