Comrade down the Hull

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

The River Hull 1977-85 by Peter Marshall

Researching the Foredyke Stream we stumbled on an image of the Foredyke Path which in turn led us to the wonderful photography of Peter Marshall. Peter posted a photograph of Hull a day during Hull's City of Culture year and last year Cafe Royal Books published The River Hull 1977-85. Cafe Royal produces beautiful limited … Continue reading The River Hull 1977-85 by Peter Marshall

The River in 2018

Thanks to everyone who's been in touch and visited the website as The River Full Of Stories project has developed through 2018. In the last few weeks we've published a lot of archive material about the river - and there's more to come in 2019 - but we thought we'd take this opportunity to share … Continue reading The River in 2018

Open Bridges: Wilmington

As part of Open Bridges we recorded the working movements of many of the bridges. There were many images that we didn't use then as part of the project, but would like to share now. These photographs were taken when we visited Wilmington bridge on 19th June last year and show the working mechanism of … Continue reading Open Bridges: Wilmington

Memories of the River Hull

Thank you to everyone who has responded to our call out and joined our memory sharing sessions at Hull Maritime Museum, or on board the barges. All summer we have been listening to people's fascinating stories of living and working on the River Hull over the years. We have been filming and recording so that … Continue reading Memories of the River Hull

The River We Once Knew – David Morris

Rich & I had already admired David Morris's beautiful photographs of the River Hull, taken in 1971 when we were lucky enough to meet him at the opening of the Hull International Photography Festival where we both had River Hull related exhibitions, ours 'Open Bridges Engines and Insects', and David's 'The River We Once Knew'. … Continue reading The River We Once Knew – David Morris

Short Films of Barge Life Memories

Open Bridges: A River Full Of Stories: Compilation of new short films of Glyn Holt, Karen Walker and Linda Bragg (both nee Hubbard), Tom Fry, Keith Eastwood, Trevor Branton, Victor Shirtliff, Geoffrey Shipman and Ken Knox in conversation with Russ Litten about life working and living on the River Hull. Click on the video to … Continue reading Short Films of Barge Life Memories

Allan Lister – Leaks on Board

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

“Barges!”

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!”

John Whittles on the MV Syntan

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

Raft Boy Escapes Killer Tide

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

HMS Southampton Reform Ship

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

River Stories – John Dean

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

Remarkable Collection of River Hull Photographs

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

“It’s in the blood”

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”

The life of a Lighterman

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 former lighterman Keith Eastwood in conversation with Russ Litten. Filmed in September 2018 by Humber Film Creative Community … Continue reading The life of a Lighterman

Rugby on Board

The Open Bridges: A River Full Of Stories memory sharing days on the river and at Hull Maritime Museum have been amazing, with 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 Rugby on Board

Open Bridges Radio Transcript

Open Bridges objectives were to celebrate the River Hull and explore the meaning of freedom by splitting the city in two, momentarily denying the freedom of movement east and west across the city, by raising and closing all 13 bridges over the River Hull simultaneously for the first and only time in the city’s history. … Continue reading Open Bridges Radio Transcript

Open Bridges First Anniversary

Stop Press: Open Bridges made history when for the first, and only time, all 13 of the bridges over the River Hull raised, swung or closed simultaneously splitting the city of Hull in two at 20:17 hours on the autumn equinox, 22nd September 2017. Open Bridges Hull: “A truly memorable evening when we all worked together … Continue reading Open Bridges First Anniversary

“It’s not a job – it’s a way of life”

Thanks to everyone who came to the second memory sharing workshop for the River Full Of Stories book, film and exhibition, at Hull Maritime Museum last weekend. It was another marvellous day. John Dean, Keith Eastwood, Janet Anderson, Edward Moore, Dave Allam and Ann Smith, joined us in conversation with writer Russ Litten and Andy … Continue reading “It’s not a job – it’s a way of life”

Charles and Joan

We first met Alison Bateman when she visited the Open Bridges exhibition in Scale Lane Bridge. Thank you to Alison for getting in touch with this lovely account of how her Mum and Dad, both with lifelong  River Hull connections met, fell in love and married in the late '40s. "My Mum (Joan Hopper) and … Continue reading Charles and Joan

Reminiscing on the Syntan

‘Open Bridges: A River Full Of Stories’, gathering stories to preserve the heritage of the River Hull, its bridges and the people and vessels which have used it over the years. With the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund, we will produce a film, exhibition, website and a book which will be given to each library … Continue reading Reminiscing on the Syntan

Visit to Rotsea

‘Open Bridges: A River Full Of Stories’, gathering stories to preserve the heritage of the River Hull, its bridges and the people and vessels which have used it over the years. Another blisteringly hot Sunday walk to explore the River Hull took us to a beautiful stretch of the River, near Rotsea to Emmotland on … Continue reading Visit to Rotsea

River Full Of Stories on Estuary TV

‘Open Bridges: A River Full Of Stories’, gathering stories to preserve the heritage of the River Hull, its bridges and the people and vessels which have used it over the years. Find out more on the Estuary TV news clip here: So where does the river start? Click here to see what we found Do … Continue reading River Full Of Stories on Estuary TV

Skipsea – Isle of Ships

Open Bridges: A River Full Of Stories – gathering stories to preserve the heritage of the River Hull, its bridges and the people and vessels which have used it over the years. Following on from visiting the north and north-western sources of the River Hull, last weekend we followed the river’s tributaries north-east to Skipsea and … Continue reading Skipsea – Isle of Ships

A River Full Of Stories: Source of the River Hull

Open Bridges: A River Full Of Stories We are delighted to introduce our new Open Bridges project. ‘Open Bridges: A River Full Of Stories’ which will preserve and publicise the heritage of the River Hull, its bridges and vessels which have used it over the years. To begin - where does the River Hull start? … Continue reading A River Full Of Stories: Source of the River Hull

Open Bridges Summer Solstice ‘Moments in Time’ Live Performance

There will be a live quadraphonic performance of the Open Bridges music – ‘Moments in Time’ - by the composer John Stead to accompany the Open Bridges film at Beverley Treasure House and Art Gallery, East Riding of Yorkshire, on Thursday, 21 June, at 6.30 pm for 7.00 pm start. The event will be finished by … Continue reading Open Bridges Summer Solstice ‘Moments in Time’ Live Performance

Thanks Everyone!

The Open Bridges exhibition had its last day inside Scale Lane Bridge before we finalise its next home. We've been open every Saturday in January and February and welcomed 2000 visitors.Thanks to James Hoggarth and Sally Fairfax for inviting us to BBC Radio Humberside this morning to talk about the project and exhibition. Lots of … Continue reading Thanks Everyone!

Bridge Exhibition Notes #1

We’ve had many visitors to the Open Bridges exhibition at Scale Lane Bridge and many fascinating conversations with local people who’ve worked the river for years as well as  visitors from out of town. One of the recurring themes is the importance and the beauty of the river Hull from different perspectives such as "it’s … Continue reading Bridge Exhibition Notes #1

All Welcome to the Exhibition

Open Bridges First Saturday Exhibition  Great first Saturday of the Open Bridges exhibition inside Scale Lane Bridge today. We had a continual flow of people looking round all day, many of whom said they came along because they heard us on BBC Radio Humberside this morning, so thanks to James Hoggarth and Sally Fairfax for … Continue reading All Welcome to the Exhibition