History of Hull: Docks - Episode Two: The Town Docks

As the industrial revolution began increasing Hull's port trade, the Old Harbour was becoming increasingly overrun. In response, a series of docks that encircled the town were built between the 1770s and the 1840s - the Town Docks. This is their story, and also the story of how Hull came to dominate the whaling industry of Europe.
Permission to use some of the images in this video has been very kindly granted by Lordline Memory Lane Images; they have a huge range of historical photographs of Hull and the surrrounding area for sale on their website here;
www.lordline.co.uk/
or their Facebook page here;
/ memorylaneimageshull
If you're anything like me, viewing historical Ordnance Survey maps side by side with modern satellite views will certainly eat up far too much of your time!
maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/index...
For more info and updates, please follow me on Twitter
/ hullhistorynerd
and Instagram
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And if you enjoyed this video, please consider visiting my Patreon page and becoming a patron to help me make these videos faster and with better gear!
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Or make a one-off donation to the Support Hull History Nerd fundraiser if you don't want to commit to monthly patronage - any donations are welcome, from the price of a coffee to the price of a new camera! It all helps me make ends meet so I can devote more time to making these videos and less to 'normal' work!
www.gofundme.com/f/hull-histo...
If you enjoy the music, please consider checking out the artist's channel at
• Hornsea

[@jonathanroy7940]

Thank you , really enjoyed E2 The Town Docks, I'm going to watch as many as I can about Hull, I'm seeing places where my ancestors would have been !

[@andrewwarcup684]

Great videos. My mum, her sister and my grandad all worked for LNER at Hull docks, till, during WW2 the family moved to Haxby just out of York due to German bombing. Grandad was a carpenter and mum worked in the pay office both at Hull and York.

[@jpeel2066]

Have grown up in the area and have never seen such excellent programmes of our local history and heritage. Thanks. All the best 🇬🇧.

[@hullhistorynerd]

Glad you're enjoying them, plenty more to come, too!

[@user-sl2sr6fz3m]

Your point about historical perspective is totally apt. Example, 1800's Moira, Midlands, only recently skeleton of 6 - 9 year old child sent down a coal mine to explore. Given a leather suit & cap, explosion in mine gas and only re-found as bones that came out of the mine. Human canary. Old miner told me that when the bones came off the old seam on the modern conveyor in the mine.

[@bettycalderley6120]

such memories of my childhood to late teens relived...Proud to be a Hull Lass......

[@Maliique]

I love youtube channels like this one! Well made, articulate.

[@hullhistorynerd]

Thankyou!

[@dnakatomiuk]

At 4mins and 41 seconds can't believe thats Queens Gardens of today because I can see Maritime Museum and City Hall, that's absolutely amazing to think it was a massive dock for ships and now it's a gardens/park with 2 large ponds in it

[@hullhistorynerd]

And the oldest, too! A working dock for 150 years before it was filled in. I'm really glad the work that's going to be done in the gardens will be exposing the old dock walls that are still under the ground, it will celebrate that past a bit more openly.

[@patriciaferguson2539]

I love these videos. You bring local history to life and, as I grew up in Drypool, not far from Timber Dock, Sammy's Point, etc, it is great to hear the story behind the importance of these docks. As I have said before, I love this sort of history and if it had been like this when I was at school I may have taken more notice.

[@hullhistorynerd]

I know exactly what you mean, and I feel the same. My interest in all of this came later in life and certainly wasn't because of anything I learned in school. I learned more about the effects of the industrial revolution by lying at the history of my own home town than I ever did at school! I love sharing what I've learned about local history, and that's really what this channel is about. I'm really glad people are getting something from it! Also, you'll have a special interest in the next Docks episode, I'm doing Victoria Dock!

[@Botytoo]

Hi Nerd, I have been watching your channel for quite a while, and it is still inspiring and highly informative. i live in the Netherlands, but the history of change is fascinating anywhere. I also like how the filming and editing keeps progressing. Its looking real good! Thanks!

[@ggmtv1394]

That brings back memories of my time in Hull. Thanks.

[@stephenlav1188]

Like TV from 40 years ago, when eccentric chaps in well worn suits explained interesting topics and that was all you needed. Thank you.

[@hullhistorynerd]

I certainly fit that description; eccentric chap in a worn out suit!

