History of Hull: Docks - Episode 1: The Old Harbour

[@jslonisch]

I’m surprised the BBC haven’t made you a job offer. You’re a natural. Great series of videos - I’m binge watching all of them.

[@hullhistorynerd]

Well, I'm not so sure about that, but thankyou for your kind words!

[@angelinegrows7765]

Me too ! Binging now , I can’t believe you are not on mainstream tv 😁

[@drdeborahhockney5609]

Only recently discovered you. How very infromative !!! Brilliant

[@rogerwilson6367]

You have to be a middle class leftie luvvy to get a job with the BBC. Nepotism is also a massive legup.

[@stephengraham5099]

@@hullhistorynerd You are too modest. A friend told me about your channel and I said to him that a fair number of your episodes wouldn't look out of place on Look North

[@mailtolesleymc]

..learnt a lot more about the early days of the River Hull , ...fascinating series all round. ...

[@hullhistorynerd]

Thankyou! Really glad you're enjoying it :)

[@JohnHopkin]

Fascinating history, and extremely well presented and produced. Thank you so much.

[@hullhistorynerd]

Thankyou for watching and enjoying, and there's a tie in Old Yorkshire episode coming next weekend on the history of Meaux Abbey!

[@mikeclifton7778]

Excellent article and a small insight into how much research has gone into it.

[@msgretrogamer]

Brilliant! Thank you for doing this.

[@reecevr46moore21]

brian dobson .brilliant series .i was born in hull 73 years ago and watching you has given me more knowledge the all of my 73 years. thank you.

[@hullhistorynerd]

It's always surprising to me how little is made of Hull's incredible history, I'm just really enjoying shining a light on it so everyone can see!

[@reecevr46moore21]

@@hullhistorynerd i wish my history teacher was half as good as you are at naration.

[@jonathanroy7940]

Enjoying the docks history, looking out for Junction Dock and Princes Dock, where my ancestors worked.

[@hullhistorynerd]

They're covered in the next episode, "The Town Docks!"

[@timblagdon103]

Another great and informative video

[@graemeharness9136]

Very much enjoyed this. I was a ships agent in the mid 80s handling the edible oil ships coming into the old harbour from Holland, discharging at IBL forge wharf and IBL lime street, used to have to order in the ships, liaise with the harbour master and make sure the river pilot Tom Berry and his two sons were ready to board and handle the ropes. Happy days.

[@hullhistorynerd]

Ah, you might well have seen Bill on some of those ships! Glad you enjoyed, I'm looking forward to getting out and completing the series with the rest of the city's docks when this virus blows over!

[@scotexscarrier8461]

did you also do the agency for the small ships coming into ranks and spillers with wheat and maize.?

[@graemeharness9136]

@@scotexscarrier8461 No - only dealt with the small oil tankers

[@BROTHER-52]

TOTALLY BRILLIANT .GREAT SUBJECT MATTER. TOLD IN A VERY INFORMATIVE, INTERESTING WAY ...I LOVE THIS TIME IN OUR HISTORY..UP TO THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION. SOME OF THE CLEVEREST MEN EVER ARE WHAT MADE BRITAIN GREAT...MORE LIKE THIS PROGRAM IS NEEDED, BECAUSE TODAY'S GENERATION IS FORGETTING THIS REMARKABLE TIME IN OUR HISTORY...also you should of had a career presenting documentary's on regular television..if you never did that is..

[@hullhistorynerd]

Hehe, I don't think I'm anywhere near the kind of quality for broadcast work, but it's nice of you to say so!

[@BROTHER-52]

Your as good as anyone on T.V ...and the research you do before any camera comes out is testament to your passion of your local history ...keep it up

[@michaelbutler3552]

On the East Yorkshire double decker heading out to Roos on holiday when a kid, those Hull docks seemed to stretch forever. Of course we arrived on the New Holland Ferry, an adventure in itself. Thanks for all your research, and bringing the past to life.

[@hullhistorynerd]

I remember, there was a time when I was about 5 or 6 when we lived on Greatfield and my Grandad used to drive up Hedon Road where I'd be fascinated by the ships berthed right next to the road at Alexandra Dock, it all really did seem to go on forever! Stay tuned; this series will be covering all of Hull's docks over the coming weeks and months!

