Cultur'ull

You might have heard that Hull is to be the City of Culture in 2017 and I may have mentioned that Humber Street with its old greengrocers' warehouses was becoming a centre for the arts ...yada yada. Well the reality is that not much is actually going on there and many of the warehouses and buildings remain unused and in parts in a frankly disgusting state (see yesterday's post). Sure over the years I've read of countless plans to do the place up but in fact proposals to re-use these buildings are only just now going before the Council. 

If you're in Hull on Saturday there's a big 'Thank You' party being put on to thank the people of Hull for, well I don't quite know what, not chucking rotten eggs the 2017 C of C zealots I suppose, it's not as if they had any say in the matter. Only another 900 or so more days of this ... 

Old town delights

Tourists and other assorted visitors to Hull are often told to stroll around the old town and take in the wonderful ambience of the place. Well come with me as I lead you down Martin's Alley, a 'must see' attraction, gasp at the razor wire, taste the culinary delight left out for any passer-by, marvell at the up-to-date refuse collection and gaze in awe at  the strange signs left lying around to trip up the unwary ... I'm sure you'll feel truly uplifted by this experience, do come and visit again.

On the huh

Flemingate, Beverley

This old house is not quite jizzicked but it's definitely on the huh.

I spy with my little eye something beginning with M ...

Well here's a pleasant enough old wall on Eastgate with an ancient gateway and all, must have been there for hundreds of years. Well no, not quite, maybe fifty or so. This was part of Beverley Priory situated behind where I took this photo and it was all cleared away to make room for housing. The gateway, from the 16^th century, was moved across the street in 1964 to "ensure permanent preservation" in the words of a nearby green plaque. The keen eyed amongst you might have noticed the Minster poking up in the background I don't think that has been moved recently.

Madder

OK I admit it's slightly perverse to post a monochrome picture of a plant that produces a deep red colouring for the dyers of this world. This is yet another part of Beverley's history trail (it's difficult to avoid) and it's on, appropriately, Dyer Lane. From what I've read it's the roots that are used and hard water, rich in calcium carbonate, produces the best results. Well, Beverley and all the East Riding sits on a chalky bedrock, so that really must have helped those medieval dyers.

The weekend in black and white is here.

One side of Beverley Beck

Been a while since I've had a walk by Beverley beck. Hasn't changed much.

My plan to cross over at this bridge and come back on the other side was thwarted by Balfour Beatty's  security fencing, something to do with repairs to the bridge.

More weekend reflections here.

The Creeler

Part of Beverley's history trail this bronze statue of a creeler is at the top end of the beck. Creeler is an old local term for someone who, in medieval times, did the hard work of shifting cargo to and from boats and without which the merchants of Beverley would have been up the beck without a paddle. This was sculpted by Chris Wormald and unveiled in 2010.