Hessle Local History Society Hessle Local History Society Bringing the History of Hessle to You Welcome to the home page of the Hessle Local History Society website. Hessle Church and the Marquis of Granby c 1900. Hessle is a small town in East Yorkshire, four miles to the west of Kingston Upon Hull. The town is, now, perhaps best known for being the site of the Humber Bridge, but it has a long and interesting history, some of which is recorded on these web pages. Aims of the Society: Hessle Local History Society exists to promote and encourage the history and traditions of the town of Hessle, and the study of its history. Society meetings take place in Hessle Town Hall from March to November (see Society News). New members are welcome. Next meeting The next meeting will be the AGM on Thursday 17th November. It will be followed by readings from past Newsletters. There will also be a display on Old Buildings of Hessle. Subscriptions for 2017 can be paid at this meeting. See Society News & Meetings for this year's programme.

Hessle - 必应 Sign in Hessle Coordinates: 53°43′26″N 0°25′55″W / 53.7239°N 0.4319°W Hessle is a town , civil parish and electoral ward in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, situated 5 miles (8 km) west of Kingston upon Hull city centre. Geographically it is part of a larger urban area which consists of the city of Kingston upon Hull, the town of Hessle and a number of other villages but is not part of the city. It is on the north bank of the Humber Estuary where the Humber Bridge crosses. According to the 2011 UK census, Hessle parish had a population of 15,000, an increase on the 2001 UK census figure of 14,767. Hessle Facilities The centre of Hessle is called "Hessle Square" or "The Square" for short. There are many shops and a small bus station - which was refitted in 2007.

Hessle All Saints Church is located just off the Square and was designated a Grade I listed building in 1967 and is now recorded in the National Heritage List for England, maintained by Historic England. Hessle Town Hall was built in 1897 and is situated at the top of South Lane. Hessle Police Station is next door to the town hall at the top of South Lane and the corner of Ferriby Road. The Upper School site of Hessle High School situated on Heads Lane, the Lower School on Boothferry Road, is centred on a building donated to the Education Authority by Algernon Barkworth, a survivor of the Titanic disaster. Its education standards remain moderate to high, with it having a Specialist Science College status and achieving some of the best results in the county. Despite having specialist Science status the school has a considerable reputation in the area for its music making. In the late 1960s and 70s a considerable number of students from the school were admitted to music colleges and ex-students are to be found, now, in all areas of the music profession.

Hessle is home to the world famous Humber Bridge, which was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1981, which was, at the time of its opening, was the world's longest single span suspension bridge in the world. It now saves a lot of time instead of having to go the long way round the River Humber. The Humber Bridge links Hessle to the town of Barton-Upon-Humber on the opposite side of the river. Hessle History In more modern times, it has been a centre for shipbuilding. Before 1897, there was a shipyard building wooden boats, but it was then bought by Henry Scarr who moved there from Beverley, where he had previously been in partnership with his brother Joseph. Scarr produced iron and steel ships until 1932, when the yard was taken over by Richard Dunston. It was the largest shipyard in Hessle, building vessels such as Loch Riddon, a roll-on/roll-off ferry launched in 1986, and one of four built for Caledonian MacBrayne for use in the Hebrides.

The company went into liquidation in 1987 and was bought by Damen Shipyards Group in the same year. Dunston's was closed down in 1994. The location is now used as offices, car sales buildings and a dock for scrap metal and other materials for dispatch to other areas, or to be recycled. Richard Dunston's ship repairs still exists further east along the Humber Estuary, with activity remaining high. Hessle Geography Hessle is surrounded by the neighbouring villages of Willerby, Anlaby, Kirk Ella and Swanland. Chalk-quarrying was a major industry at Hessle into the 20th century and quarries can still be seen in the west of the town, the largest being the Humber Bridge Country Park, which is a popular tourist attraction. Part of it is known as Little Switzerland (Little Switz or Switzy for short). Hessle is twinned with the French town of Bourg-de-Thizy. Transport to and from Hessle is convenient, with good access to main roads such as the A15, A63 and M62 (via the A63).