[@bettycalderley6120]

absolutely brilliant, thankyou from a Hull Lass....who left Hull...but Hull never left her....

[@johnvanstone5336]

I thoroughly enjoy your channel, love your presentation and everything about Hull. I am a soft southerner from sleepy rural North Devon but I love our history of this land particularly the industrial side but not forgetting the rural side also. I found your channel through Martin Zero and also love his programmes and presentations as you both document the lives of ordinary folk through the centuries that doesn’t get enough attention by the media etc. Both your channels are very important and I salute you both, and of course am subscribed to both 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿❤️🇬🇧✌️

[@hullhistorynerd]

Thanks for coming by and really glad you enjoy the channel! It was watching Martin's wonderful videos that inspired me to start doing this, so it was a dream come true to make a video with him. Hope you continue to enjoy these tales of northern industrial history from us both!

[@SeeScotland]

5* Channel and uploads. A hidden gem on KZbin.

[@hullhistorynerd]

Thankyou very much! Really glad you've enjoyed!

[@Iamgone1961]

Thank you so much for this, Hull has been my adopted home for the last 31 years, nowhere else I would rather be :)

[@RoryTrackrod]

Next door to Whitaker Tankers, opposite the Arctic Corsair, on the Hull River, there is a piece of scrap land, which use to be a busy sand and gravel wharf on Tower Street. I was hoping to see it in your excellent history record, but it was passed by, so I will fill in the part of my life associated with Hull. The Sand Swift, (1162 GT) and Sand Serin, (1219 GT) use to supply this wharf. I was AB on the first and 2nd Mate on the second. We would drop anchor off Victoria Pier and drag it backwards up the river as far as the barrier. it was raised to go over the sill, but I can't remember if we put it back down to assist in negotiating the rather crowded, narrow, barges laden river. When moored alongside a bucket crane would discharge the cargo and the crew would form up in the the nerarest pub, which I think is now a reclamation shop..

[@hullhistorynerd]

Alas, there were many things that couldn't make it into the final video, or it would have been longer than the director's extended edition of the Lord of the Rings! In making these videos, I have to stay focused on the narrative of the thing I'm looking at, and can't afford too many deviations without making the videos too long. Thankyou for sharing your memories and experiences of that part of the river's life!

[@misskittysmith]

Martin Zero *and* a Hull History Nerd on one night? I am truly spoiled! Really good episode this one, enjoyed it. It was interesting to hear from an actual mariner as well! Looking forward to the rest of the series now!

[@hullhistorynerd]

Thankyou! Yes, it's been fun interviewing some actual experts in this series!

[@Steve_Wardley_G6JEF]

I did exactly the same, a big river theme for a Sunday night.

[@hullhistorynerd]

Martin Zero is a big hero of mine too, he's the inspiration for my own channel! I'm just off to watch his upload myself.

[@chrismccartney8668]

Great Video Trinity House Lightships are moored near Harwich and on the thames/lea navigation there is Londons only Lighthoyse as it us inland...

[@HullYorkshireMemoriesM.Coldham]

Brilliant, well done (y)

[@enfield7123]

Absolutely brilliant I live in Hull and its good to see our Hull history

[@spanishpeaches2930]

excellent.

[@scrappyallen7243]

Brilliantly researched and really well presented this series is just as good as the excellent railway history series your channel really is a You Tube gem, hope you manage many more series and I am amazed you haven't had interest from a mainstream broadcaster as you have a real talent for this

[@hullhistorynerd]

Thankyou for your kind words, I'm sure they have professionalism far in excess of mine though! Glad you're enjoying the videos, once my house move is over I'll be resuming my (usually) fortnightly output again, so watch this space!

[@richardthompson4975]

Wow Hull born n BRED loved it hope you have received some sort of award for this .Look forward to the other videos

[@hullhistorynerd]

The only awards that matter are knowing that people are enjoying them and learning new things about Hull!

[@davidcowie2462]

So pleased I discovered this series by accident. It deserves to be more widely known. I am looking forward to the next parts. Well done!

[@hullhistorynerd]

Thankyou! The story of the docks will indeed continue when the covid issue is less worrying; they're long episodes to film and research, and at the moment it's difficult to do either due to restrictions and closed resources. But rest assured the Western Dock episode will be coming, as will the huge episode on St Andrew's, and bringing it all up to the modern day with episodes on Alexandra and King George V Docks!

