Day of destiny for ‘iconic symbol’ of fishing industry as council to decide on demolition

A CAMPAIGNER who spent nearly 20 years fighting to protect Hull’s fishing heritage says today may be the final opportunity to save the last iconic symbol to the city’s once mighty fishing industry.

Councillors are due to decide this afternoon whether to demolish Lord Line building along with the adjacent listed hydraulic Pump House and tower on St Andrew’s Dock.

Built in 1949 in a “restrained international modern style”, the Lord Line is the largest and most distinctive of the handful of buildings left on the dock, which was home to the Hull trawler fleet from 1883 to 1975.

Manor Property Group argues that the cost of renovating the building for offices would far outweigh its eventual worth.

However, Historic England has objected “in the strongest possible terms”, saying re-developing the building would strike “against the heart and essence of Hull’s nationally important cultural maritime heritage” at a time when this is being celebrated by Hull being the UK Capital of Culture 2017.

Hull Civic Society, the council’s conservation officers and thousands of people who signed paper and online petitions have also objected to the “highly unwelcome, disappointing, unimaginative and destructive” proposals.

Adam Fowler, who was at the inaugural meeting of fishing heritage group STAND in September 1989 and was its chair until 2007, was unsuccessful in a bid to get the Lord Line building listed. However, he did get the pumphouse listed.

He said: “Whilst St Andrew’s Dock and particularly the Lord Line remains in the consciousness of many people’s hearts and minds, it has in many ways become the forgotten corner of the city. Visible but slowly allowed to decay and pass by.

“If the Lord Line Building and associated Pump House are lost the area there will be no tangible, physical reminder that fed half a city.”

He warned split ownership of the site was getting in the way of any regeneration plan.

He added: “Land ownership needs to be brought under one roof and this may need to involve compulsory purchase of certain parts. Only then will this city truly honour the fishing industry and the many men who never returned.”