Hull's History

Do you have an interesting story to share, a happy memory, or a useful snippet of information about Hull's history?

My happiest memories are of our summer holidays spent on dad's barge, as a toddler I was tied through my reins to the wheelhouse door on a rope just long enough to toddle around and not long enough to fall over board. Of my first time steering to boat across the Humber when I was about seven stood on a lemonade crate so that I could see over the wheel, while dad tinkered with the engine.

The laugh we had when mam took a turn at the wheel going down the Trent and she ran the bow end up the bank, dad never let her near the wheel again. The time my sister was showing off and fell overboard between the boat and the wharf, very scary. Tying up and waiting to ride the agar of the spring tides down the Trent.

The sights and smells of different parts of the river going down to Leeds or Wakefield. Travelling over an aquaduct just wide enough to take the boat.

Fifteen years of the best holidays I have ever had, with the friendliest people I have known.

Arriving home to the hustle and bustle of King George dock, or searching the Harbour for a berth so that we could go home to do the washing and pack for the next trip out.

Anyone remember the Smog?-(real pea-soupers). Back in 1958,I left my school in Osborne St(Back of the Cecil) at 4pm.Heading for the bus station,I only got as far as Paragon Square when suddenly this thick fog came down.In those days it was known as Smog because it was a mixture of dense fog and smoke from house and factory chimneys. It was deadly stuff,especially for those with chest or asthma problems.It was advisable to wear a handkerchief over the nose and mouth to protect your throat and lungs. It was so thick you could not see your hand if you stretched your arm out in front of you. Traffic came to a full stop and buses and the No.63 Trolley from town to Endike Lane could go no further even with headlights on.It took me nearly three hours to walk the length of Beverley Road to the Cross Keys on the corner of Endike. I lived in 6th Avenue so I took a shortcut across the field at the back of Endike School heading for the Barmy Drain bridge coming out on Greenwood Ave. Biggest mistake I ever made as once out in the field i had nothing to feel or guide me through the zero vision.I eventually found myself on the University Sports fields some 3/4 of a mile further back. I finally got home in just over 4hours to a nice plate of Corned Beef Hash & Dumplings and the usual remark from mother-"Where the hell have you been?!"

Smog was a regular thing back in those days and seemed to be more prevelent in October at Hull Fair time.

Sounds awful. We really put a lot of emphasis on clean air these days, but what it must have been like when electricity was a new fad, commercial and domestic properties were belching out smoke, the mills were in operation, the docks full of fish, and manure lined the streets.

Yes,everybody used coal,paraffin or logs in those days. There was always a strong smell,whether it be smoke,fish or manure but never thought of it being unpleasant. I can never recall anyone in my school having chest problems or asthma. A few years ago I gave a lecture to primary school children about-'Life when i was a young boy'. The subject of asthma came up and 14 of a class of 32 said they had asthma and used inhalers. I can only assume that double glazing and central heating are contributary factors as a main cause when we never had these luxuries back in the 1940/50's period.

I never remember having hayfever, or other people my age having hayfever when I was a boy, yet now I have it, my wife has it, and my daughter has it. My son and I both have asthma.

where are all the victorian /edwardian rubbish dumps in Hull , I bet they have all been built on!!

Eleven miles of Docks. Happiest? For me, in 1947 through to '52 riding with Grandfather in his car when he visited his pals on the Docks. Him talking with everyone, his workers, then Boatmen at the quaysides, swapping yarns with the Trawler Skippers n Crews and hailing the passing Barges. The Docks, River Hull and the great Humber Estuary always full of ships. On the Dry Side, sitting in the offices of Hudson, Hellyer and the rest, as business was done, I would gaze out the windows at the many brave little ships that birthed there two n three abreast. The clatter, bangs, toots n whistles and blasts of steam from the Trawlers. Waterboats almost silent in their nudging and Tugs that growled as warps were hauled. There were more than a thousand men climbing everywhere over those dipping swaying hulks. The rush of ice tumbling down into holds and the stink from the so called Whitefish Mill. The Wet Side a flurry of spinning, swinging baskets full of the precious fish, as folk of every shape n size slithered and clogged about the lethal wet dock. Men walking over barrels of fish to sell, mouthing their quick gibberish that only the few understood. Wagons backing, Bobbers shouting, knifes flashing as the youngens slithered, skipped n dodged behind the heavy kits as they barrowed them back n forth. Bridges swinging, crews n workmen waving with friendly jibes and wicked banter as the proud little ships slipped through the Bullnose. But winter evenings were the best with a galaxy of lights flickering everywhere across the waters and the sounds of menfolk still busy in the dark. Yes, it outlived Grandfather, but who could have imagined so much of it would ever end?

Back in the days of the walls around Hull, the residents would dump their waste over the walls into the moat surrounding Hull!

Did anyone ever experience the smells of stoneferry? In the Fifties mainly.
If you were on the bus, the best one was No. 32, going down Cleveland St. then Stoneferry Road then finally into the fresh air when you got to Leads Road on its way to Sutton.
The smells changed from Reckitts, BOCM and then the Margarine factory among so many.
If you got caught at closing time you heard a cacophony of sirens all blasting out and then the rush of workers clogging the road, many on bikes, which delayed your bus.
The Reckitts Blue workers were the special ones to see, all the women’s headscarves covered in Blue.