City’s old docks enjoying their new lease of life

ITS NAME deriving from the Sanskrit ambu and Latin imber, both meaning water, the Humber provides the historic dividing line between the North of England and the Midlands.

Separating Yorkshire from Lincolnshire, the Humber is formed by the confluence of two others, the Ouse and the Trent. They merge at Faxfleet, six miles east of the port of Goole.

The city of Hull is located at the point where the small River Hull, which begins life in the Yorkshire Wolds, joins the Humber some 20 miles from the North Sea.

Hull Marina itself is a relative newcomer, at least in name. Originally known as Humber Dock, it was built in 1807 and opened to shipping two years later.

The linking by rail of Hull to Selby and Leeds brought more trade to both the city and the dock. In 1844, Parliament agreed to the construction of a branch dock to cope, which duly opened on June 18, 1846 and was named Railway Dock.

The docks were both closed to shipping in 1968 and sold to Hull Corporation for £500,000.

Finally, on May 1, 1983, they were reopened as the Hull Marina, providing moorings for pleasure boats.

Promoting itself as a perfect base for all year-round cruising on sheltered estuarial waters and for exploring the Rivers Trent, Ouse and the Yorkshire coast, the marina is ringed by a cluster of well-regarded restaurants and buzzy bars.

It is home to 270 berths and serves as a focal point for a whole host of events and activities, including popular jazz and folk festivals. In 2017 it will be sure to play a significant role in the yearlong celebrations marking Hull’s stint as European City of Culture, when available berths may well be few and far between.

The Spurn Lightship, the lightvessel which guided ships safely through the treacherous River Humber for almost half a century, is moored in the marina and acts as a museum, telling the story of Hull’s maritime history.

The successful repurposing of its old docks ensures there will be plenty of tales to be told in the future, too.

Technical details: Nikon D4, Shutter Speed 1/400s, Aperture f6.3, Lens Nikon 12-24mm, ISO 1EV Under 100.