It also has a railway station with hourly services to and from Hull and to destinations such as Doncaster and York. Hessle is at the start of the Yorkshire Wolds Way, a long-distance footpath and designated National Trail, which crosses the Yorkshire Wolds and ends at Filey. Hessle 2007 floods On 25 June 2007, torrential rain hit the north-east of England and 100mm of rain fell in a few hours. Several people died across the affected area and the first fatality occurred in Hessle. A 28-year-old man became trapped when his foot was stuck in a storm drain. He was overwhelmed by rising water and although emergency services gave him oxygen he died of hypothermia. Sky News filmed the operation and broadcast some of the footage in the days after the event. They were criticised for this but responded that the victim's family had approved the broadcast. The floods caused the formation of a local residents association, HCARA (Hessle Community Action Residents Association) who worked with various bodies to campaign for improvements in defences against floods in the lower Hessle area.

Alan Johnson, MP, as well as representatives of the Environment Agency, East Riding Council and the Flood Forum were among the speakers at the resident meetings. HCARA having operated to facilitate the distribution of news to Hessle residents immediately after the 2007 floods is currently dormant. As a result of consultation with the residents, the Environment Agency promoted a flood storage scheme which was constructed in a field off Beverley Road in Hessle in 2010/11. The project known as a flood water attenuation scheme involved identifying a field immediately upstream of the urban area, this was then excavated below natural ground level to a depth of around 6 feet. A flow control structure was built on the downstream end of the watercourse and the bank of the Western Drain was lowered on the West Side. In a very heavy storm, when the capacity of the control structure is exceeded, water overflows into the storage area. After the storm, the (stored) water returns to the Western Drain through a small diameter land drainage pipe. The lagoon holds around 35,000 cubic metres of water. The storage area remains dry for the majority of the time and looks from the road side to be a paddock, albeit lower than surrounding fields.

Hessle Feast Earliest found records of the Hessle Feast date from the 1800s. These have it as an annual event around Whitsuntide (May). A time of enjoyment, when the people of the Parish would gather to celebrate the coming year. From articles in 1808 and 1836 it is clear that the Feast had become a major event bringing in people from neighbouring towns and villages. With much excitement, racing, noise and jubilee. As ever the youth made it their own. Even in the earliest reports, there are Churchwardens concerns over noisy and drunken behaviour "particularly of the young men of Hull" who visited the parish. Resurrected around 15 years ago, after many years of absence, the Feast has again become an event of enjoyment and embraced by the whole community of Hessle. Previous Feasts include one which occurred in July 2006. It succeeded in attracting over 5,000 local residents and visitors to the area and was an entertaining day of charitable money raising, family fun and live music.

The event hosted many activities such as a Battle of the Bands which took place on the main stage in Hessle Square, a 'Buskathon' centred down Prestongate and local bands centred on a smaller stage on The Weir. There was also a Boat Race around the streets of Hessle, which was eventually won by army cadets carrying an inflatable float. The event was partly funded and majorly sponsored by Kingston Communications and Yorkshire Water who were working in the area at the time. Hessle Feast returned, after a 3-year absence due to the 2007 United Kingdom floods, in 2009. It was officially opened by the then Home Secretary, Hull West and Hessle MP, Alan Johnson, and the Mayor of Hessle, Frank Kitchen, at 1 p.m.. The most recent Feast day was Sunday 12 July 2009 and entertained crowds over a larger area than previously to encourage more business to the less immediate areas of Hessle. In the Square, the main stage starred the Hessle's Got Talent Final and the Crave and Serenity Fashion Show. The square's stage was compared by KCFM DJ Dave Hudson.

Prestongate had further stalls and barbecues. The Weir also had a stage with live music played all afternoon. On the Feast day, a World Record for 'poppadom stacking' was broken on the Weir by the Indian takeaway 'Jolsha', officiated by Alan Johnson MP. Following on from the Weir is Tower Hill Park, which was mainly occupied by the Army who had assault courses and climbing walls, which, as in previous years, focused on activities for the younger generations. The Feast also reached the area past the library, which held a 3rd stage with live local bands chosen by the Hase Pub. The Boat Race was won by the youth sports team the Norland Sharks who were the fastest at running round Hessle carrying an inflatable boat. The Hessle Feast 2009 Committee was an independent body of unpaid volunteers that organised the event in the Pubs of Hessle. The even was majorly sponsored by KCFM and Hull Colour Pages, with the additional funding of the local town council. The 2012 Hessle Feast was timed to take place on the Sunday of the weekend of celebrations for the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II in June 2012.

