Fall

The sudden drop in temperatures has forced a rush to shed this year's leaves. It's forecast that we shall have record low temperatures this week along with lots of snow and it's still Autumn.

Tracks in the snow

A spell of wintry weather is always an opportunity for a photo.

Grotesques

Three grotesques from near the entrance to Bridlington Priory.

University of Lincoln, Hull

The question why there is a University of Lincoln in Hull need not detain you as the place is closing in a year or two leaving an large empty building in the centre of town. You can't have too many empty office blocks.

Princes Quay Reflections

Reflecting the old warehouse on Posterngate I showed you some time back here.

Syntan

The Syntan was built in 1949 to carry coal and raw materials to the tanneries of Beverley. This ended in 1970 and the ship lay idle for nearly 20 years until restored and made into a working exhibition on Beverley Beck. You can hire the Syntan for trips down the river Hull and onto the Humber. You're thinking there's got to be a website about this somewhere and it's here.

Syntan is "a contraction of "synthetic tannins," which are chemicals that combine with, or affect, the protein constituents of hides and skins and produce a product that is flexible, porous, and has the desirable qualities of leather"  says this site. So now you know as much as me.

Nixie Plonks

Strange name for a shop, Nixie Plonks, . The story goes that when the owner was a little girl she would pester her father for sweets and treats; and his response was always "I've got nixie plonk for you". The shop is on Queen Street and sells all kinds of bit and bobs and as the sign says the prices are right.

The Bayle, Bridlington

The Bayle is the former gatehouse to the Augustinian priory I posted yesterday. It was built in the 12th century. In olden times a religious institution had other functions as the priory was given the right to crenellate its walls, that is to make them into defensible walls. Today, however,  the Bayle is a Grade I listed Building and scheduled Ancient Monument.
There's museum in the building which has a website here. 

Bridlington Priory

 

It's a fair bet that 99% of the thousands who flock to Bridlington for the seaside fun have no idea that just up the road from the beach and the bright lights sits this imposing mediaeval edifice. This 12th century priory pretty much owned most of East Yorkshire at one time.The Dissolution of the Monasteries was bad news with most of the buildings being demolished, some to build the harbour piers. You can read more here and there are more pictures here. I couldn't get inside to take pictures as there was a service going on.

Why are the towers different? Your guess is as good as mine.

Boat Lift

This odd looking device is a boat lift used for cleaning and repairing  fishing boats.

De La Pole Memorial, Holy Trinity Church, Hull

In 14th century England few people were as rich as the de la Pole family. They made their money as wool and wine merchants and held important offices of state culminating in Michael de la Pole becoming Earl of Suffolk in 1385. However, as many have found before and since, riches are no cure for life's passing and they lie now in Hull's Holy Trinity church with this memorial.

The  de la Pole name crops up in de la Pole Avenue, Hull , where the poet Stevie Smith was born and the now closed local mental asylum, de la Pole Hospital.

Welcome to Cottingham

With a population of over 17,000 Cottingham claims to be the largest village in England; indeed this population is bigger than some cities in other countries. It's reckoned that the name means homestead of Cotta's people, Cotta being some 5th century Anglo-Saxon chief. There's an old church, several pubs and shops and a village green that is now a car park.
The village's main industry, if it can be called that, is looking after thousands of students who live in Halls of Residence to the north of the village and who commute to Hull University. There was until recently an important caravan industry; the recession sent that sideways. I hear that the caravan trade is slowly picking up so good luck to them.
This sign is a few yards from one I posted earlier. Its lazy but nice to be able to post things that are just outside your front door.

Destruction of the Temple

The City Temple, Hessle Road, formerly a Primitive methodist church then Elim Pentacostal, was in use for a hundred years before it closed in 1984 since when time and idle hands for whom the devil has found a use have taken their toll. It now stands derelict and in danger of complete collapse, there were plans to make flats but the economy fell upon hard times as you're all too aware.

Arc, Blanket Row, Hull

Arc claims to be "the architecture and built environment centre for Hull and the Humber region" and "part of a national network of architecture centres across the UK". Quite what all that means , who is paying for it and  why such a place should exist at all I don't know.
The building is full of the latest do-no-harm technology, including "a mechanical garden of wind turbines and photovoltaic panels" and claims to be only connected to the ground via the services of waste, water and electricity. They run exhibitions and lectures and such like events and you can go visit the place should you have a desire.
As usual there's a website where you can get their side of things here. 

Beverley

Here's Beverley Minster just visible through the trees of the Westwood.

The Old White's Sugar Mill, Driffield

This old building is gradually falling in decay. I believe there are plans to demolish and build flats.

Skidby Mill, near Cottingham

Yorkshire's last working windmill, built in 1821 and recent renovated. There's a museum of East Riding Rural Life and it's a popular tourist attraction though when I went it was deserted.

