Saturday 20 November 2010

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.

Friday 19 November 2010

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.

Thursday 18 November 2010

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.

Wednesday 17 November 2010

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

Tuesday 16 November 2010

Monday 15 November 2010

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.

Sunday 14 November 2010

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