Tag Archives: History

Hedon wartime bombing – can you help with information?

Posted on February 21, 2012 by | 1 Comment

IN JUNE last year James Bagnall asked for further information about the site of a World War II bombing raid on Hedon in May 1941 in which it was thought an entire family was wiped out.

Two properties, Ashley Villas and Daisy Villas on Magdalen Lane, Hedon, were destroyed  in the bombing raid on 8th May 1941 and 11 people were killed – including six members of the Spicer family Mr Ernest Spicer, his wife Vida and four children, John (aged 22), Delma (14), Geoffrey (10) and Edward (6).

This horrific tragedy has taken another macabre turn with the discovery that another member of the Spicer family, son Jack (22), also died during the war two years later on February 6th 1943.

And another mystery has arisen during the Hedon Blog discussion on these tragic events. The photos on this page were taken and sent in by Mr Peter Batty in Scunthorpe: The entire Spicer family are commemorated/buried in the Crosby Cemetery in Scunthorpe?

It is believed that the bombing raid left eleven casualties, the Spicer family of Ashley Villas, and Lucy Lear also of Ashley Villas, and Ellen and Josephine Ellerton and John and Muriel French of Daisy Villas.

We are appealing to readers who might have any further information about the families involved to get in touch. Did the victims all live in Hedon? What is the Spicer family’s link with Scunthorpe? What fate befell Jack Spicer?

And also James Bagnall’s original questions: What type of houses were Daisy Villas and Ashley Villas. What happened around the bombing, clearance and rebuild? Are there any photos of the area before or after the bombing?

(Ongoing research)

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Posted in Hedon, History

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Programme of Exhibitions at the Hedon Museum

Posted on February 3, 2012 by | Leave a comment

HEDON MUSEUM kicks off its New Year programme on Saturday 18th February 2012 after being ‘dark’ since November 2011.

The first exhibition Off to the Ball! will run until Sat 17th March 2012 and will include a collection of fans and historic dresses.

Following an appeal made in 2010 to people who owned pictures, the museum will be showing drawings of Holderness by the well-known artist Frederick Schultz Smith early in the year. FS Smith in Holderness will also include modern photographs of the same locations taken by the members of the ‘Picture this!’ Photographic Club.

A later exhibition will feature Flying in East Yorkshire 1912-1939. And later still, local memorabilia and photographs will be displayed as part of the Oh I do like to be beside the Seaside! exhibition.

The Museum will open from Saturday 18th February 2012 and will be open 10am – 4pm every Saturday and Wednesday from then on.

Visit: www.hedonmuseum.org

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Posted in Events, Hedon, History, Holderness

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Restoring Horsewell Pond

Posted on January 30, 2012 by | Leave a comment

TEN PEOPLE volunteered to help restore Horsewell Pond at a Community Day on Saturday arranged by Hedon Town Council and the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

The first task was to dig out the reeds by the roots. The reeds have taken over and stilted the pond – and literally sucked the life water out of it. This work had to be done carefully in order not to hurt the wildlife living in this muddy environment. Frogs were the most prolific animal found and had to be carefully relocated to a safer area.

Horsewell Pond got its name from the fact that it used to be a drinking well for horses. The base of the pond was lined with brick and stone in order to take the weight of the visiting animals. Good for horses – but it made the digging much more difficult for the volunteers!

The pond is also nicknamed ‘Duck Pond’ which is not a reference to the feathered bird, but to the ducking-stool which was apparently located there in times gone by. Troublesome and angry women who committed the crime of ‘breaking the peace’ by arguing with neighbours in raised voices would be punished by being placed in a chair and ducked (submerged) in the pond.

This was just the first day of a campaign to return water to the pond and help restore the small site down Ivy Lane. Thanks to Jim, Brian, Kathryn, Sue, Ray, John and Harriet, for lending a hand – and particular thanks to Scott, Jenny and Owen from Hedon Youth Club.

If readers have got other stories to share about the pond and its history, then please leave a comment below. Watch this space for notice of the next community event at the pond. 

