The Hull Burns Club

Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and lyricist. Born 25^th January 1759 he packed a lot in to his relatively short life and is widely considered the national poet of Scotland. Events and clubs across the world have been established to celebrate the life and works of Robert Burns.

Greetings sent to the Hull Burns Club from Ayr Burns Club on the
anniversary of Robert Burns birth,reference C DSBU/1/4

At the Hull History Centre, we have recently had the pleasure of adding a collection of minute books relating to the Hull Burns Club to our collections. The Hull Burns Club was established on 2^nd January 1863. According to records of the Burns Federation as stated in a history of the club given in a speech by Mr. Spiers at a member’s night in March 1920 the Hull Burns Club was the oldest club this side of the border. The object of the club at its formation was to disseminate as much as was possible the works of Robert Burns among his own countrymen resident in Hull as well as its traditions and history. In its early history, meetings of the Hull Burns Club were held quarterly at the Builders Arms, Cogan Street and was customarily preceded by a tripe and leg of mutton supper which was referred to as “a full and ample repast” for which 1s. 6d. was charged. A dinner dance took place in January each year to coincide with the birth of Robert Burns.

Article from the Eastern Morning News, March 20, 1920,
regarding liquor and the gauge of enjoyment at the meetings

At the beginning of the Club’s history the yearly subscription was just one shilling. It was necessary, however, to pay for a collector to gather in outstanding debts and consequently a rule was passed that any member proposing a new member had to pay that person’s entrance fee and first year’s subscription. In 1878 the subscription was raised to 2s. 6d. and was followed by a great reduction in membership. The Club disbanded. It is unclear from the minute books exactly when the Club disbanded as they include minutes up to 22 April 1886 (reference C DSBU/1/1) but do not mention the winding down of the Club.

In April 1892, the Hull Burns Club was reformed. An anniversary dinner was promoted and carried out with success and the following day a few gentlemen that had attended the dinner met at the Imperial Hotel in Hull and agreed to reform the late Burns Club on a firmer and wider basis. A notice was placed in the Eastern Morning News the next day and an informal meeting on 5^th April 1892 kicked off the proceedings of the reformed Burns Club. Members were encouraged to recommend friends and acquaintances to join the Club.

Minute books of the Hull Burns Club, reference C DSBU

The reformed Club increased its meetings from quarterly to monthly meetings. The objective of the Club also broadened to promote literary and musical meetings and entertainments at which the writings and songs of Robert Burns and other National poets were rendered. Entertainments included papers read at meetings, concerts, whist drives and dinner dances. The Club was popular and membership steadily increased. For many years the Hull Burns Club held a prominent place in the social and literary life of the city. Members continued to be put forward for recommendation to join the Club. On 10^th December 1937, 15 new members were put forward to the Executive Council for recommendation but just a few months later on 4^th March 1938 the Treasurer reported an estimated loss of £50 for the season which led to the decision that owing to the decline of support the Hull Burns Club would be regretfully wound up. The final meeting of the Executive Council was held on 20^th May 1938 in the Grosvenor Hotel in Hull when the final debts of the Club was settled, and the Club officially disbanded.

Hull and it’s Friendship Christmas Trees, the early years

Today, the Christmas Tree in Hull’s Queen Victoria Square has become a very recognisable part of our city’s Christmas celebrations. This tradition goes back to the early years after WWII, when people and cities across Europe were reaching out to build bridges and develop friendship links. Using the council minutes, additional council records within C TMM/1/27 and the Hull Daily Mail, the early years of these trees are chronicled here:- 

1949   Hull's first Friendship Christmas Tree was from Ǻlesund (Aalesund), Norway who beat Haugesund to it. The gift was arranged by the resident Norwegian Consul in Hull, Mr T.A. Gjertsen. It was only the second gift of a tree to the United Kingdom, the first being for London. The tree was erected in Queens Gardens unlike the previous year when it had been on King Edward Street, which was unavailable, as it was being redeveloped. It was switched on by 18-year-old Aase Steffenssen, the daughter of  Ǻlesund Councillor Sigurd Steffenssen. Aase was in the UK studying English in Hertfordshire at the time.

Lights switched on, from the Hull Daily Mail 24th December 1949

1950   Another Christmas Tree from Ǻlesund (Aalesund), Norway, brought over by Councillor S. Krabbe Knudsen. Again, they beat Haugesund to it. Erected in Queens Gardens and described as the Friendship Tree.

