Back to the boat.

After our visit to the 'Arctic Corsair' we walked back to the marina via a different route.

This another of the old Medieval streets of Hull, Chapel Lane, leading to Lowgate with the old GPO building in the distance.

Looking south down High Street you can see the Maister House on the right, up the steps. The Maister's were another large merchant family like the Wilberforce's. The house is now owned by the National Trust. Next to it is the Sailmakers pub that is in a courtyard and was an old ship's chandlers. The building on the right, jutting out is an old warehouse that had been the 'Bierkellar' of our youth and is now a vegetarian restaurant where the first person to book for a day gets to choose what sort of style food there will be. On the left is the columned entrance of the Old Corn Exchange and then the Pacific Club.

This the head of Neptune that is found on the Old Exchange Building in Lowgate. This was a Public Exchange that was built in 1794. Business was transacted here, but the exchange of information, ideas and news was also carried on. I suppose it was what we would call a networking venue these days. The building was improved and ornamented in 1820. It became a court for a short time and latterly was the Barracuda Bar.

Next door is Ocean Chambers that was built in 1899/1900 and seems to have been offices for a marine insurance Company, and later general insurance. Above the door way is this beautiful 'sculpture'. The lighthouse and dolphins complete the marine theme. It has been home to a solicitors since 1979.

On the other side of the road is St. Mary's The Virgin Church that has the tower built over the pavement. It can trace it's history back to 1327. The church has increased in size as more isles have been added. It is thought that the original tower collapsed in 1518 and this one was added in 1697. It is a lovely old church, much remodeled by Gilbert Scott in the mid 1800's. Interestingly there were three vicars over the period called John Scott as the living was passed down from Father to son. The middle John had five sons who went on to be founder members of the rugby league team Hull FC. The pub that is now in the old GPO building opposite is a Weatherspoon's called the Three John Scotts. Gilbert Scott was a cousin also.

Down Bowlalley Lane (yes, there was a bowling green here), is Samman House that was home to the Samman Shipping Co. Sir Henry Samman started out as an apprentice on tea clippers and became a self made ship owner. He sold his business after WWI predicting a deline and gave the building to the Chamber of Commerce and Shipping. They formed a council room and a set of stained glass windows depicting shipping through the ages. Thirty years later, for the Festival of Britain in 1951, they installed another set of windows, sponsored, showing the important industries of Hull. The building is sometime open on Heritage weekends.

This is probably the most well know street in Hull, The Land of Green Ginger. Not too far away on the Wolds is also the Land of Nod! There are many stories as to how it got its name, corruption of the name of a Dutchman who lived here, but it probably just where ginger was stored when brought in from the docks.

We are now back on Whitefriargate and this is the Neptune Hotel I spoke of in the last blog. It was a very important coaching Inn and place where business was done. It was built about 1791/95 but was not a great success. By 1815 it had been taken over as the Customs House for 100 years. It is another building open on Heritage Weekends.

This is the detail of the motif above the building. It is in fact the crest of the Hull trinity House, who own the buildings on this side of the street. The Latin motto means 'Hope beyond the stars'.

After getting back to the boat and doing a few jobs we decided that as it was such a lovely evening we would have another wander, again not far from the marina. This abstract sculpture of what appears to be fishermen is right next to the marina.

This is the bridge across the lock when the two halves are closed.

This area to the west of the marina entrance was once known as Paraffin Creek and was a run down industrial area. I wish they hadn't put offices here as the views and position could have been much better used. The public space is used during festivals etc as there is a lot of open space. On the building is one of the Gypsy Moths that formed a trail around Hull, celebrating Aviatrix Amy Johnson's achievement of flying solo to Australia in 1930. She was from Hull and very much a local heroine.

Hull was the port of transmigration for 2,200,000 people from Europe, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Russia etc. Wilson Line ships sold a package where they embarked on their ships in the European ports and were brought to Hull. Their ticket included a train fare across to Liverpool, Glasgow or London, where they ships would take them on to USA, Canada and elsewhere. The bronze is by Neil Haddock and I seem to remember that the boy poking the crab represents leaving of the old life and the girl toddling off the search for their new life.

This is the entrance to Albert Dock, which is still a working dock. The Transpennine route goes through here and the path is along the warehouse roofs at this mpoint. You have to cross the lock gates and then over the bridge that can be seen above the piles of sand to the left.

With the fall off in the North Sea oil production Albert Dock is home to these laid up vessels. There is even one in Goole. You get a different view of the estuary from the path on the roof and it is worth a look on a nice day, especially if there is traffic on the Humber.

This was the Hull headquarters of the Wilson Line. They were bought by Ellerman's and became the Ellerman Wilson Line. The building's main trading room is now a recreation centre with an indoor bowls area.

The weather vane is of a company ship.

Just before we arrived back at the marina we pass Warehouse 13 which is the sole survive of those round Humber and railway dock. It houses the marina services and offices as well as Al Porto Italian Restaurant.

With the mooring you get a parking pass and a fob to get you through the barriers which is very useful in the city centre. More later.