[@andrewharrison5983]

Great overview of the early history of Hull Docks, I'm looking forward to watching the following episodes

[@hullhistorynerd]

I'm glad you're enjoying them! I'm actually in the process of producing episode 5 at the moment, probably going to be the biggest one of all as it covers not just St Andrew's Dock but the rich fishing heritage and community that surrounded it.

[@infildibulum]

That was an excellent presentation of the history of Hull. Impressive.

[@hullhistorynerd]

Thanks! It was a lot to condense in half an hour, and of course a lot was left out, but I had to stay focused on the port and waterway aspects. Maybe there'll be videos in the future about Hull's key role in the Civil War, or William Wilberforce!

[@Froobyone]

Excellent as always.

[@hullhistorynerd]

Thankyou!

[@HullEastYorkshire]

Very interesting and great shots of Hull. Look forward to the next instalment. Thanks 👍

[@hullhistorynerd]

Next video will be next weekend, and it will be a related video on the history of Meaux Abbey!

[@walkingwithtamson]

Fantastic, watched a couple of your newer videos but thought I had better start from the beginning... Absolutely love it!

[@hullhistorynerd]

And this isn't even the beginning! The first videos I did were the series on the railways of Hull, but learning about Hull's general history and the importance of the docks will help the railway episodes slot into place.

[@walkingwithtamson]

@@hullhistorynerd Oh wow, even better. We love our railways, always walking along the old ones around where we live.

[@hullhistorynerd]

@@walkingwithtamson I'm working on some more railway episodes over the next few months, too, going a little further afield to look at the York-Beverley and the Driffield-Malton lines, so make sure you subscribe to get notified when new videos are uploaded!

[@walkingwithtamson]

@@hullhistorynerd Was subscribed after 2 mins of the first video! Spent alot of time in North Yorkshire, infact I found a old style sticker for my local defunct Railway station at Pickering Station, got it on my bagpipe case!

[@peterandgeraldineaspell-gi3417]

I've just discovered your channel, brilliant documentaries and you present them so well. Very informative. The river Hull and the old town was my playground as a kid growing up, but I never knew the real history until now. Thank you.

[@hullhistorynerd]

Really glad to hear you're enjoying them. It's been fascinating to do, as I always find interesting stuff I had no idea about when I'm doing the in-depth research on each episode!

[@johnyixcks]

Really great!

[@hullhistorynerd]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed :)

[@housebasher]

Amazing, We visit Hull most weeks, Your video has opened up a whole new world to discover and trace the old old river and the citadel and i never knew that was the old entrance to Vic Dock. Thanks so much :-)

[@hullhistorynerd]

Even among those of us who have lived here all our lives, we don't know the history we walk by every day. It was only fairly recently really that I discovered it was the old river entrance to Victoria Dock too!

[@bremnersghost948]

Really enjoying this Channel, So much quality content covering when the British Isles really were Islands most of the Year.

[@hullhistorynerd]

Glad you're enjoying it. More videos on their way soon!

[@kirstinekeogh744]

Excellent, thoroughly enjoyed this!!

[@davidcowie2462]

Looking forward to new episodes. It must take a great deal of time to research and present the programmes. Thank you for your hard work.

[@gillatthequarryhouse]

You tell such a great story! Thanks!

[@illumencouk]

Shown @20:50 is a map displaying the routes sailed by the whalers to their fishing grounds in the far North. I am somewhat bemused however to see that the map clearly puts the country of Iceland as being just off the South West coast of Ireland / West of Cornwall and NOT in the frigid North.

[@hullhistorynerd]

Indeed, the map adhesive that kept the countries in place had had an unfortunate incident. I thought it was quite amusing, however, in a sort of Python-esque way, and decided to leave it in rather than find another map!

[@iainmc9226]

WOW I learnt more in your video then I ever did 👏👏👏👏

[@hullhistorynerd]

Awesome!

[@stephenlav1188]

Very well made 👍

[@SimonPJohnson]

Very informative, well presented and interesting, with the bonus of a first-hand account from William.

[@hullhistorynerd]

It was fascinating talking to him, and we'll certainly be hearing more from him in forthcoming episodes!