The following day a waterborne procession of sailing and powered craft departed from Hessle and proceeded around the River Humber. References ^ a b "Key Figures for 2011 Census: Key Statistics: Area: Hessle CP (Parish)". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 5 February 2013. ^ "2001 Census: Key Statistics: Parish Headcounts: Area: Hessle CP (Parish)". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 17 May 2008. ^ Historic England. "Church of All Saints (1161766)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 12 August 2013. ^ Taylor 2009, p.126. ^ Taylor 2009, p.27. ^ Taylor 2009, p.119. ^ "Man Trapped in Flooded Drain Dies". Sky News (BSkyB.). 25 June 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2007. ^ Tryhorn, Chris (5 July 2007). "Sky defends flood death footage".

MediaGuardian. Retrieved 21 January 2008. Hull City History Photos : Top of page Pennines near Bainbridge. Above: statue of William Wilberforce at Hull Hull and the Humber ALONG THE HUMBER The wide River Humber forms the southern boundary of East Yorkshire and separates Yorkshire from Lincolnshire. It is undoubtedly the most obvious historic dividing line between the North of England and the Midlands. Humber is a Celtic river name meaning 'good- well' and the root of the name can be traced back to the Sanskrit 'Ambhas' meaning water. The antiquity of the name demonstrates the river's importance. The Humber gave its name to the ancient kingdom of Northumbria - the land north of the Humber which once stretched as far north as Edinburgh - and the river forms one of the largest river estuaries in England, matched only by the River Severn and the River Thames. The Humber is formed by the confluence of Yorkshire's River Ouse with that famous river of the midlands called the Trent. The two rivers merge at Faxfleet, about six miles east of the port of Goole.

Almost every single river in Yorkshire (the exceptions being the Esk, the Ribble and the Tees) feed the River Humber via the River Ouse. A few miles further east, along the Humber from Faxfleet is the town of Brough where the Roman road from York linked up with a Roman ferry across the Humber towards Lincolnshire. Brough was known to the Romans as Petuaria and was probably the tribal capital of the Parisi. The Parisi were the great Celtic or ancient British tribe of east Yorkshire. They were culturally more sophisticated than the Brigantes tribe who inhabited the rest of Yorkshire and they may have had links with a Celtic tribe in Europe called Parisi who gave their name to Paris in France. A few miles further east of Brough is Hessle on the outskirts of Hull, where the magnificent Humber Bridge crosses the River Humber. The bridge, one of the world's longest single span suspension bridges (4,626 feet) was commenced in 1972 and opened in 1981. It links Hessle with Barton upon Humber in Lincolnshire.

HULL Hull is located at the point where the little River Hull (which starts in the Yorkshire Wolds) joins the River Humber, twenty miles from the sea. Hull, has a population of around 300,000 and is the third biggest port in England after Liverpool and London. It is sometimes described as 'the biggest fishing port in the world'. During World War Two Hull suffred some of Britain's heaviest wartime bombing and many new buildings were later constructed to replace those that had been bombed. Today Hull has important links with the European continent and there are important North Sea ferry links to Zeebrugge in Belgium and Rotterdam in the Netherlands. The marina by the River Humber at Hull. Photo : David Simpson. Hull was originally a little settlement called Wyke which belonged to the Cistercian abbey of Meaux near Beverley. In 1293 King Edward I purchased Wyke from the abbot of Meaux and built a town here that he renamed Kingston-upon-Hull. Today the name Kingston-upon-Hull is now more of an historic name and the place is usually known as Hull.

King Edward had recognised Hull's potential importance as the site for a harbour and as a war base and In 1299 the King granted the town its first charter. The harbour at Hull was developed by a merchant family called the De La Poles who abandoned an earlier haven development at Hedon to the east of Hull. Sir William De La Pole became Hull's first mayor in 1331. His son, Michael also became Mayor of Hull and later founded a Carthusian priory in the town. Hull's strategic importance was recognised centuries after the reign of King Edward when in the English Civil War Hull was the first place to be openly hostile to King Charles I. The King was on his way to Hull from Beverley in 1642 when the gates of the town wall were closed to him by Sir John Holtham who was the Governor of the town. The Parliamentarians had persuaded Holtham to side with them during a meeting at a house in Hull's Silver Street. The building where the mneeting was held was Sir John's House - later to become the White Hart Inn. THE OLD TOWN OF HULL Medieval Hull was located west of the River Hull and on the north side of the Humber.

