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Land of Green Ginger
The longest street name in the city and reputedly in the country but how did it get this curious name? It is also the name of a book by Winifrid Holtby (1927) which describes it as a "dark, mysterious road to heaven, to Fairyland, to anywhere".
One theory suggest that the name derives from the spice trade. Spices were imported into Hull from the middle ages. Hull Port Books (which can be viewed at the History Centre) record the import of spices throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Often spices were imported from the East Indies via Amsterdam or Rotterdam.
Whatever the origin the street is well worth visiting for the excellent examples of architecture along the street.
Larkin With Toads
Forty of these giant toads were placed around the city, as part of the Larkin 25 Festival, to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the death of Philip Larkin in 2010. Most of the Toads were sold for charity but there are still some around the city. One is outside the History Centre and another resides at Blanket Row Car Park; there is also one on Anlaby Road.
The inspiration for the toads came from two of Larkin's poems - Toads and Toads Revisited.
There is also a Larkin Trail around the city.
Smallest Window
On the west side of the Land of Green Ginger stands the George Hotel, a former coaching inn dating from the late 18th century. Almost hidden in the wall is a very narrow window, so small that it is often mistaken for the pointing between the masony.
Crowle House
Number 41 High Street is Crowle House but the secret lies down a passage running at right angles to the street. Here is hidden a striking example of Artisan Mannerist style, probably by William Catlyn and dating from 1664. George Crowle was a wealthy merchant and his initials, together with those of his wife, can be seen in the decorative plaques on the wall.
Oldest House
Number 5 Scale Lane is the only surviving example of a timber framed building in the city. It dates from the 15th century and the side contains mediaeval brickwork.
Robinson Crusoe
This plaque in Queen's Gardens (the site of Hull's first dock) relates to the story of Robinson Crusoe, written by Daniel Defore. Defoe took a true story about a man called Alexander Selkirk who was castaway on a desert island and found his way back to Britain. Defoe called his castaway Robinson Crusoe and he began his journey in York, coming to Hull to set sail for London.
However, Crusoe did not sail from this site as the Dock was not opened until 1778 and the book was published in 1719. Until 1778 the River Hull was the harbour and the ship would have departed from one of the staithes along the river.
Shortest Street
The Pathway off Alfred Gelder Street is little more than a passage but has the reputation of being the shortest street in Hull
The Humber Car Museum, Dalton Street
Do you remember Humber cars? They were not built on the Humber or in Hull but they do take the name from Thomas Humber who was born in Hull in the 1840s and later moved to the industrial midlands. Humber started off making bicycles but later his firm moved into car production. Not just any cars for Humbers were renowned for their style, engineering and reliability and were once the choice of car for royalty and army staff cars. These are the cars that the men who built Rolls Royces were jealous of.
Tucked away on Dalton Street the Humber Car Museum was established by Alan Marshall ( a former potato merchant) who enthuses over his twenty-seven Humber cars with the delight that only a true enthusiast can engender. The museum houses the largest collection of Humber cars in the world and includes a wonderful pedal car that was rescued, and restored by Alan, from a skip. He also has a few old bicycles and hundreds of models. Many of his vehicles are still undergoing or awaiting restoration but several of them are in fine working order and regularly used for weddings. They have also appeared in films, such as a “Royal Night Out” and have featured many times on television (Open All Hours, Heartbeat) and in magazines. The restored wedding cars are a beautiful sight, painted in a lovely coat of Black Pearl over Shell Grey and polished to dazzle.
Humbear in the restored Humber pedal car.
Although the museum is not easy to find, and the external appearance is not enticing, the experience is worth the journey and visitors come from all over Britain and abroad. Do not be put of by the dark interior, explore the whole building and enthuse over the discoveries waiting to be made. Take photographs to remind you of these wonderful cars and that British engineering was once the envy of the world. Look in the visitors’ book and check out the entries - all are positive and thankful.
The Royal family and Field Marshal the Viscount Montgomery, the victor of El Alamein ordered Humber cars and Monty used his during the Desert Campaign against Rommel. Winston Churchill had a fleet of five. George VI took delivery of his first Humber in 1935 and after the war fort-seven were purchased for use by British Embassy officials around the world. The unique landaulette limousine in the museum was originally built for King George VI for his state visit to Australia. It is the only known survivor of this very rare landaulette style and the coachwork was carried out by Thrupp & Maberley, coach builders to the crown for several centuries.The collection is free to visit but costs a fortune to maintain so please make a donation and help to keep these beautiful vehicles accessible to everyone for the future.
The Royal landaulette, now used for weddings.
http://www.humbercarmuseum.co.uk/
Old Fire Station
This old building once housed the fire pumps which doused the flames of fires in Hull. It stands on Hall Street, off Spring Bank (to the rear of The Spring Bank Tavern, now closed). As can be seen there is a blue plaque to record its former designation. The white stones depict horses' heads and firemen wearing brass helmets.Incidentally, Hull's newest Fire Station is just around the corner from this building.
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