Hi vis

Seems the neighbouring street was in need of  a bit of maintenance, so a strip about a yard wide was taken off and replaced on both sides. Took this gang of four (three to work and one to watch) two days to do the whole street. Whether all this was strictly necessary I don't know but they provided a colourful interlude.

No Parking

Nobody cares any more if you park outside these doors on Wellington Street. The business has long gone with the opening of the new fruit market over in Hessle. Those fancy coloured cowlings peeking out at the back mark the restoration of Hull's last smoke house  ( a mere £133,000, since you ask ) part of the regeneration of the old fruit market area if we are to believe what it says in the paper.

Babies 4 U: New and Used

Perambulators, buggies, strollers, pushchairs, baby carriages ... call them what you like this shop sells them new or  used along with lots of other gadgets and gizmos needed to rear children, kiddies, sprogs, bairns and so on. 

Shadows

This is the path that leads under Myton Bridge from Castle Street.

If you like your weekend in black and white click here.

Entrepôt

Here's another post of the Minerva Hotel. Built in the 1850's it served as the offices of one Richard Cortis an emigrant agent who was in the business of transporting hundreds of thousands mainly from Scandinavia through Hull and on to Liverpool and from there America. On arrival at Hull many ships would berth at the Steam Packet Wharf (below) adjacent to the Minerva. The male passengers were allowed to disembark and enjoy the pleasures of the town until evening when they must be back on board, women and children were kept on board until forward transport could be arranged.

Norway's declaration of a constitution on this day in 1814 may have raised nationalist passions but did nothing to stem the flow of its people to find a better life elsewhere. The figures are really quite alarming, from a population of  then around 2 million in one year alone, 1884, 28,804 people left. A million or so left in the century up to 1914. Norway's loss was Hull's gain, or rather the shipping company Wilson Line's gain. 

Now, of course, it's all changed and Norway is a rich and prosperous place with a high standard of living. Hull however has not fared so well, perhaps I should emigrate. Go East, old man!

Today's rather rambling post is part of City Daily Photo's Norway Constitution Day theme. 

Cold, Wet and Windy

I took this picture on Friday when it was blowing a gale. The noise from the rigging and other sundry items on these boats was just tremendous. Later, while waiting for my transport home, a Polish woman asked me why it was so cold (did she think I was responsible?), she had on a thick coat and hat and looked truly nithered! Since then it's turned even colder and temperatures are a good 5-6^oC below average. Add to that a good overnight soaking. These are all clear signs that Summer is on its way.

Portland Hotel: "one of Hull's most iconic buildings"

It's almost always fatal to be described by the local press as iconic. So it was with the Portland Hotel which went into administration last year and was sold to a 'developer' who has announced plans to turn it into student accommodation. It's on Paragon Street, a street which must hold some kind of record for business failures. As for the building itself it has few redeeming features being a seven storey brick and glass block, it's not ugly it's just boring and certainly not iconic. I've shown you the best bit here. So Hull loses a hotel but never mind there's plans for an eighteen (or was it twenty, I forget) storey monster elsewhere in town when the Council can be 'persuaded' and when pigs learn to fly.

Just by the by I saw the first swifts of Summer today, a bit late but then everything is late this year. Good to know the globe's still working.