It was bordered on its western flank by a moat served to protect this important war base from attack. This area of town is known as the Old Town. Here many of the streets and narrow alleys have medieval origins. The moat on the western side of the old town later became the site of Hull's Queens docks, which were built in 1778. Some of the docks were later filled in and became the Queens Gardens. Old streets in the 'Old Town' include Silver Street, Manor Street, Posterngate, Black Friar Gate, High Street and the Market Place. The most notable feature of medieval times is the church of Holy Trinity which dates from the fourteenth century. The church is notable for incorporating some of the earliest uses of brick. Holy Trinity church in Hull. Photo : David Simpson A brickyard was recorded in Hull as early as 1303 and it seems that the popularity of brick as a building material may have spread across the country from Hull. Brick is certainly an important material in the elegant villages of lowland Yorkshire. Inside the church we can see an effigy of William De La Pole, Hull's first mayor who died in 1366.

The church of Holy Trinity underwent restoration in 1869. The High Street in Hull was once the most important street in the town and is the home to Wilberforce House which was the birthplace of the anti-slavery campaigner William Wilberforce (1759-1833). Wilberforce was elected as a Member of Parliament at the age of twenty-one and later became known as 'The Nightingale of the House of Commons' because of his campaigning work. He was the leading figure in the campaign to abolish the slave trade and his work resulted in The Abolition Act of 1833 which abolished slavery throughout the British Empire. Wilberforce House is now a museum dedicated to the history of the slave trade. The Guildhall One of Hull’s most imposing buildings is its Guildhall which is Hull’s Town Hall. There had been a Guildhall at Hull as far back as the fourteenth century but this was located on the south side of the market place. A new building replaced this at the north end of the market place in the seventeenth century but this too was demolished at the beginning of the nineteenth century.

This in turn was replaced by another new Town Hall in 1866 designed by Cuthbert Brodrick who also designed the Town Hall at Leeds. Indeed, although Brodrick was born at Hull in 1821 he is principally famed for shaping the architecture of Leeds. The Guildhall, Hull. Photo : David Simpson Brodrick's Town Hall at Hull was rather short-lived as when Hull was granted city status in 1897 the civic fathers had ambitions for a larger building. A new town hall designed by Sir Edwin Cooper was erected to the west between 1907 and 1914 and was soon renamed the Guildhall. This is the grand structure that we see today. Brodrick’s Town Hall was demolished but many parts of it were salvaged and reused in the erection of a First World War Memorial at Brantingham village about 10 miles to the west of Hull. The village of Cottingham lies on the northern outskirts of Hull retains a feeling of separateness from the neighbouring city. It was granted a weekly market in 1199 and an annual fair in 1200.

The parish church dedicated to St Mary dates from the fourteenth century and has been described as the little sister of Hull's Holy Trinity church, though it is by no means a small church. Search the site Hessle | English Towns Street Map Hessle is a town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, situated 5 miles (8 km) west of Kingston upon Hull city centre. Geographically it is part of a larger urban area which consists of the city of Kingston upon Hull, the town of Hessle and a number of other villages but is not part of the city. It is on the north bank of the Humber Estuary where the Humber Bridge crosses. According to the 2001 UK census, Hessle parish had a population of 14,767. The centre of Hessle is called “Hessle Square” or “The Square” for short. There are many shops and a small bus station – which was refitted in 2007. Hessle All Saints Church is located just off the Square. Hessle Town Hall was built in 1897 and is situated at the top of South Lane.

Hessle Police Station is next door to the town hall at the top of South Lane and the corner of Ferriby Road. The Upper School site of Hessle High School situated on Heads Lane is centred around a building donated to the Education Authority by Algernon Barkworth, a survivor of the Titanic disaster. Its education standards remain moderate to high, with it having a Specialist Science College status and achieving some of the best results in the county. Despite having specialist Science status the school has a considerable reputation in the area for its music making. In the late 1960s and 70s a considerable number of students from the school were admitted to Music colleges and ex-students are to be found, now, in all areas of the music profession. In the 13th century Joan Stuteville from this ancient settlement introduced the custom of ladies riding side-saddle on horses. In more modern times, it has been a centre for shipbuilding. Prior to 1897, there was a shipyard building wooden boats, but it was then bought by Henry Scarr who moved there from Beverley, where he had previously been in partnership with his brother Joseph.