[@MrCALIWAG]

Excellent stuff,,,very enjoyable. Thanks

[@hullhistorynerd]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@boomster64]

Very well presented and informative video! Thanks for doing what you do, I look forward to more episodes and wish you the very best.

[@hullhistorynerd]

Thankyou! Hopefully I should be uploading an episode of this every 2 weeks, hopefully fitting a few related one-off episodes inbetween.

[@sweatbandandy]

Really enjoyed that! You've gained another subscriber.

[@hullhistorynerd]

Thankyou, glad you liked it!

[@thebaldyorkshireman9019]

Fantastic content! I love Hull history, especially the docks and maritime. You have a new sub 👍

[@hullhistorynerd]

Glad you enjoyed, and welcome to the channel! Lockdown has slowed me down a little, but I am still making the Docks series, next one up is Albert Dock!

[@thebaldyorkshireman9019]

@@hullhistorynerd great stuff I look forward to watching it!

[@WILD35]

Well that's really useful information about hidden river

[@hullhistorynerd]

Ah, if only it was a hidden river; I suspect the Limekiln Creek had pretty much dried up by the 18th century; certainly, much of the slum housing south of Hessle Road was built over where it had been. As far as I know, I don't think there was much of a watercourse to be culverted. Now the city's *drains* on the other hand...there are a few of those that were culverted!

[@hughjarse4627]

Very interesting. I work on the docks as did my grandad but don’t know much about them. Well until now.

[@hullhistorynerd]

There's definitely a long and pretty awesome history behind our docks, that's for sure.

[@Crimsonedge1]

You have too few subscribers for the amount of production value thrown into these videos. You're a good presenter. On that note, might I suggest you setup a Patreon account to accept donations for future projects. You could tour the country researching areas and then giving a history tour of said areas. It's a very viable model for those who can present well.

[@hullhistorynerd]

Hi, thanks for the words of encouragement! I do have a Patreon and a GoFundMe for supporting the channel - it was through the GoFundMe that I was able to afford to buy the drone - both of which can be found in the description of all videos. I know I should probably mention them more in the videos but it just seems a bit gratuitous! I'm not sure about travelling around the country, my thing is the history of where I live and grew up, and whilst there are a few non-local videos I have planned (such as the castles of Edward I in Wales), they're the exception rather than the rule.

[@keithrobinson5594]

Very interesting and informative thanks. Especially the skippers input about kedging up the Hull. I may have some info that you might be interested in hearing.

[@hullhistorynerd]

Thankyou! Always interested in hearing info from those in the know!

[@keithrobinson5594]

Hull History Nerd [e-mail]

[@keithfoxton5836]

Thank you, that was very informative. I'm from Bradford, and used to live in BD 12 which is called Wyke. I had always believed that Wyke was a misspelling or derivative of Wich or Wick which I am told meant village. I also thought there was a link to the Vikings or Vicks/Wicks. Due to 'W' being pronounced as a 'V' in all northern European countries. And of course Jorvick...which I assumed was a village on the Ure Urewick. I have registered with your site, and although I am totally blind, will enjoy your commentaries. Keith Foxton

[@hullhistorynerd]

Thankyou, I'm glad you enjoyed! You've made me glad that I sometimes feel as though I talk too much in my videos now!

[@keithfoxton5836]

No, certainly not, you keep on talking, it's perfect for me, and anyone else with sight impairment.

[@hullhistorynerd]

I don't think there is any danger of me talking less, as anyone who knows me will attest to!

[@Nickgowans]

Love these videos, I know your audience is limited (ie local folk with an affinity for their city) but your videography is incredible and your presentation is impeccable, have you considered doing anything slightly further afield? I'm planning on moving to Pontefract in a month or so and I've seen nothing like this about the area I'm moving to. Maybe it might make an interesting video one day and hit a larger audience base.

[@hullhistorynerd]

Thankyou for the kind words! Well, I've started doing the Lost Railways of Yorkshire series, which takes me further afield, and the Old Yorkshire series which was always intended, eventually, to give me an excuse to look at places like Rudston and Wharram Percy and so forth. I'm limited by travel, really; the further afield a location, the longer it takes me to get there, especially if I need to do any reshoots or pickups. But hold on to that thought; it was watching Martin Zero's videos that made me wish there was someone doing that in Hull, and eventually I just did it myself! All it takes is a gopro or even a phone, some time to do a bit of research, and a free editing program like DaVinci Resolve! Pontefract is an area full of industrial history, it could do with someone local to unearth it all!

