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.