1952   Christmas Tree from Ǻlesund (Aalesund), Norway erected in Queens Gardens and only set up and switched-on on Christmas Eve, due to unforeseen delays.

1953   Christmas Tree from Sweden but purchased from Billingham Urban District Council after they had transport problems. Lights were switched on on the 18^th December.

1954   52ft Christmas Tree from Helsinki (listed as Helsingfors, the Swedish version of the name, in the council minutes), Finland, along with a Finnish woman’s national dress costume. This was worn at the presentation by the then 24-year-old English language student, Kirsti Salakoski. The tree was officially presented by the Finnish Consul, Ambrose Good and switched-on the 17^th of December. In return for the tree, Hull hoped to give Helsinki 50 white rose bushes.

Hull Daily Mail 18th December 1954

1955   Christmas Tree from Aalborg, Denmark.

1956   Christmas Tree presented by Dr V.W.D. Hale of the Britain-Norden Society and grown on the estate of Maj. P.M. Stewart in Pocklington and erected in Queens Gardens, 11^th December 1956.

1957-1958   Like 1956, there were no foreign trees in these years, but there was still a tree in Queens
Gardens in 1957 and in the flower beds at Paragon Street and Jameson Street in 1958.

1959   Christmas Tree from Haugesund, Norway. Haugesund had tried to send one back in 1949-1950 but had been beaten to it by Ǻlesund. A 30ft tree, sited at the corner of Buckingham Street and Holderness Road and lit up on the 8^th December, again by the Norwegian Consul, Mr T. A. Gjertsen, who had done the same 10 years earlier. Like 1954, in return for the tree, a few months later, Hull gave Haugesund 120 white rose bushes.

Hull Daily Mail 8th December 1959

1960   No mention of a large tree, only small ones in various parks.

1961   Christmas Tree from Haugesund, Norway. No switching on ceremony that year as the weather was too inclement. Tree sited at the corner of Paragon Street and Prospect Street.

1962   Christmas Tree from Norway mentioned. Tree at the corner of Paragon Street and King Edward Street.

1963   Christmas Tree from Haugesund, Norway. Tree at the corner of Paragon Street and King Edward Street, same site as last year.

1964   Christmas Tree from Haugesund, Norway. This was to be the last as changes in legislation brought in by Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries (MAFF) under the Plant Varieties and Seeds Act, 1964 meant a licence would be required from the Forestry Commission which was going to cause issues.
 

How did the City Council get these trees from Europe? Delivery of the first tree, in 1949, was arranged by the Honorary Consul for Norway in Hull, Thomas A. Gjertson. But a note in the council minutes in 1957 gives us a clue as to the source of some of the others, as the Area Officer of the British Council reported that he had no knowledge of any offers of trees that year. This suggests the British Council, the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, was involved in the process as well on occasions. However it was arranged, the Christmas Trees were immensely popular and as well as providing some brightness during the festive period, they perhaps captured the spirit of the times, a sense of hope after difficult years.

With thanks to Øystein Jonassen (Rogaland Municipal Archives), Juho Salonen 
(Helsinki Archives) and Andri Jonsson (Møre and Romsdal Archives) and the 
Hull Daily Mail.

Paul Leaver
Archivist/Librarian

Hull's Press Gang Riot

Press gangs were a dreaded sight up and down coast of Britain. They would scour the towns and villages at night taking almost every man or boy they met, regardless of age or occupation. In Hull, they took a medical doctor named Hayes and George Speck, who at the time was a shipwright aged 60. It wasn't just those found wandering the street that they took. Another Hull shipwright was taken by force one night from his lodgings. Those taken were impressed to a life at sea. It was reputed that George Speck never returned. Apprentice lads tended to be spared, but only if their master claimed them.

It is not surprising therefore, the press gangs were feared and hated up and down the country. In Robin Hoods Bay, the women would warn the men by beating on pans or anything else they could get their hands on to warn the men of the village, who would often retreat to the moors above the village. Sailors that came to Hull would stay at lodgings at Paull or further upstream, out of the way of the press gangs until their ships were ready to leave.

Impressment wasn't new. It existed for centuries. Sanctioned by Parliament, it was a way of recruiting men into the navy. It was vigorously enforced during the naval wars of the 18th and early 19th centuries. The draw to Hull, like most ports, and communities along the coast, was the abundance of skilled sailors. Those employed among Hull’s whaling fleet were exempt from impressment but were highly sought after for their seamanship and arguably toughness, and therefore press gangs often overlooked their exemption.