Scarr produced iron and steel ships until 1932, when the yard was taken over by Richard Dunston. It was the largest shipyard in Hessle, building vessels such as Loch Riddon, a roll-on/roll-off ferry launched in 1986, and one of four built for Caledonian MacBrayne for use in the Hebrides. The company went into liquidation in 1987 and was bought by Damen Shipyards Group in the same year. Dunston’s was closed down in 1994. The location is now used as offices, car sales buildings and a dock for scrap metal and other materials for dispatch to other areas, or to be recycled. Richard Dunston’s ship repairs still exists further east along the Humber Estuary, with activity remaining high. Chalk-quarrying was a major industry at Hessle into the 20th century and quarries can still be seen in the west of the town, the largest being the Humber Bridge Country Park, which is a popular tourist attraction. Part of it is known as Little Switzerland (Little Switz or Switzy for short).

Hessle is twinned with the French town of Bourg-de-Thizy. Transport to and from Hessle is convenient, with good access to main roads such as the A15, A63 & M62 (via the A63). It also has a railway station with hourly services to and from Hull and to destinations such as Doncaster and York. Hessle is at the start of the Yorkshire Wolds Way, a long-distance footpath and designated National Trail, which crosses the Yorkshire Wolds and ends at Filey. On 25 June 2007, torrential rain hit the north-east of England and 100mm of rain fell in a few hours. Several people died across the affected area and the first fatality occurred in Hessle. A 28-year-old man became trapped when his foot was stuck in a storm drain. He was overwhelmed by rising water and although emergency services gave him oxygen he died of hypothermia. As a result of consultation with the residents, the Environment Agency promoted a flood storage scheme which was constructed in a field off Beverley Road in Hessle in 2010/11.

The project known as a flood water attenuation scheme involved identifying a field immediately upstream of the urban area, this was then excavated below natural ground level to a depth of around 6 feet. A flow control structure was built on the downstream end of the watercourse and the bank of the Western Drain was lowered on the West Side. In a very heavy storm, when the capacity of the control structure is exceeded, water overflows into the storage area. After the storm, the (stored) water returns back to the Western Drain through a small diameter land drainage pipe. The lagoon holds around 35,000 cubic metres of water. The storage area remains dry for the majority of the time and looks from the road side to be a paddock, albeit lower than surrounding fields. Earliest found records of the Hessle Feast date from the 1800s. These have it as an annual event around Whitsuntide (May). A time of enjoyment, when the people of the Parish would gather to celebrate the coming year. From articles in 1808 and 1836 it is clear that the Feast had become a major event bringing in people from neighbouring towns and villages.

With much excitement, racing, noise and jubilee. As ever the youth made it their own. Even in the earliest reports, there are Churchwardens concerns over noisy and drunken behaviour “particularly of the young men of Hull” who visited the parish. Resurrected around 15 years ago, after many years of absence, the Feast has again become an event of enjoyment and embraced by the whole community of Hessle. Previous Feasts include one which occurred in July 2006. It succeeded in attracting over 5000 local residents and visitors to the area and was an entertaining day of charitable money raising, family fun and live music. The event hosted many activities such as a Battle of the Bands which took place on the main stage in Hessle Square, a ‘Buskathon’ centred down Prestongate and local bands centred on a smaller stage on The Weir. There was also a Boat Race around the streets of Hessle, which was eventually won by army cadets carrying an inflatable float. The event was partly funded and sponsored by Kingston Communications and Yorkshire Water who were working in the area at the time.

Hessle Feast returned, after a 3 year absence due to the 2007 United Kingdom floods, in 2009. The most recent Feast day was Sunday 12 July 2009 and entertained crowds over a larger area than previously to encourage more business to the less immediate areas of Hessle. In the Square, the main stage starred the Hessle’s Got Talent Final and the Crave and Serenity Fashion Show. The square’s stage was compared by KCFM DJ Dave Hudson. Prestongate had further stalls and barbecues. The Weir also had a stage with live music played all afternoon. On the Feast day, a World Record for ‘poppadom stacking’ was broken on the Weir by the Indian takeaway ‘Jolsha’, officiated by Alan Johnson MP. Following on from the Weir is Tower Hill Park, which was mainly occupied by the Army who had assault courses and climbing walls, which, as in previous years, focused on activities for the younger generations. The Feast also reached the area past the library, which held a 3rd stage with live local bands chosen by the Hase Pub.

