Holdy Road Blues

A recent article in the local paper suggested that the western end of Holderness Road needs some TLC.  I think it will take more than a bit of sprucing up and redecorating to brighten up this old road. And it's not as if it's a new problem. This road looks pretty much like it did when I first saw it nearly 30 years ago. It's always been a run down mix of used motor sales, greasy spoons and dodgy enterprises and night clubs you really wouldn't want to go to. Even when times were good they were never that good round these parts; the recession didn't make much difference to this area as it was never in growth to begin with, it simply speeded up the decline.

Mount Pleasant Retail Park

Something about the name Mount Pleasant conjures  up a vision of a gentle incline with trees and a bucolic ambience. In Hull, however, Mount Pleasant is a nasty cut through connecting the infamously horrible Hedon Road with the equally nasty Stoneferry. It is neither a mount nor pleasant. At the point where it crosses Holderness Road this architectural monstrosity has sprung up. As it is served by two main roads there's a large car park and it's almost always busy. These stores should be contrasted with the old shops I posted the other day which are just on the other side of Holderness Road and due to be replaced with the twin of this place.

Swallows

One swallow does not make a Summer and neither , it seems, do four or five. Rain totals show it's been the wettest second quarter on record and quite possibly the wettest June ever; although it's not been too bad in Hull other places have had flooding and even tornadoes! 

As it's the first of the month it's theme day for City Daily Photo with 'chimneys' as the chosen theme. Click here to see other participants. If that link doesn't work try here or the Facebook group here.

The Wind Mill Hotel, Witham

Witham is a road that runs from the river to Holderness Road. I suppose at one time it was a prosperous place but now it's totally depressing. The main business apart from the large Council offices seems to be the used car trade with its attendant 'Arthur Daley' dealerships. Stuck on the end of Witham and looking a bit the worse for wear is the Wind Mill Hotel. It was built towards the end of 19th century as was much of this area. Its chief attraction is the fine tile work the surrounds the ground floor walls. It's a Grade 2 listed building and I have read that it's the best night out in Hull for the over 35s which I find difficult to credit.

Books and Baths

Another stitch up (maybe I should get a really wide angle lens). This time we have on the right the old James Reckitt library now closed and moved to new buildings further up the road. On the left the East Hull Pools which boasts heated swimming pools, the very height of decadence. Both were built towards the latter end of the 19th century and stand in splendid isolation on Holderness Road.

Ghosts on Holderness Road

I've stitched three shots together here with the result of strange ghosts in the final image. This is the western end of Holderness Road and it's in a pretty dire state. That whole row is due for either demolition or redevelopment of some sort (see link here). The only shop still trading is a pawnbrokers cum body piercing shop; it's that kind of area. In the dim distance is the building I showed you here. 

Wet day in Hull

This is the view from the Streetlife Transport Museum. As you can see it was a very rainy day. The trawler you can see is the Arctic Corsair which I've shown before here. You can go and look around the boat with free guided tours, details are here.