[@stephenlav1188]

@@hullhistorynerd you certainly do 👍

[@stephenlav1188]

@@hullhistorynerd it's good, mix a bit of something a bit odd with something very interesting like old top gear.

[@simontatterson4074]

Again, fascinating history. Separately, can you do Hessle's history? Well done!

[@SimonPJohnson]

Another informative and well produced video. I’m pleased that the basin to the Queen’s Dock is being restored. I remember how desolate the three docks close to the city centre were in the 1970s when I was a student in Hull. Apart from the Princes Quay shopping centre, the other changes have mostly improved the area.

[@hullhistorynerd]

It's true, the whole area has had a real rebirth over the last 40 years, piece by piece, remembering how it all used to be when I was a kid... it was a different world, with all of that area just a massive no-go zone. It's certainly going to contrast sharply with the St. Andrews Dock episode 😔

[@laurencemonaghan4894]

As well as the microphone mishap, there appears to have been some sort of tectonic upheaval, between 1840 and 1870, that moved Iceland from its position South East of Greenland to somewhere just South West of Ireland. Thankfully, since that time it has drifted back to its original position. On a serious note - great series of videos, informative and very interesting! 😊

[@hullhistorynerd]

You mean you've never heard of Iceland's semi regular holidays to the Irish Riviera?! I believe they use some sort of volcano powered propellor system...

[@laurencemonaghan4894]

@@hullhistorynerd😅

[@sirknight3151]

Fantastic channel. In the early 80's I worked at what was then the Heritage Centre, so loving this!

[@hullhistorynerd]

Stay tuned, I'm not even halfway through the Docks videos!

[@Holte1114]

Thank you for making this, it is fascinating, well researched, and the production value is so high it looks professional. Off to watch your other vids now

[@hullhistorynerd]

Thankyou for your kind words, and I hope you enjoy the other videos as much!

[@sbwords]

Just discovered your channel. For a Hull lad living in the Far East this is a fantastic channel.

[@hullhistorynerd]

Thankyou, and glad I could bring you a slice of home!

[@scotexscarrier8461]

damn , born and bred in Hull lived there 40 yrs before moving out of town and never knew there was a dock on queens gardens, which is even more sad as im a sailor been in and out of albert, king George and Alex numerus times on various ships, very educational , good man

[@hullhistorynerd]

There'll be more Dock videos coming later this year, starting with Albert, then St Andrews, Alexandra and King George V!

[@iananderson6546]

Wonderfully presented with fascinating content. I believe the reason that the trawlers were in Princes Dock was a fitting and repair company on Waterhouse Lane, can't remember the name. Nice to see the city that I left 30 years ago.

[@EllieMaes-Grandad]

Charles D Holmes and Co Ltd., whose main facilities were elsewhere on the Humber. (I once had a job interview with them!)

[@msgretrogamer]

I'm so glad I found this channel! Any chance of doing some videos about North Hull, maybe even the quadrant area? I'd love that as that's where I grew up, and so did my dad too.

[@hullhistorynerd]

No plans to head up that way yet, but I'm sure something will pop up eventually!

[@markelliott7509]

Another really interesting video,this series should be televised,and would generate more interest and hopefully help with tourism to hull. This is is well research Ed and well presented,I look forward to watching more of this series

[@sweatbandandy]

Another great video!

[@misskittysmith]

Lots of things I didn't know about #hull in this one! Beautifully made. Thanks for another splendid production!

[@hullhistorynerd]

Thankyou! I'm constantly discovering things I didn't know about our city in the course of making these videos, it's great to be able to share them with others!

[@chrismccartney8668]

Excellent series enjoy the history of how why where things are named etc. Live fairly near London Docks but dont have the same thorough descriptions as you get here...

[@hullhistorynerd]

You should check out kzbin.info if you haven't already; he's a wealth of information about old London, and he's wryly funny with it too!

[@walkingwithtamson]

This just gets better and better doesn't it. Thank you for the time and effort you put into these. Epic.

[@hullhistorynerd]

Really glad you're enjoying them!

[@margaretallen2771]

I spent 1949-55 living in the Commercial Hotel Castle Street, very happy ttimes loved the old fruit market, my aunt maggie Coupland also remember the sight and smell of vinigar running in the gutters from the pickle factory. Also a house filled with goldfish in old baths and many tortoise roaming about. plus the tramp wo would walk about with a loaf of bread under his arm. Jack the boatman calling in waiting to tie up the boats. Annie who lived next door. thank you for all this history

[@hullhistorynerd]

You're more than welcome, I'm enjoying uncovering it all!