There's a website here, panoramic photos of the mill exterior here and similar of the interior here. 

When the wind is in the East...

...'tis neither good for man nor beast.

This weather vane  is atop the Victorian Conservatory in Pearson Park.

Norwood House, Beverley

This is Norwood House, a most impressive Grade 1 listed Georgian building. After a many years as a residence it became a high school for girls until 2000. It was sold recently by the East Riding Council after years of dithering and against the wishes of many who wished to restore it and make it open to the public. I believe it has planning permission for development as offices. As we all know there is a shortage of offices and far too many Grade1 listed buildings. 

November showers

Lowering clouds and late afternoon sunshine produce this strange lighting effect. Of course sunshine and rain made a nice rainbow which you can see below.
This is Butcher Row in Beverley.

The eleventh twelfth of a weariness....

No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees,

No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds, - November!

Thomas Hood

Ladygate, Beverley

The Mission

First a seaman's mission then church now Hull's No1 Student Pub ... not a great deal of change really.

Hull New Theatre

Hull New Theatre is probably the oldest theatre in Hull. It opened in 1939 replacing a  theatre on the same site. The Central Hull Fire Station is situated just to the rear of this building so shows may be interrupted by the sound of sirens.
The theatre's website claims "Hull New Theatre continues to be one of the UK's premier touring venues and features the best in musical, opera, ballet, drama, children's shows and one night performances, with a highlight of the year being the annual spectacular Christmas pantomime."

Currently we have Scrooge featuring Tommy Steele ( a 1950s pop star! ), this is described as "The perfect winter treat, Scrooge is a heartwarming family story with stunning sets and costumes ...." What are you waiting for? Book now.

Empty plot

I have criticised in previous postings the policy of "Build it and they'll come" that seems to govern Hull's planning for the future. Well, I think for once they might be on a winner with this scheme. It's the new Priory Road Cemetery; a sure fire success unless we all achieve immortality.

This brand new plot is actually just outside Hull in Cottingham and caused a furore when it was proposed. There were all sorts of planning enquiries and appeals and a great deal of public money wasted. Seems all Hull's boneyards are full and they needed to spill out here. After nearly four years of digging and draining the new graveyard opened earlier this year.

It's a strange to wander through a cemetery without graves, usually there are headstones and memorials and so on and a feeling that you're in the presence of death. This is like a new housing estate, it doesn't have that "lived in" feeling if that makes any sense.

 Being an up-to-date place you get a choice of how you spend eternity: in the straight terraces (as above) or in decadent Nature with a woodland burial or perhaps a Muslim burial is your choice or any which way you choose. The only condition is your demise, it seems a small price to pay for a spot in this new necropolis.

Autumn Colour

I may have moaned about the changes to East Park in previous postings but this avenue has thankfully been spared. The park was looking splendid yesterday as most of the trees were now at their Autumn best. You can see some more photos here.

Old Records Office, Hull

This is the where, I'm guessing, most of  the archives of Hull were kept before the Hull History Centre came about. It was built in 1881 and must have been a dockside building (it's on the side of the old Queen's Dock and has a sailing ship weather vane atop that conical structure) before the archive was placed here. The monogram above the door says TMC  or CMT but I don't know what that means. Anyhow it's a fine old Victorian building waiting for someone to put it it to some use. I like the different window styles; it's like the architect had a palette and said I'll have arches here and circles there with squares up on top; oh yes and a conical tower to top it all off. Wonderful!

Keeping Hull Moving

The owner of this car is in for a shock when he/she returns. A civil enforcement officer has spotted an alleged infringement and is issuing a penalty charge notice. I think it must be the uniform that attracts this kind of officious person, before this he'd taken 3 or 4 photos as evidence of the alleged offence. I bet he enjoys his work and the uniform that goes with it.

According to Hull City Council civil parking enforcement will "encourage correct, sensible and safe parking in Hull" and "keep Hull moving". "CPE will improve parking by ensuring that parking bays are not abused ..."
As you will have noticed this car is clearly abusing the parking bay (simply by being in it?) and hindering traffic ( it's tyre is a whole inch over the line!) and is parked so badly as to cause Hull to grind to a halt (allegedly).

I'm not a driver and so the parking regulations do not affect me personally but I cannot see how jumping on each and every minor infringement is going to achieve improved parking. It just becomes a money making scheme (up to £70 for an offence) and brings the whole scheme nothing but disrepute.

Hull Train

Here's Bridlington Station in all its glory. It says platforms 5/6 for the Hull train but there are only three platforms. Nowadays the trains are just two carriage push-me-pull-you affairs and look quite small on the platform designed to take ten or more carriages.
I can't show you Bridlington Station without also showing the Buffet Bar, which regularly wins prizes for its floral displays. It's one of the last few remaining buffets which used to be on every station providing refreshments. It even has its own website.

 

This month's Theme day topic is  Public Transportation.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants