The Half Way, Hessle Road

That's half way between Hessle and Hull. As a crow flies it's about four and a half miles from the centre of old town Hull to Hessle's bustling heart so maybe it's five or so miles on the ground.  A fair walk but hardly exhausting. Nevertheless you'd need some refreshment if going to either destination, and if overcome by dread or fatigue you could rest up at the Half Way Hotel.  This place, by the look of it built in the first half of the 19^th century when Hessle Road was a turnpike and ran through open fields, is no longer a hotel but still refreshes so I'm told. The large mural I showed the other day is on the far side.

Annoying lamp post thingies, Hessle Road

What can I say about these odd decorative features attached to street lights? I don't know who made them, when they went up or anything at all about them other than their obvious local theme. They quite interesting but also a bit annoying as you have to be at a certain angle before they catch the light and reveal the picture within. There's a fair few of them; I limited myself to four.

PS: I've just found out that the local rugby league team won their cup final at Wembley for the second year in a row. So there'll be much rejoicing on Hessle Road and thereabouts.

ASDA, Hessle Road

If you look at old maps of Hessle Road you'll find the area between it and the docks along the Humber crammed with housing, every inch taken up with dwellings for the families of fishermen, rail workers and so on. The 60's and 70's saw much of this quasi-slum demolished and people shipped out to the sunlit uplands of Bransholme and Orchard Park. This left a large open space on the edge of town and as nature abhors a vacuum so in rushed a superstore, ASDA. It's a large, bland and inhuman space (now owned by Walmart) but at least does have windows to reflect the mural I showed the other day.

Weekend Reflections are here.

Cup Final Fever

OK fever may be an bit over the top but the local rugby league team's second trip to Wembley in two years (it seems they won last year, who knew?) is sure to clear the streets around Hessle Road this Saturday.  This guy didn't seem to be having much trade with his flags and so on but that was on Tuesday. I'm sure excitement will be at boiling point by now ... or maybe not. I don't even know who they are playing ... (*goes off and Googles for a minute*) ... Wigan Warriors, there you go... hope it's a nice day for them.

King Cod

Right, let's get these monsters out of the way. Hull has recently put up several memorials to trawlermen lost at sea and there's something of fishing heritage thing developing on Hessle Road. As there's no money in fishing any more maybe there's a bob to made out of tourism ... So for whatever reason money from the City of Culture paid for these murals on Hessle Road. Local artists worked with the guys from Northern Ireland who did Big Lil to produce what are monumental images. ("Cor ain't it big" says I, "It's the size of  houses" says Margot, who notices these things.) Being about fishing there's a King Cod motif which is clear on the triptych below but you have to peer at the fisherman's hand to see his tattoo is the self same Cod. I think what they lack in artistic merit they more than make up with imposing size and they are clearly much loved by the folks around here; one of whom was walking along and found his granny was on the wall, must have been a nice surprise.

More murals are planned I suspect this little fellow will reappear.

Mural Monday is here.

152 & 154 Hessle Road

In the late 19^th century a businessman by the name of William Henry Franklin seeing the need for shoes and boots in the boom town of Hull set up the fabulously named Public Benefit Boot and Shoe Company to go with this glorious moniker the company's logo was a horse drawn boot. This building designed by our old friend Alfred Gelder's company in 1896 was one of several stores in Hull in what had become a national chain. For what was effectively just a shoe shop it is a tad grand in the Flemish Renaissance Revival style. I note the ornate decoration above the first floor windows is only on one side which I find rather pleasing, can't be having too much frippery. It is, of course, grade 2 listed. It still sells boots though not for the public benefit needless to say.

I took me a walk down Hessle Road and along the way took a shed load of pictures so the next few days, possibly weeks, will feature this  part of town which was the centre of the fishing community in Hull, unless something better crops up or I get bored.

Burnett's Buddleia

I've mentioned before how buddleia can grow in unexpected nooks and crannies. This one has taken root half way up the gable end of Burnett House and very nice it looks too.

Billy's Old Nag

At the risk of being trampled under hoof I bring you this unusual angle on the King William statue in Market Place. The poor old thing looks in need of another coat of gold leaf.

Lowgate Lion

Victorian and Edwardian buildings often have decorations that are frowned upon by the modern steel, glass and concrete builders of today. This fine lion is on the Old Custom House on Lowgate.

The weekend in black and white just finishing here.

¡Venceremos!

Queen's Gardens was no peaceful place on Saturday. Tucked away under the shadow of the Wilberforce Memorial a small would-be jamboree was taking place with attendant amplified noise otherwise known as a band. I learned later it was a "Collective Youth Festival" and that it was "challenging oppression through collective action" (again). There were stalls of various unions, even a Socialist Party stall (I say 'even' I didn't think they could organise a stall) and, of course supporters of the bearded loon of the Labour Party. There were more toilets than security staff and more security staff than attendees (I exaggerate a little but this looked an event for the few and not the many; maybe they all turned up later.)  I've seen other posts showing folk raising their fists and reportedly singing that favourite of doomed causes ¡No pasarán! ( Ah but they did pass and seventy years ago my dear, do keep up ...) For a youth event many seemed aged and miserable looking, maybe it was the music, the ancient clichéd slogans that meant little even when new or the dire speeches from international guests which gained nothing in translation. It certainly couldn't have been the weather which was nicely cool and blustery with showers, perfect! Venceremos, comrade, sin duda venceremos, pero no hoy...

Trick of the light

OK so I waited 'til a blue car went past is that such a sin?

Weekend reflections are here.

Sudden Elegancies

Hull has its own sudden elegancies.

Philip Larkin 

The fiddling around by the Council with Queen's Gardens does mean that there is this view of the Maritime Museum, the fountain and City Hall in the distance.

Ceci n'est pas une râpe au fromage

So as promised the thing that Hull Council bought but couldn't find a place to put has been plonked in Queen's Gardens where is sticks out like a proverbial sore thumb. I was wrong, I now admit, to say this looks like a cheese grater, it's not as useful as that. No it puts me in mind of childish origami using a crumpled doily. I look forward to seeing selfies from atop the structure and how quickly it turns a sooty black and green with mould. I believe that when finished it is supposed to do tricks with sunlight and other whimsical things, can't wait. No really ...

Fun on Ferensway

A bit of skyline on Ferensway with the St Stephens on the right, the arches of Paragon Station and the new coffee hut which, on closer inspection, seems to have no appeal whatsoever.

Domed, we're all domed ...

One of the first buildings I posted about was the Maritime Museum and over the years it has cropped up regularly (like a recurring toothache some may say). I admit it's one of my turn to subjects when the well of inspiration has run dry  and as it's been over six months since I last mentioned it here it is again... Here's the same dome from two sides (do domes have sides? ... ) in glorious monochrome and in colour, no expense spared. I'm spoiling you.

The weekend in black and white is here.

The buck stops here

Came across this fine roebuck on Snuff Mill Lane the other day.  It being the rutting time of year I suspect he was looking for female company but I didn't see any around. Something I didn't know was that roe deer became extinct in England in the 18^th century  and those we have now are the result of reintroduction from Scotland. There's lots of them about now thankfully and if this guy gets lucky there'll be even more.

" ...listen, linger and think about what you see."

"While you are looking you may as well also listen, linger and think about what you see"
                                                                                                                             Jane Jacobs

This is the ever so new King Edward Square: the time is around five thirty and most folk are heading on home; the only noise is the fruit seller desperate to sell his strawberries "Two for a pound" "Your strawberries two for a pound". There are a few people passing but this is the very centre of what claims to be a city. It's more like a desert. There's no traffic, no people lingering, nobody wanting to be here at all; not even the poor soul trying to sleep by the doors of the old BHS store. This is a dead space.

Been there for years ...

Another one of those "been there for years" shops non è più. This one on Holderness Road. Never mind we can always order a yard brush on line (free delivery!) and get DIY advice from You Tube. I mean, shops, who needs 'em?

King Edward Street: a touch of the baroque

King Edward Street as the name might suggest was pushed through the chaos of late Victorian Hull around 1905. These are a few buildings that survive from that time still retaining what I've heard described as Edwardian baroque revival upper storeys. The ground floor styles are Elizabethan in need of reviving.

The cladding on the middle building is noted for containing volcanic bombs which sound exciting but actually look like fossilised dog droppings. This cladding dates back to when the building was a bank, before it was a bank it was a chapel; now it's community church and food bank

I've shown this before here but I think this is a better picture.

Pick-a-stick

Though the mills of God grind slowly they are a speedy blur compared to progress in the stinking backwater. So it is that the burnt out shell of the Lambert Street Chapel remains wrapped in scaffolding as the end times approach.

The weekend in black and white is here.

The bags of ballast have become home to a variety of wild flowers.

Highway Robbery

Suppose, just suppose you wanted to stand by the Humber at this point for whatever reason. Maybe you like to wander aimlessly wherever your feet take you or perhaps you like to watch the ships go by or you want one last peek at your enemy as she/he floats by. All perfectly good and valid reasons. And on any day you could freely do just what you wanted. However in this stinking backwater (or City of Culture if you will) the Council colludes with a little known group of scallies who run an annual thing called the Humber Street Sesh; an exhibition of hundreds of desperately untalented noise makers, sorry that should read fabulously gifted musicians from all over the place... (I keep forgetting to type in PC speak). Fine; a 'festival', I'm all in favour ... But (there's always a but) to facilitate this shindig the Council not only blocks off the roads to traffic but allows the organisers to set up tolls and charge pedestrians to walk the streets. So for today you will have to pay someone up to £15 for the right walk on your own streets that lead to the riverside and also to the public conveniences on Nelson Street (pay to pee indeed!). This is why I call it highway robbery, they have stolen our streets and are charging us to use them, the noisy bastards!

A place to rest

The rather silly Boer War memorial on Ferensway makes a nice perch for a sea gull. I think he improves it tremendously; I'm  thinking of calling him Steven ...

YOLO

I'm told it means You Only Live Once. It's how the youth of today communicate with one another. IKR too busy to use words, poor darlings. 

Today's first of the month City Daily Photo theme is 'Young at heart'

Margot took this. We are both still searching for our inner adult. TTFN as we used say back in the day.

The Bus Queue

Take the bus, they say, to ease traffic congestion ...

Gilding the Venue

I posted in April about the construction of a new arena, the Hull Venue. Well now they are putting the finishing touches to the exterior. From the pictures I've seen it's going to be either yellow or gold, it's hard to tell from artist's impressions. It's going to be a big job and should keep these two busy for a while.

BBC Proms at the stage in the dock

I mentioned that last Saturday that along with the Hull Folk Festival Hull was also host to the BBC Proms held at the little stage in the old dry dock. Those without tickets could listen from the footbridges at each end or turn on the radio or download it from the wonderful web.

Classical music may not be to everyone's taste and I captured the leader of Hull City Council making a early getaway; perhaps Morris dancing was more his thing. I'm sure he'd cut a fine figure dancing a jig in a shirt and baldrics with knee-length breeches and bell pads or more likely just playing the fool.

... and Billy makes three

Between the listed loos and the listed tidal flood barrier stands the newly listed statue of William de-la-Pole, Hull’s first mayor. Quite why there should suddenly be found three structures of listed quality in such a short stretch is a bit of a mystery (at least to me). Perhaps the excellent hospitality of the Minerva Pub at the far end of Nelson Street may have enhanced the adjudicators opinions ...

Any excuse

I took this back in February but having already posted umpteen times about the tidal flood barrier could not find an excuse to post it yet again. Now this really useful bit of kit has gone and gotten itself listed building status so, anyway, that's my excuse for yet another barrier post. Ignore the silly shadow it just seems to follow me around.

Conveniently Listed

I'm told that when these public conveniences were opened in 1926 it was unusual in that it was for use by both men and women. Women it was once said didn't perspire they glowed and it seems they didn't piss either. What tosh! Thankfully we don't live in such times though women having to pay to pee while men go for free is a continuing scandal.. Anyhow these fine utilities on Nelson Street are in excellent condition with mostly original fittings and ornate decorations and now are a listed building: A Grade II-listed loo!

A skyline of sorts

This is the view from Queen's Gardens towards Savile Street. The buildings have featured before in this cheery little post. I am happy to note the abandoned shop now has occupants selling skates and related gear, I hope they took care of the doll. All the other shops remain unused. Lurking in the back is the flat dome of the empty BHS store which is hard to see from street level and can only really be appreciated from a distance, I suspect most folk are unaware of its existence.

And speaking of BHS I see no reason not to post another view of the three ships mosaic and mention again the petition to have it listed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Even the 'expert' whose advice led to the application being rejected has said he hopes it can be saved. So go sign it; you know you want to.

I'll have more about listed things in Hull tomorrow all being well.

Brook Street

This is Brook Street. It's a short cut for buses going to the station you can see in the background. There are signs saying cars should not use this route but few pay them any heed. As you can see it's a mightily uninteresting place.