19th century city living in Hull
THIS week we have some fascinating facts about life in Hull from the 1880s to the 1920s. For Hull it was a major step forward in establishing law and order. Eighty-six men stood to attention as they were sworn in as Hull’s first constables with the newly formed police force.
But as they took to the streets in May 1836 to enforce law and order for the first time it took only two days before the first of them was in trouble – for breaking the law after being found drunk on duty.
Just two weeks later a sergeant faced a similar fate.
The first police stations were in Blanket Row and Jarratt Street, but later premises in Whitefriargate were acquired for use as the central police station.
In 1902 a new station was opened in Alfred Gelder Street on the corner of Parliament Street. Here more than 20 killers were held over the years.
The old Hull city force became part of the new Humberside Police in 1974.
* In the age of the car, with bus and cycle lanes, which are a feature of modern life, but image how it was on Anlaby and Beverley Road when “jingling hansom cabs and the slower four-wheelers bowled along in company with the rattling horse trams and the more nimble wagonettes to their terminals at Walton street or Queen’s Road.
* One-way streets were a
new idea first promoted by
Hull Watch Committee in
1925.
* Some things it seems, never change, as recent stories in the Mail have shown. A report on 1925 said that behaviour in
Hull parks discussed by the Parks and Burial’s Committee included cases of indecency and obscene language. Cases were mainly in East Park.
* In the late 1880s funeral processions were said to move along Spring Bank “with nodding plumes under the long avenue of overhanging trees to the General Cemetery near Botanic Gardens.”
“Artificial teeth. Complete sets £1. Single teeth 2s.6d. Celebrated prize medal teeth, fitted by atmospheric suction.” - Advert in the Mail in 1894.
* Hull was termed the “metropolis of Methodism” in 1885. The town then had 32 chapels with 5,100 members.
* At one time in the late 1880s the Old Town featured 130 public houses. Licensed houses opened their doors at 6am, their speciality being hot rum and milk.
* Popular snacks from local vendors included tripe and onions, shellfish, sausage and mash and hot milk and cheese.
Saveloys and black puddings were also in big demand.
* In 1910, mother of 16 Mrs Jane Hailstone, of Sutton
Road, Stoneferry, received a Royal Humane Society certificate for rescuing a five-yearold boy when ice gave way under him on a frozen brick pond.
* When the modern shipyard of C and W Earle existed on Alexandra Dock a talking point among locals was the fact that it employed lady clerks in its offices.
* “For extinguishing fires use the Harden star hand grenade” – advert in the Mail in 1886.
* In the Marrowbone and Cleaver pub there was a custom of serenading newly-weds by slapping shank bones on meat cleavers “making the night hideous until they were bribed to depart from the particular quarter.”
* In 1868, Mr WN Lewendon started business as an auctioneer and valuer. That same year three whales were washed up on the Humber foreshore and he was called on to sell them by auction.
* Musical suppliers Gough and Davy, now in premises under the City Hall, began business in 1850, when Mr Gough opened a shop selling pianos. He was later joined by Mr Davy.
* From the Mail in 1933 referring to events of the 1890s: “I remember Mr Blanchard, vicar of Middleton-on-theWolds, telling me that when his wife was ill he came to Hull on market day and bought a coffin which he took back with him, else he would not have been able to do so for another week. Happily, his wife took a turn for the better and survived for many years. The coffin remained in the vicar’s study and, fitted with shelves, served him as a bookcase.”
* Mail reporter Billy Corlyon didn’t mess about waiting for bulletins on the state of health of King Edward V11 – he phoned Buckingham Palace direct, was given the information he wanted and the Mail used it hours before it was posted outside the palace for pressmen to copy.
* In 1901 Hull had 452 pubs.
* As the 19th century ended Hull had 7,900 indoor domestic servants.
* He was just a boy, but he had been found guilty of petty robbery from Hull shops while on his way to the Board School. His sentence included all his privileges in custody being stopped for a month and in that time he was to be birched once a week. But the visiting committee showed a little mercy, he was only birched once during the month he lost his privileges.
In 1884 an estimated 1000 East Hull families were said to be starving. One report told of a mother of seven looking for food in swill bins. Near Charles Street “men, women and children half smothered in filth were wearing the form and semblance of humanity but herding like savages…” There were three property owners in the area – one of them was a councillor.
* In 1909 more than 10,500 Hull houses had only one doorway and each week the contents of the privy were carried through the house for emptying.