In Hull, those who were impressed, ended up at a house at the South End of the town. From here they were inspected before being forwarded to the supply brig, which lay in the Humber. Once aboard, the men were conveyed to the warships. The supply brig would return to Hull, and its crew would scour the streets once again. This method of impressment was common around the coasts of Britain at the time. However, on one summer’s evening in May 1815, the people of Hull turned on the press gang, so much so that it became known locally as the Press Gang Riot.

It all began around 6pm on an early summer’s evening, when a young sailor was ashore in Hull. This sailor had the misfortune of running in to the press gang which was out doing the rounds. The quick-thinking young sailor managed to evade the gang, running off into the direction of the New Dock. However, he didn’t go unnoticed by the press gang who quickly followed in pursuit.

Around the same time, finishing up for the day was a gang of workman who had been repairing the New Dock’s lock gates. Pursued by the press gang, the young sailor slipped passed the workmen, before taking flight through the town.

The workmen, probably looking forward to a well-earned drink after a long day, took exception to the press gang and a fight quickly ensued. One of the workmen struck a member of the press gang across the head with a spade, splitting his head wide open. We don’t know for certain whether the press gang captured the sailor they had initially being chasing, but it appears at some point the press gang had captured an individual, and this together with their confrontation with the workmen, signalled a general riot aimed straight at the press gang.

Soon the streets were filled with people. Attention quickly turned to the house at the South End of the town, used by the press gang to hold those they had taken. The rioter’s descended upon the property with the intention to free those that had been impressed.

The South End of Hull c.1850

The house in question belonged to Matthew Smith. Smith later recalled the house was used as a rendezvous by the press gang, prior to sending those captured to the waiting supply brig Tender in the Humber. Outside among the riotous crowd was John Dunhill and William Bewell. By the time the riotous crowd has assembled the press gang had taken cover and retreated inside the property.

Outside the crowd swelled. Many were armed with makeshift weapons. Cheered on by the crowd, Dunhill along with the mob threw lime, bricks, and bats at the property, before proceeding to batter down the walls. A Lieutenant with the press gang recalled how he escaped via the back of the property. Soon the house was all but destroyed, its furniture taken or destroyed by the rioters.

John Dunhill and William Bewell appear to have been singled out as two of the instigators. Dunhill was reported to have been seen to be quarrelling with Matthew Smith before the property was attacked. Dunhill, it was said, was intoxicated and abused Smith because he refused to provide him with ale. Bewell was seen to be shouting and making great noise in the frenzy. He was identified at the centre of the house, shouting, and cheering as he and the rioters destroyed the property.

By 11pm the rioters had dispersed. Singled out, Dunhill and Bewell were brought before the magistrates on 17th July 1815. They were charged with 'riotously assembling together and a great number of other persons and demolishing a certain house'. The jury in the case deliberated for around a quarter of an hour before returning the verdict 'Not guilty'.

Entry from the Calendar of Prisoners showing probably the same John Dunhill, this time accused of assaulting his wife

Although laws were passed in 1835 to uphold the power to impress, the practice had largely fallen into disuse after 1815 with the end of the Napoleonic Wars. No longer did the press gangs scour the streets of Hull looking to impress those they came across. All but forgotten today, the press gangs are a reminder of Hull's once darker, and sinister past.

Neil Chadwick
Librarian/Archivist 

This Month in Hull: October

After a month’s hiatus, (because we forgot about September!) our This Month in Hull blog is back to give you some more historical facts. So here they are, some interesting things you may or may not know happened in Hull during the month of October.

Beginning in 1541, on the 2nd October, a visit by Henry VIII to Hull is recorded. The purpose of the visit was to inspect the town’s defences. As a result of his visit the following recommendations were made: Suffolk Palace, once standing on the site now occupied by The Deep, was to become a citadel surrounded by a moat which was to be scoured; ramparts, which had fallen into disrepair, were to be brought back into a fit state for defensive purposes; and the town’s gates were to be provided with guns.

Illustration of Beverley Gate in the 19th century, this would have formed part of the defensive walls under siege in 1643 [U DDMM/30/6]

In 1643, on the 11th October, a heavy siege of the town was broken. The town had been under siege from Royalist forces for weeks, putting the inhabitants under immense strain. After building up a strong force, the town’s governor, Lord Fairfax, ordered the Parliamentarian troops to advance out of the town and a battle ensued. The siege ended the following day and Fairfax declared the 11th October to be a public holiday of thanksgiving, which it remained until the restoration.