[@jslonisch]

Great video. Really interesting.

[@hullhistorynerd]

Thankyou!

[@chrismccartney8668]

We forget Britain is an island and is defined by its ports. So many small ports have gone Colchester Maldon The Swale Rowhedge etc. They made the area around them wealthh.

[@hullhistorynerd]

Indeed! Hull was once one of the most important towns in the country on account of its port, and for a very long time!

[@NatJ4reform]

Great content 😉👍👏👏👏👏

[@dixie_rekd9601]

Another awesome video 🙂

[@hullhistorynerd]

Thankyou!

[@horsenuts1831]

Excellent channel, keep it up. My family hail from Hull and although I never lived there I did visit it a lot as a child in the 1960s and 1970s. I have cherished memories from being taken around Hull as a child by both my dad and grandfather. It was never the prettiest place but it was always interesting/fascinating and I have a fondness for it. Some of my memories from being a child some decades ago are faded memories, but I still have some distinct ones. What one can never grasp is the 'smell' of Hull in the early 1970s - there was a brewery in the middle of town (just north of Queen's Gardens I recall) and it just stank! I see from Google Streetview that the places that my father would have known in the 1950s have simply been erased - My grandparents lived in Holborn St, just off Witham just before WW2 and Granddad use to work on the Spurn lightship - it was the only regular wage he could get despite it being derisory. And I love the accent. Obviously with a dad and grandparents from 'Ull, I never heard it in their voices, but when I hear others speak it, there are so many elongated vowels and possibly Viking diphthongs. It's lovely!

[@hullhistorynerd]

Glad you're enjoying the videos, and yes, Hull is a wonderfully peculiar place. And some days we do still get the odd smells wafting across from the cocoa mills or the tannery. There's something oddly compelling about the place that just lodges deep in your soul. The only other city I've ever felt something like that for is Glasgow. And the accent is fascinating, and yes, you're absolutely right, a lot of the north east and Yorkshire accent is heavily influenced by the long dominance of Scandinavian invasions. Just another measure of Hull's uniqueness!

[@EllieMaes-Grandad]

That was the Hull Brewery Co Ltd, independent for 200+ years, until sold to Northern Foods in 1972, then to Mansfield Brewery (I had a job interview with them too, having worked at Hull Brewery). The brewery smell was when a 'boil' was on, extracting goodness from the malt to produce liquor for brewing. My mother detested the aroma, but I didn't.

[@garymrgarydry6991]

supperb

[@WILD35]

Wow I'm learning something new which I didn't know about your one good history teacher

[@hullhistorynerd]

Hehe, never been told that before, but I'm really glad; it's almost like history is deliberately made boring at school. If I'd been taken around the town centre and told the story of the Docks, I would have *loved* history. Instead I had to learn about enclosure...

[@logotrikes]

Having lived there for 25 years before we migrated, I'm appalled how little I actually know about the joint. Those railway, or possibly tram tracks, and the turntable are completely new to me, though I must admit that all those years ago, the docks area was in a pretty sad state, hardly salubrious, and smelled of fish and onions when Humber Street was busy. Next time we're in Hull I'll make sure we take a better look...

[@hullhistorynerd]

When they renovated the area recently they did uncover more of the old railway infrastructure and made a feature of it rather than bury it again, which was good. I think the old wagon turntables have been around above ground for a while but yes, if you'd not been back since the Marina was created from the wreck of the old dock, I can easily see how you wouldn't have known about them! It was hardly somewhere you went for a pleasant walk back then!

[@EllieMaes-Grandad]

As a young boy in the 1950s, my mother would sometimes take me on to Princes Dock Side (but no further) to see the railway wagons being shunted, by a tractor with big steel plates front and rear. The wooden sheds along there serviced vessels of the Associated Humber Lines. Even in the mid-1960s, the extensive network of lines, set into cobbles, was still extant over the various docksides, but not much used, if at all. Much industrial property was falling into desolation in those years . . .

[@logotrikes]

@@EllieMaes-Grandad I have a similar experience Mike. My gran and I used to catch a single decker motor bus from the back of the bus station. Possibly a 33 service. That took us to the docks. Might have been Victoria Dock. I have no idea why the service existed because I don't remember getting off anywhere, as if it was a round trip. HN would know...

