The Day The City Split In Two / A River Full Of Stories
We've now posted all 42 of the 'Hull's River Bridges' chapters we had planned for this year's Heritage Open Days festival. Thank you to all our contributors, everyone who has followed the project throughout Heritage Open Days and beyond and to Charlotte and the Heritage Open Days team and Christine & John Netherwood (HODs in … Continue reading Thank you!
Hull's River Bridges: Engines and Insects - Richard Duffy-Howard Engines and Insects started life with the hydraulics in the spine of Scale Bridge in 2017. The idea is not new. The premise follows the famous 20th century fashion photographer Horst P Horst. Away from the high glamour and sensual sophistication of taking photographs for Vogue, Horst’s … Continue reading 25 Richard Duffy-Howard – Engines and Insects
Pete Curry and George Parkes Pete Curry was the council’s Structures and Safety Manager and Bridge Engineer who co-ordinated and controlled the raising, closing and swinging of all the bridges for the original Open Bridges event in 2017. We asked Pete if he remembered the events captured from June 1977 by George Parkes in the … Continue reading 23 Drypool Bridge Crashes 1977
Hull's River Bridges: Drypool Bridge, The Engineer 1890 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 … Continue reading 16 Drypool Bridge – The Engineer 1890
Hull's River Bridges: Moments in Time - Music for a celebration... "I was commissioned by Lou and Richard Duffy-Howard to write a work for the Open Bridges event in 2017. The only requirement was its duration of 20 minutes and 17 seconds, reflecting the date and timing of the first performance. Its inception came whilst I … Continue reading 38 John Stead – Moments in Time
Hull's River Bridges: Open Bridges The Day the City Split in Two We commisioned Humber Film Creative Community and Octovision Media to make the Open Bridges film. It was filmed by 16 film makers who captured each bridge movement and from the MV Syntan as she sailed from Beverley to Hull on the night of the … Continue reading 28 Humber Film – Open Bridges 2017
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: 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
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
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
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
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
We had a good day at the Redeye Photography Network's Hothouse conference of presentations on Saturday. International photographers were invited to speak on the themes of sustainabilty and their work and practice as part of Humber Eco Fest. We enjoyed the whole day of varied presentations. Rich spoke about the 'What Makes the Humber' exhibition … Continue reading Presentation at RedEye Photography Network Hothouse
Here's the first in a series of posts of the docks in Hull as documented by Bernard in the 1980's. Thanks very much to Bernard for the permission to use both the images and text – all copyright Bernard Sharp and published under licence. All of the photographs are numbered with the corresponding text by … Continue reading Hull Docks 1980s Part 1 by Bernard Sharp
We recieved this wonderful poem from Roy this week. Roy told us he served in the Merchant Navy for a seven year span, from 1959 – 1966, sailing on Wilson Line vessels Borodino, Cattaro, Trentino and Rialto and Port Line’s Port Brisbane and Port Halifax along with United Baltic Corporation’s Baltic Importer. Roy’s a full … Continue reading Roy Bainton – The Silent River
This is the third gallery of Brian Latus' photographs this time of the River Hull in the 1960s after Brian's story below. We recently came across these fantastically evocative photographs of the River Hull and Docks taken by Brian Latus in the 1960s. Brian’s son, Martin, tells his story: “My father was born in Lime … Continue reading Brian Latus River Hull 1960s
Here is the second gallery of Brian Latus' photographs of Hull Docks in the 1960s below his story. We recently came across these fantastically evocative photographs of the River Hull and Docks taken by Brian Latus in the 1960s. Brian’s son, Martin, tells his story: “My father was born in Lime Street near North Bridge … Continue reading Brian Latus Hull Docks 1960s Part 2
It's four years today since Open Bridges! We have great memories of the Open Bridges night and the subsequent River Full of Stories history events. Here's a gallery of some photos showing just a few of the many lovely people we met along the way who became part of the team that made it happen. … Continue reading Open Bridges fourth anniversary
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
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
A River Full of Stories - the book! We are delighted that our book has had over 300 loans in Hull and East Riding libraries already, and it is available to order from UK libraries by inter library loan. There are also copies at The British Library, The Bodleian Library Oxford University, The Cambridge University … Continue reading A River Full of Stories Book News
The Open Bridges Hull UK award winning short film with musique concrète soundtrack is available in full, on line for the first time. To watch the film settle down in a comfy chair, turn the lights down & the volume up and soak it up, it’s an immersive experience. This 20 minute film produced for … Continue reading Open Bridges Film & Musique Concrète Soundtrack
The Open Bridges exhibition - A River Full of Stories - has had a great run in Hull Maritime Museum where it has been on display together with the films for the last six months. The museum has now closed to be refurbished as part of Hull: Yorkshire's Maritime City so we spent the morning … Continue reading A River Full of Stories Film
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
A River Full of Stories is getting a great response from the libraries. The book has been a labour of love to produce so we are delighted to find out how popular it is. There is still a chance to see the exhibition and films at Hull Maritime Museum this year, and we have news … Continue reading Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
A River Full of Stories - the book! We are delighted that we have now delivered copies to all Hull and East Riding libraries and it is available to order from all UK libraries by inter library loan. “The book is utterly fabulous, a real artefact and a joy to behold. Such images, such production … Continue reading A River Full of Stories at all UK Libraries
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
Thanks to John Drury for contributing the River Hull working river films, filmed in 1994 by M&M Maritime Video. Part 1: Part 2: Part 3: Part 4: The Open Bridges: A River Full of Stories exhibition is opening at Hull Maritime Museum on Saturday 6th July 2019 until the end of the year. The films will … Continue reading Journey Down the River Hull in 1994
All year we've been working with Martin Lewsley of Hull graphic design agency Atomluft on the River Full of Stories book. Martin's done an incredible job, piecing everything together meticulously and making the whole thing look fabulous. The final designs were delivered to Wyke Printers on Sutton Fields at the beginning of this week where Dave, … Continue reading Hot on the Press!