Illustration of the south blockhouse of the citadel, c.100 years after the defensive improvements ordered by Henry VIII [U DDMM/30/8]

In 1926, on the 13th October, Edward VIII (then Prince of Wales) visited Hull to lay the foundation stone of Ferens Art Gallery. The gallery was funded by MP, philanthropist and major figure in the History of Reckitt and Sons, Thomas Ferens. His philanthropy also included the donation of £250,000 in 1926/27 to found the Hull University College (now the University of Hull).

Ferens Art Gallery shortly after opening in 1927 [C DIMB/1/1/41]

In 1939, on the 16th October, Hull’s New Theatre opened in Kingston Square. The first ever production was a performance of ‘Me and My Girl’ by the Hull Repertory Company. Whilst, we don’t have a flyer for this particular performance, we do have many thousands of theatre play bills for various local theatres which have existed in Hull since the 18th century.

New Theatre after a performance in 1954 [Lp.792 NEW/2]

In 1985, on the 8th October, Clive Sullivan died in Hull aged 42. An internationally renowned rugby player, Sullivan played for both Hull KR and Hull FC Rugby League teams. He was so loved locally that a section of the A63 was renamed Clive Sullivan Way in honour of his memory.

Clive Sullivan playing for Hull FC [Local Studies]

As always, if you want to find out more, drop into Hull History Centre to see what records we have!

Claire Weatherall, Assistant Archivist (Hull University Archives)

This Month in Hull: August

For anyone who needs some good pub quiz facts, we present the August edition of 'This Month in Hull'.

In 1833, on the 12th, a public meeting was held to decide how to commemorate the Hull MP and anti-slavery campaigner William Wilberforce. Two resolutions were passed: ‘That it is the opinion of this meeting that an obelisk or pillar will form the most striking and appropriate memorial’; and ‘That a subscription be entered into for the purpose of carrying the proposed object into effect.’

2 August 1833, Hull Advertiser and Exchange Gazette, announcement of the death of William Wilberforce in his 74th year of age

List of subscribers to the fund for a memorial to William Wilberforce, Hull Advertiser and Exchange Gazette, 16 Aug 1833

In 1834, on the 1st, the foundation stone was laid for the Wilberforce monument at its original location at the corner of St John’s Street, close to where Beverley Gate once stood. It was laid by Richard Bethell MP of Rise, the Chairman of the Memorial Committee. The statue of Wilberforce was added after the building of the obelisk on 12 Nov 1835. The following is an image of the Wilberforce statue in its original location on the Queens Square side of the old bridge leading to Whitefriargate, before it was moved to its current location outside of Hull College.

Illustration showing the Wilberforce Monument in its original location, 1933 [Lp.731.73.WILB/6]

In 1834, on the 11th, the Hull and Selby Railway Company was formed. The History Centre holds plans and section drawings showing the line being 'A railway from Selby through Hemmingborough, Wressle, Howden, Eastrington, Blacktoft, South Cave, Brantingham, Elloughton with Brough, Welton with Melton, North Ferriby and Kirkella, Hessle and Newington to Humber Dock.' The plans are accompanied by a book of reference for engineers, and were created by Walker, Burgess and A. Comrie in 1834 [C CQP/2].

In 1840, on the 7th, renovation work was carried out on the clock in the tower of Holy Trinity Church. Originally built by Joseph Hindley of York with one face, the clock subsequently had four faces. Our Local Studies collections include an illustration of Holy Trinity in 1829, prior to the work being undertaken [Lp.796.5 HOL/15].

In 1845, on the 24th, Stoneferry Waterworks supplied its first water, processed from the River Hull, after the foundation stone was laid on 29 April 1844. Among the records relating to the waterworks is a postcard showing a view from across the river [C DMX/181/1].

In 1856, T.J. Smith bought a retail chemist shop at 61 Whitefriargate. This business would grow to become the global company of Smith & Nephew. The Whitefriargate premises was the business' first site before production was relocated to Neptune Street on Hessle Road.

Extract from a Hull Trade Directory showing occupiers of properties on Whitefriargate, 1857

As always, if you would like to find out more, come down to the History Centre to see what else we hold...

Claire Weatherall, Assistant Archivist (Hull University Archives)

This Month in Hull: July

As people seemed to enjoy the format of June’s ‘This Month in Hull’ post, we have decided to go the same route for July. So, again, what follows is a random (though hopefully interesting) collection of historical facts about our city. This time our facts are inspired by Susanna O'Neill's 'The Hull Book of Days' (2014) [L.9.7], which is available to read and borrow from our Local Studies Library.

In 1836, on the 27th, Joseph Henry Fenner was christened at Brixton, Surrey. He would later become the founder of the Fenner Group in Hull.

Employment agreement and retirement bonus letter belonging to a long-term employee of Fenners [C DIFK]

In 1850, on the 3rd, Victoria Dock was formally opened by Mr T. Firbank, Chairman of Hull Dock Company, and was signalled to the town by the firing of a salute from a battery in the Citadel.

Postcard showing Victoria Dock, Late 18th cent. [L RH/2/68]

In 1908, on the 1st, Hull's Garden Village was officially opened. The building of Garden Village was a philanthropic venture devised by Sir James Reckitt for the benefit of his workers and retired workers. It was financed by Reckitt and another local philanthropist, Sir Thomas Ferens.

Postcard showing Garden Village, 1910 [L RH/2/344]

In 1915, on the 5th, a wooden dummy gun was installed on the roof of the premises that would later become Rose Downs and Thompson. It was intended to act as a deterrent to German zeppelins, and was manned from 8pm to 5am each night.

Copy tender for a wooden gun, c.1915 [C DBR/2509/118] 

In 1937, on the 25th, a trolleybus service opened to traffic two days after a ceremonial inauguration. The service replaced the existing tramway network, and used overhead electric wires but did not require tracks to run.

Trolleybus in operation in Victoria Square, 1939 [Lp.388.322.15]

In 1981, on the 17th, the Humber Bridge was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II, and was then the longest single span suspension bridge in the world.

Visit of civic dignitaries from Sierra Leone during construction of the Humber Bridge, 1979 [C TDP/2/7/9]

If you want to find out more about any of these facts, drop in to the History Centre and see what else we have.

Claire Weatherall, Assistant Archivist (Hull University Archives)

This Month in Hull: June

This month's 'This Month in Hull' blog, is inspired by a little book from our Local Studies collection titled ‘Hull 2017: 2,017 facts about Hull and people associated with the city’, compiled by James L. Orwin.

Whilst flicking through, I thought the concept would make a great, if slightly eclectic blog. What follows, therefore, is a series of interesting facts supported by images from Hull History Centre collections, and the only link is that these things happened in bygone Junes. If nothing else, it will make good pub quiz fodder!

Beginning in 1800, on the 21st, Dr John Alderson laid the foundation stone of the Hull Subscription Library building in Parliament Street. To mark the opening of the new rooms, a meeting was held at which the below address was given in 1801 [C DMGB/1/5/3].

In 1829, on the 1st, Junction Dock was officially opened. This plan of Hull, dated 1829, shows the existing docks and harbours, alongside the new Junction Dock [L MAPS].

In 1846, on the 18th, Railway Dock was opened for shipping. This plan shows railway dock alongside existing docks in 1855 [L MAPS].

In 1861, Joseph Henry Fenner founded a leather belt and currying business at 21 ½ Bishop Lane, which would go on to become The Fenner Group. This extract from the 1863 Hull trade directory shows Fenner to be in occupation of the said premises.

In 1887, on the 21st, East Park was opened to the public for the first time. Situated on Holderness Road, it was designed by Joseph Fox Sharpe. The following is a sketch of East Park made c.1887 [Lp.352.73 EAS/34].

In 1914, on the 1st, Tower Picture Palace was opened on the north side of Anlaby Road, towards the city centre. Designed by H. Percival Banks, it was a single screen cinema with seating for 2000 people. This Air Raid Precaution (Fire Guards Section) card shows that the manager of the cinema in 1942 was Noel Greenwood of 132 Westbourne Avenue, Hull [C TYR/15590].

In 1981, on the 24th, a ferry service between Hull’s Corporation Pier and New Holland Pier ceased to run, and the Humber Bridge opened to traffic. This illustration shows one of the proposed bridge designs, which was ultimately not selected [L.624.1.84]

If you are intrigued by any of these facts, drop in and see what other information we might have here at Hull History Centre. You can also search our catalogue for more information on our holdings.

Claire, Assistant Archivist (Hull University Archives)

This month in Hull: April

One of the resources we offer free access to here at the History Centre is the British Newspaper Archive. This is a massive project to digitise millions of pages of British newspapers, and several Hull papers are available covering 1794-1950. The huge benefit of having newspapers digitised is that you can easily search them by date or keyword, which really opens them up for research.

It’s not always the big events that tell you the most about a certain point in history; the day to day goings-on also have stories to tell. So for this post I decided to choose an April date more or less at random and, using the British Newspaper Archive collections, see what was happening in Hull.