[@Nickgowans]

@@hullhistorynerd in a couple of months, once I've got my self settled and comfortable in the new place, I would be happy to help you to extend your reach. It would give me and the missus something to do on occasion and were both big fans of walking and rambling and I consider myself somewhat of an infrastructure and engineering nerd (particularly railways and canals) also I'm somewhat of a hobby photographer so it would give me an excuse to take my camera out again, plus it's always nice to meet like minded people and make equally nerdy friends. I have a good reliable car and I enjoy the driving. So once we're all settled I would be happy to help you out in the interests of contributing towards educational and interesting content.

[@hullhistorynerd]

Oh no, I meant in terms of you starting your own channel! Be the change you want to see and all that. It's what I did - you could be Pontefract's own history nerd!

[@andersfrihagen3656]

Waik (SP?), Norwegian vik, do not mean creek, but bay... Note that a lot of Hull names are of scandinavian origins. As a norwegian ex Hull student I find your videos are very interesting.

[@hullhistorynerd]

Modern Nowegian, perhaps, but both modern Nowegian and modern English are influenced by earlier forms. "Creek" and "Bay" or "cove" would have meant much the same thing to the crew of a longboat, namely somewhere sheltered from the main tidal flow of the sea or an estuary. In English, we derived the word 'Creek', elsewhere it came to mean other things!

[@gazza9463]

A lot of animosity towards England, particularly from France. Well, nothing changes then.

[@hullhistorynerd]

Might have had something to do with Edward III claiming the crown of France which started the Hundred Years War. As with many things, England was hardly without blame for the situation!

[@mandebuy]

I always thought that the river Hull flowed through the old docks ie Queens Dock Junction Dock and Humber Dock which is partly why the docks were built in their location.

[@hullhistorynerd]

No, that was the site of the old town wall ditch, which was like a moat that could be flooded by opening the sluice gates. The old river went much wider and entirely outside the old town walls and the sites of the Town Docks.

[@mandebuy]

@@hullhistorynerd thanks for your comment

[@nettyvoyager6336]

north bridge and dry pool

[@hullhistorynerd]

I've already done a video on North Bridge, check out the other videos on my channel!

[@bremnersghost948]

Around 5:15 describing the Flood, I'm curious if this could be the same Storm Surge that took King Johns Treasure in 1216?

[@tonysargeson5296]

Hi there, would you ever consider a program on the Hull Brewery Company?

[@hullhistorynerd]

I'd have to look into it's history, but if there's a story to be told, then it's certainly a possibility!

[@garymrgarydry6991]

mega

[@logotrikes]

I've lost count of the times when I see some very old map, I'd love to go back and check it out. I very much doubt I'd want to actually live in those times, with disease, pestilence and the prospect of a short nasty and brutish life. Just to go back and have a look. I've even thought of going back to see my gran as a young lass, just to see how she lived. Not to seduce her and become my own grandad, just for a look. I don't imagine I'd be alone in these thoughts. Except for the grandad paradox of course....

[@macksmountingbiking808]

Could you do one on st Andrews dock please

[@hullhistorynerd]

It's already in development; this series is covering ALL of the docks! I'm editing the second episode on the Town Docks right now, should be up this coming Saturday; episode 3 will be about Victoria Dock and the Timber industry; episode 4 is Albert and William Wright Dock, and St Andrews will be episode 5, and will tell the story of the rise and fall of Hull's fishing industry. Make sure you're subscribed so that you get notified when I upload a new video!

[@macksmountingbiking808]

@@hullhistorynerd love it

[@charliendkenni]

cloth!?

[@hullhistorynerd]

Textiles were big business in those days.

[@charliendkenni]

@@hullhistorynerd i’ve recently discovered your videos and find them very interesting. i get the train into hull everyday for work and always wondered about the other lines to hornsea etc and i stumbled across your videos. would you ever consider doing what about the beverley to market weighton line? or is it not as fascinating as others xx

[@hullhistorynerd]

Already done! Check out my video on The Hudson Way for the story of that line!

[@charliendkenni]

@@hullhistorynerd aww super i’ll check it out later and thank you for this channel and content xxxx