The Boat Race was won by the youth sports team the Norland Sharks who were the fastest at running round Hessle carrying an inflatable boat. The Hessle Feast 2009 Committee was an independent body of unpaid volunteers that organised the event in the Pubs of Hessle. The even was majorly sponsored by KCFM and Hull Colour Pages, with the additional funding of the local town council. The 2012 Hessle Feast was timed to take place on the Sunday of the weekend of celebrations for the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II in June 2012. The following day a waterborne procession of sailing and powered craft departed from Hessle and proceeded around the River Humber. A-Z of Hessle's History - Hessle Local History Society Hessle Local History Society Sitemap A-Z of Hessle's History Some time ago I began compiling an A - Z History of Hessle - its people and events. Here are some snippets from the letter. More will be added later. Michael G Free Alefiners These gentlemen surely had one of the more sought after duties under the manor court system: their job being to test the quality of ale and that it was served in the correct quantities.

We are given brief details in the seventeenth century manor court rolls. Ale was the staple drink of the lower classes for centuries. With water there was always a danger of disease, whilst ale in which the water had been boiled as part of the brewing process was much safer. Often the same mash would be used to produce several strengths of ale, the weakest (called small ale) being given to children. Almshouses A group of three almshouses were situated under Bank’s school. They were established through Chamberlain’s Trust in 1719 and demolished to make way for the construction of Hessle Square in the 1920’s. The endowment provided a sum of £3 to be paid in 5 shillings instalments, to whoever ’shall dwell in’ the almshouses, on each quarter day. The almshouses provided for three of the eldest residents of Hessle and places were granted by a committee, though these were means tested. When the almshouses were demolished the residents were granted a weekly pension in lieu. Banks' School Hessle and the Almshouses.

There are several bridges in the vicinity of Hessle, some with a long history: Carr Bridge Carr Bridge took Hull road over a drain at the corner of Common West Road (now Anlaby Park Road). Cliff Bridge This structure took Woodfield Lane over the railway. Clough Bridge Clough Bridge carried the ancient Humber bank route to Hull over the Haven. Humber Bridge Queen Elizabeth II opened the Humber Bridge in 1981 It took replaced the ferry that ran from Hull to New Holland. The Bridge is built adjacent to the site of the ferry that ran from Hessle Foreshore to Barton. The Humber Bridge was, for many years, the longest single span suspension bridge in the world. Marr Bridge This bridge originally marked the boundary with Anlaby Sniggle Bridge Sniggle Bridge took Hull Road over the drain that ran in a northerly alongside the old cricket field that stood where Kinston Avenue and Limetree Avenue now stand. Station Bridge This structure carried Redcliffe Road the railway line. Waterside Bridge Another bridge spanning the railway this time at the Haven. Coal Supply Coal is not a natural product of East Yorkshire and had to be brought in from the West Riding.

Before the coming of the railway coal was brought by barge and keel along the Humber and into the Haven. At the end of the eighteenth century and in the first forty years of the nineteenth the Spicer family held a virtual monopoly at the Haven but with the arrival of rail transport in 1840 other coal merchants came into the picture. Church Bells – custom of ringing Before the Second World War it was apparently the custom to ring the church bells at seven p m. According to custom this was to guide travellers safely home after a townsman had become lost one misty evening many years ago. He was guided home by the sound of the church bells. In gratitude, we are told , he donated a parcel of land to the Parish Clerk together with direction for the ringing of the bells. Ferry - The Hessle - Barton Ferry There has been a ferry across the river Humber to Barton from Hessle since before the Domesday Survey and possibly since Roman times. The ferry was also mentioned in the 'Chronicles of Meaux Abbey, and Edward I is recorded as having used the ferry in 1300, taking two days for his party to cross the river.

By 1800 the ferry had been established for several centuries, with boats from the Haven, where there was also an inn and warehousing facilities. The ferry catered for passengers, animals and goods. Crossing the Humber was not always a pleasant experience: it could take up to four hours on a stormy day when the meagre shelter had to be shared with the animals on board. Prices levied on the ferry depended upon where you lived. Local people from Hessle, Barton, Hull or close by villages paid 2d (1p) whilst strangers paid 4d (2p); carriages cost 5 shillings (25p) for local gentlefolk or 10 shillings (50p) for strangers. The ferry was dependent upon the state of the tides for the timing of its sailings. The Spicer family had control of the ferry for many years either side of the turn of the century. John Spicer, a Hessle farmer, land owner, coal dealer and warehouse owner advertised the ferry to let in 1803 7.