It's nearly two years since Open Bridges celebrated the importance of the River Hull and its bridges - on the autumn equinox 2017. This time two years ago we were making the final preparations for all of the bridges of the River Hull to swing, lift, close to traffic and open to vessels, separating Hull … Continue reading Open Bridges Second Anniversary
On Sunday 4th August at about 10.00 a.m. the H320 Arctic Corsair left it's berth of 20 years in the Old Harbour moving to a temporary berth at Alexandra Dock to be refurbished before re-locating to a dry dock berth at the former lock pit entrance to Queen's Dock, back in the Old Harbour. John … Continue reading The Arctic Corsair leaves the Old Harbour
The Open Bridges: A River Full of Stories film and exhibition is opening at Hull Maritime Museum on Saturday 6th July 2019 until the end of September. We are delighted to let you know that A River Full of Stories exhibition and film is now open in Hull Maritime Museum. The free exhibition showcasing both Open Bridges … Continue reading Exhibition and Film in Hull Maritime Museum
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
Scale Lane is the latest bridge to span the river and connect the city. It became the focus of a number of events during Hull's City of Culture year: used as a musical instrument for Playing the Bridge - an artistic commission and performance devised by bridge architect Jonathan McDowell and composer Nye Parry who are both … Continue reading Open Bridges: Scale Lane Bridge
This week's focus is on Sutton Road Bridge, built by the Cleveland Bridge and Engineering Company and opened in 1937, with distinctive brick art deco engine rooms. Our gallery of photographs of Sutton Road Bridge below was taken for Open Bridges. Click on an image to see the full picture and scroll through. Rich & … Continue reading Open Bridges: Sutton Road
As we made preparations for Open Bridges we were invited on the Syntan as it travelled from Beverley down the River Hull, to Hull Marina for the Folk and Maritime Festival. The journey was to collect stills, film footage and bridge and vessel timings for Open Bridges. We documented the journey in five stages. The … Continue reading Open Bridges: photographs from the MV Syntan September 2017
More fascinating tales from the River Full Of Stories sessions chatting about days gone by working and living on the River Hull. Here’s a great snippet from our day on MV Syntan earlier this month, Allan Lister in conversation with Andy Richardson. Filmed in September 2018 by Humber Film Creative Community for Open Bridges Hull. The … Continue reading Allan Lister – Leaks on Board
The Open Bridges: A River Full Of Stories memory sharing days on the river and at Hull Maritime Museum have been full of fascinating conversations about days gone by working and living on the River Hull. We have learned about evocative, moving and entertaining memories from tales of using highly skilled local knowledge to navigate … Continue reading “Barges!”
The Open Bridges: A River Full Of Stories memory sharing days on the river and at Hull Maritime Museum have been terrific, with fascinating conversations about days gone by working and living on the River Hull. Here’s a clip from our visit to the MV Syntan restored barge earlier this month, John Whittles in conversation … Continue reading John Whittles on the MV Syntan
More short films from A River Full Of Stories fascinating conversations about days gone by working and living on the River Hull. Here’s Neville 'Killer'' Pinder in conversation with Russ Litten at Hull Maritime Museum talking about when he made the Hull Daily Mail in 1958 Filmed in September 2018 by Humber Film Creative Community … Continue reading Raft Boy Escapes Killer Tide
Who knew about the reform ship for boys committed by magistrates anchored off Sammy's Point? Hear about the HMS Southampton which opened as a reform school in the mid 19th century in this short film from the Hull Maritime Museum reminiscing days earlier this month, Edward Moore and Ann Smith in conversation with Russ Litten. … Continue reading HMS Southampton Reform Ship
It was great to welcome John Dean of Dean's Marine to The Open Bridges: A River Full Of Stories memory sharing days on the river and at Hull Maritime Museum. There were fascinating conversations all day. Here's a short section of film from earlier this month, John in conversation with Andy Richardson. Filmed in September … Continue reading River Stories – John Dean
The Open Bridges: Engines and Insects exhibition is now open at Hull Intentional Photography Festival - HIP Fest - in Princes Quay Shopping Centre, Hull. It's on the main entrance corridor until October 28th, free entry to the Open Bridges element of the festival. The Engines and Insects exhibition is part of Open Bridges, a growing series of … Continue reading Open Bridges exhibition at Hull International Photography Festival
Last week we were delighted to collect an amazing big file of historical photographs of the River Hull for Open Bridges: A River Full Of Stories. Thanks to Angus Young of the Hull Daily Mail who has contributed the Mail's archive of River Hull photos to the project. The pictures range from the turn of … Continue reading Remarkable Collection of River Hull Photographs
Family Life on the Barges It was especially fascinating to hear about the women's and children's stories of life on the River Hull. Janet's family - the Websters - have been connected to the River Hull for over 250 years. One of ten children, the oldest four were all brought up on a barge before they … Continue reading “It’s in the blood”