The date I chose is 20 April 1925, and the newspaper I looked at is the Hull Daily Mail. All images in this post are copyright Local World Limited/Trinity Mirror and were created and used courtesy of the British Library Board.

Browsing through the pages, the first thing that catches the eye is of course the adverts.

The Costello clothing store is luring in lady shoppers with their Fashion Corner advert: “Here you are with MAY peeping at you, and you are still without your SPRING outfit… ARE YOU READY FOR THE WARMER DAYS?” If only it were still around, I would be down to Costello’s for a smart two piece costume in an instant.

Elsewhere on the page, we learn that “Hull has the unique distinction of having more wireless listeners per thousand than any other town in the United Kingdom,” although sadly figures are not given.

Two men and a woman were remanded for further enquiries to be carried out after a police constable found them asleep at 2am in a furniture van in a yard. This really seems to raise questions about what the constable was doing peering into vans in the early hours, but presumably he had his reasons.

A story of a lucky escape features in “Preparing for bed. Exciting burning rescue in New George Street.” Harriet Markham, 19, accidentally set her clothes on fire with a candle she was holding and was rescued by two brothers. This kind of accident was not uncommon in the days of open fires and candlelight, but luckily on this occasion the victim survived.

There is also a fascinating glimpse into both shell shock and unemployment in the piece “Explosion brings speech.” The story tells us that “Shock has cured a Hull ex-soldier who stuttered seriously as a result of the war.” He was thrown to the ground by an explosion in Falkirk and found that his speech had returned. He was in Falkirk having walked from Hull “in search of work,” a distance of some 240 miles. Unusually, the man’s name is not given; perhaps this indicates the stigma which attached to both mental health problems and unemployment?

The British Newspaper Archive is a subscription website but you can access it for free in any Hull library, including the History Centre. Why not have a look and see what you can discover?

This Month in Hull: March

This is the first in a new series of blogs, which we will be posting regularly. The series will highlight some of the city's interesting historical happenings for a given month. So today, Verity launches our 'This Month in Hull' blog with some historical happenings from March 1915/16.  

On 5 March 1916, Hull came under attack from the air. Having failed to reach Scotland because of bad weather, two German zeppelins bombed Hull. The bombs, which included both incendiaries and explosive bombs, fell on the city centre, damaging parts of Paragon Station, Hull Grammar School and Holy Trinity Church. Seventeen people were killed and 52 injured. This, however, was not the first such raid on Hull. The first zeppelin raid had been on the 6 and 7 June 1915 and had resulted in the deaths of 24 people. During the First World War, Hull was bombed on at least 8 separate occasions, the courses of the Humber and River Hull making navigation to the city easy for the zeppelin pilots. 

A Zeppelin visiting the North East Coast, 1915

The raid of 5-6 March was terrifying for the inhabitants of Hull and many first-hand accounts of the devastation wreaked by the bombs were related in the local papers in the days following the attack. Shortly afterwards, details of the inquests held for those who died were also printed in the newspapers. The tragic stories were ones of family members seeing their loved ones killed but also ones of heroic rescue attempts.

Midnight raid on Market Place, Hull, by Zeppelin, 1915

The attack heightened calls for greater air raid defences and the provision of anti-aircraft guns for Hull. Since the first air raids, Hull had established their own warning system, using steam whistles (‘buzzers’) to alert the city’s inhabitants to the imminent threat. The largest buzzer in the country was made in Hull and was known affectionately as ‘Big Lizzie’. The city had also established air raid drills and following the raising of the alarm, 3000 volunteer Special Constables would walk the streets to ensure citizens were adhering to blackout rules. Like the Blitz during the Second World War, messengers, dispatch riders and stretcher bearers were also recruited and first aid stations were created. However, Hull had no means of retaliating against the bombardment and people could only look on helplessly as parts of the city were destroyed and neighbours were killed. Subsequent angry protests, however, quickly led to authorities providing mobile guns and searchlights for Hull’s defence.

Zeppelin damage in Queen Street, Hull, 1916

The attack in March 1916 was not the last. Hull suffered a further two attacks in 1916, one in 1917 and another two in 1918. Over the course of the First World War, there were 160 casualties in Hull from air raids. If you would like to learn more about the zeppelin raids on Hull during the First World War, please see Arthur Credland’s book The Hull Zeppelin Raids 1916-1918 [L 9.7083].

Verity, Archives Assistant