However, Spicer was still in control of the ferry in 1832 when he was criticised by John Acland of Hull for monopolising the service as well as the roads around Hessle Haven. During the eighteenth century and, increasingly, in the nineteenth the Hessle ferry faced competition from the ferries that operated into Hull, from Barton, Goxhill and New Holland. The Hull Advertiser (April 1836) carried advertisements for the Barton Ferry Company detailing sailings from Hull and Hessle by steam packet (the Laurel and the Ann Scarborough). Travelling by steam packet was much quicker than by a ferry which depended upon the wind for its power and the state of the tide for case of crossing; consequently the journey time was reduced to half an hour on Barton to Hessle crossings. Ultimately only the New Holland Ferry, from Hull, remained in service but as other ferries gave way the Hessle - Barton ferry held out and put up a strong resistance. The coming of the railway to Hessle in 1840 marked a new chapter in the life of the ferry.

By 1845 the Hull and Selby Railway Company had taken control of the ferry, including the steam packet, the Ann Scarborough, and timed sailings to coincide with the arrival of trains at Hessle. To facilitate this the ferry boarding point was moved a few hundred yards along the foreshore and a jetty was built. This meant that sailings were no longer dependent upon the tides. As a consequence of this the length of the crossing was reduced from a mile and a half to a mile and a quarter. Passengers were conveyed from the station to the ferry by means of a carriage along a specially constructed road. By the 1860's the ferry was beginning to struggle in the face of competition from the Hull - New Holland ferry, which had established a superior fleet of boats. The ferry was now used mainly by local people conducting business in Hessle. Barton or the local villages, or to visit relatives across the river. It was still operating in 1879 but not in 1883 when Christopher Sykes, M P, made a speech in Parliament lamenting its demise. Ferry boats probably operated into the 1890s serving to ferry local people and their livestock across the river.

Stocks Hessle, like many other places, had its own stocks where the perpetrators of minor misdemeanours, such as drunkenness and ‘scolding’, were placed as punishment. A law of 1405 required every town and village to provide a set of stocks and keep them in good condition. The stocks in Hessle were in a corner of the churchyard. This form of punishment continued into the mid nineteenth century. Zeppelins over Hessle Keith Hare, in his trawls through the minute books of Hessle Urban District Council, has unearthed some interesting information about first world war Zeppelin raids; these relate to 1916. Most of these records refer to the dangers of attack and there is no evidence of any bombs falling on Hessle or causing damage. In March 1916 the Gas Company manager was instructed to turn off the lights at the approach of Zeppelins. The Humber Conservancy was informed that the lightship and beacons off Hessle had caused a hazard to residents during a raid on March 5th and were asked to take precautionary measures so that these lights did not provide a target.

In May the council wrote to the Admiralty about the danger to the area from navigation lights in the Humber as enemy aircraft had appeared during the last few nights, though this is also referred to elsewhere in the minutes as at the 'beginning of April there were six consecutive night raids'. The Admiralty duly consented to the navigation lights being turned off during air raids. The Conservancy Board, however, disagreed saying that it was an absurd idea as the lights were too small and airmen had said that they were insignificant from above. The cost of extinguishing and re-lighting was also said to be too costly. Such a price on human safety! Another Zeppelin is reported as having passed over on Monday 9th August 1915. This was the L9 which having landed at Aldborough took off again but due to navigational errors missed its intended target of Hull and bombed Goole instead! The first Zeppelin raids on England came on 19th January 1915 when two of the aircraft crossed the Norfolk coast at 8:30pm. The silent raiders bombed Great Yarmouth and King’s Lynn leaving nine dead.

Raids on Hull took place between 1915 and 1918 causing significant damage and killing at least 42 people. The final Zeppelin raid was in March 1918 by when aircraft and searchlights had been sufficiently improved to be effective in chasing off the raiders. The Humber would have been a natural navigation aid for Zeppelin crews, as it was for the Luftwaffe in the Second World War. The sudden change in direction of the Humber between Hull and Paull is instantly recognisable from the air but poor navigation often led to aircraft being off course and bombs being dropped away from their intended targets. Map and Location | Woodland Croft | Houses for sale in Hessle | Linden Homes Please enter your location or postcode for directions to this development: Welcome to Woodland Croft, traditionally styled family homes in East Yorkshire created by Linden Homes. Woodland Croft is a wonderful collection of 140 new homes in a highly sought after area of East Yorkshire. Hessle, nestled close to the banks of the River Humber on the outskirts of Hull, is the location for Linden Homes’ desirable, exciting new development.

