Closure of a booming industry
FOR the crew of Arctic Raider it was just another fishing trip. But as the Spitzbergen-bound vessel eased her way through the lock head of St Andrew’s Dock, she also sailed into local history.
For that trip, which began in the 4am darkness of November 3, 1975, marked the end of a story which began 137 years earlier.
As Arctic Raider made her way down the Humber only one small vessel, a British Transport Docks Board small diving boat, remained in the dock which had once been said to be home to the world’s biggest fishing industry
The closure of St Andrew’s Dock followed a decision taken when the huge cost of essential repairs to the fish market were revealed. There was only one alternative and that was to move the industry to its original base in Albert Dock.
St Andrew’s Dock, which cost £414,707 to create, opened on September 24, 1883, and at that time catered for around 420 smacks.
As was usual at the time the opening ceremony was one which saw the great and good arrive in number, the guests sailing from Victoria Pier to watch the opening by Mr JR Ringrose, chairman of the Hull Dock Company.
Fourteen years later, as more and more vessels of higher tonnage were using the dock, an extension was built on its western side.
Closure of St Andrew’s Dock saw the end of what had been a major part of life for those living in the terraces off Hessle Road and, 45 years later, many will recall the days when they were part of the industry which helped make Hull prosperous.
Look at what occupies much of the dock estate today and you see the St Andrew’s Quay shopping centre, as well as dereliction and the crumbling edifice that was once the Lord Line building and it’s hard to believe that this was once a community of its own.
Long gone are the offices of trawler owners, the post office, once said to be the busiest telegraph office in Britain, and smaller firms – remember the famous Lollipop Shop?
Older former workers on the “wet side” nurture many memories of the days when thousands of tons of fish were unloaded daily to be despatched to inland markets, while others will have worked on the “dry side” with its riggers’, rope stores and repair shops.
After closure, St Andrew’s
Dock remained empty for the next 11 years when work began on St Andrew’s Quay. This in turn has seen major change since opening, when it featured major leisure attractions Megabowl, the eight-screen UCI Cinema and Jazzbo Brown’s.
AS ST Andrew’s Dock closed the second cod war agreement, which saw Iceland gain a 50-mile fishing limit around her coast, came to an end only for a third conflict on the island’s troubled waters to begin.
This time the Icelanders demanded a 200-mile limit and the events which followed with the Royal Navy again being involved to protect the British fleet, led to the most bitter conflict of all the fishing conflicts with Iceland.
It ended in June 1976, with Britain agreeing that 24 of its trawlers could fish inside the new limit, taking a total of 30,000 tons of fish a year.
This was a bitter blow and as a result the distant water fishing fleet was doomed.
IT MAY have happened 57 years ago, but for many of those who were there it was an event which would never be forgotten.
On Sunday, November 23, 1963, in scenes the like of
which had never before been seen in Hull, The Beatles came to town to the ABC cinema.
And it was not just the 10song performance that will be remembered, even though hardly any of those in the crowd heard a single word or note, including the Press who were in the orchestra pit, for the booking process also provided many a memory.
This took place the previous month and was an all-night affair, with as many as 2,000 teenagers queuing at one point.
There were 4,720 tickets available for two performances and the management allowed 10 per person.
Within two hours every seat had been sold. And it was not only locals who were in the queue, some had come from Grimsby, Wigan, Middlesbrough and Goole.
First in the queue were Rosalin Morgan, of Ash Grove, Greek Street and Margaret Warriner, of Otto Terrace, Arundel Street.
The last ticket went to 14-year-old Sheila Laughton, of Norfolk Terrace, Hull, who attended St Gregory’s School.
Queuing, under police supervision, had begun just after 6pm and the tickets were on sale 14 hours later.
When The Beatles went on stage, during the two performances 12 girls fainted during the first one and 11 in the second.
A record number of 22 stewards, among them were four international Rugby League players, John Taylor, Brian Dyson, Jim Drake of Hull KR and Mick Scott, the ex-hull FC forward.
*Did you have The Beatles famous mop top haircut sported by thousands of fans? To have it with a shampoo thrown in, male fans in Hull paid seven shillings (35p). Girls could get a Beatles cut for nine shillings (45p).