[@EllieMaes-Grandad]

@@logotrikes Single deck buses were rare in Hull . . . ! I once had a ride to Paull and back on one of the 'new' ones in the 1950s - the fare was sixpence (old silver coin).

[@logotrikes]

@@EllieMaes-Grandad This was the same timeframe Mike. I was born in 47 and lived with my gran, and she took me everywhere as a little 'un. A sixpence was my pocket money and the reward from the tooth fairy.

[@LeeDarkParadox]

A great video 👍 A video regarding the construction of Princes Quay would be interesting

[@ninafyodorov8933]

Excellent, a job well done.How about one on Hull Trinity House and the Navigation School. Captain Rob Pearcey.

[@hullhistorynerd]

I think I've probably done Trinity House about as far as I can in the previous episode about the Docks, though it will no doubt get more mentions throughout this series due to the important role it played throughout the history of the port!

[@EllieMaes-Grandad]

@@hullhistorynerd Many were educated at the school, for seagoing careers. A neighbour of mine in the 1970s had gained his (blue water) master's ticket there.

[@barryoakley8299]

Another interesting episode! I always thought that the whaling fleet sailed out from Paull?

[@hullhistorynerd]

The whaling fleet of Hull operated from the Town Docks; the first ship to enter Queens Dock when it opened was the Manchester, a whaling ship. There may have been whaling vessels launched from Paull, but Hull's fleet operated from the Town Docks. I think Paull was more well known for its shipyard and fishing though.

[@wusaunit5]

Great as always! Does Higgins Brown have a place where I can hear more of his music? I am enjoying that very much as well. Thanks!

[@hullhistorynerd]

He does indeed, his Soundcloud is here, enjoy! soundcloud.com/higgins-brown

[@TheMightyKinkle]

22:38 Wow, I never knew Iceland boarded Ireland 😉😆😆😆😆

[@hullhistorynerd]

Yeah, I suspect that display probably needed fixing!

[@dixie_rekd9601]

another awesome video, If you're looking for ideas for when you finished the snickets series you're currently working on, I'd love to know more about how the two world wars affected hull, not only in the obviously devastating bombing and loss of life, but also how the industry was affected, for example I only found out today that in the 1920s an airship/zeppelin was built in hull and tragically crashed into the Humber, Its the first time I've even heard mention of this and was fascinated that Hull had ever built an airship of any kind. But anyway, a couple of videos on Hulls underrated influence on the wars would be amazing.

[@hullhistorynerd]

I'm afraid I have no plans to cover anything war related, I'm afraid! Military history really is not my area of interest. About the only thing I have planned that's war related is a video on the Decoy Docks, but I'm holding out on that one until I can get a drone as it's absolutely ideal for that purpose.

[@dixie_rekd9601]

@@hullhistorynerd I look forward to it :)

[@EllieMaes-Grandad]

That airship was built at Howden, R100. R101 was built at Cardington and subsequently crashed at Beauvais in France (there's a memorial at the side of the RN there).

[@EllieMaes-Grandad]

A North East Coast Town: Ordeal & Triumph: The Story of ... . Great little book, especially for those interested in the WWII at home. The Town that was always described as the 'A North Eastern Town' and still not mentioned in today's history. The Town that was the second most bombed City after London and forgotten in the passing of time. Author: T. Geraghty

[@Nickgowans]

@@dixie_rekd9601 will you stop watching the same videos as me all the time. Ffs

[@BROTHER-52]

We need someone like you to do a presentation on the history of BIRKENHEAD DOCKS..a lot of subject matter (history) to be told and no one to tell it..the vittoria dock disaster 1909 ,,the Bidston iron ore dock ,for bidston steel ..the pump house ww2 bombing ..were cammel laird started on a overflow pond..and much more

[@hullhistorynerd]

I started doing these videos because I'm a huge fan of Martin Zero and wished, like you, that someone would do videos like that about my home town. Eventually my gf said to me that instead of complaining about the lack of videos, I should go and make some - so I did! I hope people like us inspire lots of other folk to pick up a cheap camera and mic and get out there to make films about their own amazing local history!