A stunning selection of carefully designed two, three and four-bedroom homes in a range of styles to suit all lifestyle requirements and tastes will make up the development off Swanland Road and Boothferry Road. Residents will benefit from the best of both worlds – a fantastic new build home in a bustling location as well as an existing woodlands walk on the edge of the development. The development will mix the modern with the traditional in terms of house designs and the overall feel of the site, which is expected to attract everyone from first time buyers and young professionals as well as growing families. Designer kitchens and bathrooms, energy efficiency fittings are among the many benefits of our high-specification new homes. Our team of dedicated specialists has paid particular attention to every aspect of the design of your new home, and all this is reinforced by our assurances and guarantees of being voted house builder of the year for two consecutive years. Continuing to build on the Linden Homes reputation both locally and regionally, Woodland Croft will offer a lifestyle to suit the pace of our residents’ working and family life. Hessle is renowned for its excellent schools and colleges, and is home to Hessle High School, which has Specialist Science College status.

The position of Hessle town means that this is the perfect location for those working in Hull – just five miles along the A1105 Boothferry Road by car or bus. It is also less than a mile from the Humber Bridge. Hessle has the convenience of the railway station with quick access to Leeds. Its close proximity to the motorway network means you are never far away from other major centres like Beverley, York and Leeds. But don’t just take our word for it – come and see for yourself just what is available. There is much more to Hessle than first meets the eye. Perfectly positioned to enjoy the numerous benefits the town and its surroundings have to offer – there is much more to Hessle than first meets the eye. With the hub of the town known as ‘The Square’, it boasts a wealth of shops and amenities – as well as a refurbished bus station, which runs regular services into the centre of Hull. Major focal points in the town include the English Heritage designated Grade I listed Hessle All Saints Church and Hessle Town Hall. Well served educationally by a number of primary and secondary schools, these include Hessle High School – which has some interesting history.

The Upper School site is centred around a building donated to the Education Authority by Titanic survivor Algernon Barkworth. In more modern times the town has been a centre for shipbuilding, and many of the local attractions in the Hessle, Humber and Hull areas are dedicated to, or recognise, its important history. However, for those who enjoy a gentler pace – and are fans of the great outdoors, the very popular Humber Bridge Country Park is a 48- acre wood with open meadows and wildlife. Perfectly positioned on the outskirts of Hessle, the park is THE place to take the children to let off steam or to simply enjoy the great outdoors. Experience its nature and wildlife trails and the many events held throughout the seasons. Hessle is also the start of the The Yorkshire Wolds Way – one of the country’s most beautiful national trails. It runs 79 miles from Hessle to Filey around the Yorkshire Wolds and celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2007. For something even more leisurely, Hessle Golf Club provides a superb course, offering hospitality days and social events.

Venture a little further afield into Hull itself, and there is the opportunity to delve into the history of this vibrant city, thanks to a wealth of modern day attractions charting the past. One of the most popular attractions is The Deep – which has put Hull in the major league of visitor destinations in the UK. This iconic building, which boasts one of Europe’s deepest tanks containing a stunning collection of sharks and other exotic species and the deepest viewing tunnel in the world, was designed by world class architects Sir Terry Farrell and partners and towers over 30 metres high above the River Humber. Vintage and open top bus tours over the Humber Bridge are a must in the summer months – with buses leaving every hour, calling at the northern Humber Bridge exhibition area, Hessle Foreshore and then over the bridge to Barton On Humber. You may also be lucky enough to take a ride on the 1949 bus which was used in the hit Yorkshire-based TV series, Heartbeat. And if vintage vehicles are of interest, the Street Life Museum in Hull charts the 200- year history of transport in Hull.

Moving back a little closer to home, and steeped in local history, is Wilberforce House - the birthplace of William Wilberforce, famous campaigner against the slave trade. Admission to Wilberforce House is free and the museum tells the story of the trans-Atlantic slave trade and its abolition, as well as dealing with contemporary slavery. Galleries also offer a fascinating glimpse into West African culture. If you need more information 01482 627580

Question: What links the English towns of Barton and Hessle?
Answer: The Humber Bridge