[@BROTHER-52]

Hull History Nerd The blessing of. KZbin...well done you...I' watched the hull railway programmes last night ...hat of to you NERD .THERE VERY WELL DONE ...even when things like the 🎤 mic dies...and the hours of research that has gone into them before any camera comes out is another tip of the hat to you ...keep up the hard work

[@ThePorkypete51]

1:26 Crazy that nowadays 24,000t of cargo can be carried into King George Dock by one ship and discharged within 5 days.

[@hullhistorynerd]

And they're just the ships small enough to make it all the way to Hull. The massive container ships that stop at Immingham... the mind boggles!

[@ThePorkypete51]

@@hullhistorynerd Yes the Immingham container ships are lock restricted by a breadth of 26m and can carry over 1000 containers (TEU). Yet they are still classed as 'feeder' container ships from the big ports of Rotterdam and Felixstowe. The Immingham bulk and oil jetties can handle vessels over 200,000 dwt at a draught of 14 metres!

[@neiljackson8863]

your videos are terrific thanks for uploading. very interesting and well researched. just want to know though, where exactly would the entrance from the river hull to queens dock actually have been? all the pictures from the time are taking from vicky square end so it's not possible to see? was that filled in at the same time as the dock? thanks!

[@hullhistorynerd]

Hi, the old basin that used to lead in to Queen's Dock is still there! If you look on Google maps, you'll see three dry docks on the west bank, just between Drypool and North Bridge; the middle one, the largest, used to be the basin that led to the lock to Queen's Dock!

[@neiljackson8863]

@@hullhistorynerd ahh yes i can see, thanks for clarifying!

[@hullhistorynerd]

@@neiljackson8863Even better, it's currently being refurbished to become the home of the Arctic Corsair. It's great to see such a historic spot being brought back to life!

[@macksmountingbiking808]

For episodes 5 for st Andrews would you like some videos from the inside

[@hullhistorynerd]

I do have some, but sadly it's so dark in those buildings that footage is really noisy and mushy, so I probably will just stick to external shots, but thankyou very much for the kind offer!

[@macksmountingbiking808]

Because i was curious of what rooms there was and there purpose

[@markrobert6028]

I think Iceland had migrated South on that 3D map.

[@hullhistorynerd]

Just a country having a sunny holiday in Cornwall, nothing to see here.

[@PeterMaddison2483]

Not to mention the famous people from hull, also, arent we the only city to have 2 rugby teams...

[@hullhistorynerd]

I have no idea, I'm afraid, sports isn't really my area - that's a question that you should ask another Yorkshire history KZbinr, Yorkshire's Hidden History - she's a big rugby fan and very knowledgable on the subject!

[@EllieMaes-Grandad]

Hull RFC (playing at Boulevard) and Hull Kingston Rovers (Craven Park).

[@PeterMaddison2483]

@@hullhistorynerd Sports ain't my cup o' tea but I know Hull has 2 Rugby teams. I grew up in Hull. It's something you can't avoid in Hull as the rivalry is immense.

[@hullhistorynerd]

@@PeterMaddison2483 I've somehow managed to avoid it nonetheless! I've no idea about rugby at all, sorry!

[@waylander1o1]

Watched a few of your historical videos found them very interesting. I actually work on the docks at Hedon Road so found this quite relevant even thought I'm from Durham. Funnily enough I've done a couple of drone videos of the Lord line buildings over the years loved the old architectural buildings. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eHO9n5t_abKjrLM

[@hullhistorynerd]

In the new year I'll be completing the Docks series with a pair of episodes on Alexandra Dock and King George V Dock, I managed to get a guided tour to film around KGV just before covid hit so I've been sitting on a bunch of footage all that time!

[@waylander1o1]

@Hull History Nerd that's great really looking forward to seeing that thanks for the content great work 👍

[@amc2233]

Ledgeng

[@sallybrown7854]

Great presenter but oh those dreadful subtitles. And the loud music. Very interesting though. Find new subtitle company

[@hullhistorynerd]

This is KZbin, everything is done by me. But if I could afford a subtitle company, I'd make them do the same subtitles because I do the writing! Sorry the music isn't to your taste. Unless you mean the closed captions? They're automatically generated by KZbin, I don't have a say in how poorly they understand a Hull accent...

[@sallybrown7854]

What is so hard with lovely Hull accent? Subs won't stop watching as you really are such a good presenter making topics so interesting and as another comment posted, "TV should offer you your own programme." Thanks for posting.