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Posted in Hedon, History, Review

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Paull Holme Tower – Heritage disappearing in front of our very eyes!

Posted on September 10, 2011 by | 3 Comments

Paull Holme Tower1PAULL HOLME TOWER is a 15th Century three storey brick tower between Paull and Thorngumbald and was once part of a grand manor house and moated-complex and is a Grade I listed monument. The Tower is believed to be located at the centre of the original settlement of Paull – and buildings may have been on this site dating back to before the Domesday Book!

The Tower was open to the public for the first time as part of the Heritage Open Days weekend on 10th and 11th September 2011. This was made possible due to English Heritage agreeing to cover the public liability costs of opening the monument.

Simon Taylor, the owner of the tower, was on hand to meet and talk to dozens of enthusiastic visitors to the site.

Paull Holme Tower is now described as being in “very bad” condition by English Heritage. Its priority status has been classed as A(A) which signifies that it is at:

“Immediate risk of further rapid deterioration or loss of fabric; no solution agreed.”

Paull Holme Tower looking up at crennelations

Remains of once decorative work at the top of the tower

And the deterioration showed! Crumbling brickwork and erosion by weather and plants was clear for all to see! But this ‘loss of fabric’ represents history and heritage disappearing in front of our very eyes!

Simon Taylor says that he bought the Tower nearly 25 years ago in order to “save it” and that job continues. He hopes that renewed interest in the site through the Open Days will encourage people to get involved in helping to form a trust or not-for-profit body that can look at preserving the ancient building.

If anyone can help with this task then they can contact simon@stonecreekhouse.co.uk – and if you visit the site, then leave your opinions on the Heritage Open Days website.

Seaside FM roving reporter Paula Coomberg interviewed Simon Taylor during her visit to the site – the video also reveals the current state of this fascinating building.

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Posted in History, Paull

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Heritage Weekend events at St Andrew, Paull

Posted on September 8, 2011 by | Leave a comment

ST ANDREW CHURCH in Paull will be open as part of the Heritage Open Days on Saturday and Sunday 10th and 11th of September.

The Paull Village Hall Website reports that the church will be open between 1.00pm and 5.00pm on both days.

This should be a delight for history buffs, and those tracing family history in the area: All the ancient Parish records will be returned to the Church dating back to 1657. Also, on computer files, will be the school registers and log books back to when the school opened in 1868. People will be on hand to help with any family searches and monumental inscriptions that you may be looking for.

On Saturday 10th september at 2.30pm David Smith (local historian) will be giving a talk on the photographs and history contained in his new book Paull: An Illustrated History copies of which are on sale at the church.

The Riverside pop In Cafe’ will be open during the heritage weekend s for teas, coffee and light snacks.

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Posted in History, Paull

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Ripper investigator publishes work on Preston Murder Mystery

Posted on August 3, 2011 by | Leave a comment

DID JACK THE RIPPER STRIKE in Long Lane, Preston in 1891?

This is the question posed following the publication of the article Preston murder mystery in Ripperologist magazine by this Blog in April 2011.

Mike Covell at Mary Jane Langley's grave

On Monday 1st August 2011, on the 120th anniversary of Preston girl Mary Jane Langley’s slaughter, Mike Covell, the region’s very own “Jack the Ripper” expert, has published his findings on his Ripper Casebook Blog: From Hell, From Hull.

This is a slice of macabre local history – with a potential link to the notorious Whitechapel murders – that in all likelihood would have remained lost and hidden from view were it not for the stirling efforts of Mike Covell.

Read his article: The Murder of Mary Jane Langley.

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Posted in History, Preston

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Withernsea to Hull railway journey – nostalgic delight!

Posted on July 21, 2011 by | Leave a comment

THIS VIEW FROM A CAB OF A DIESEL TRAIN travelling the Withernsea to Hull route is a nostalgic delight! Taken in 1957 the whole journey is speeded up to take just over 4 minutes. Expect to see Hedon about 1:45 in – but don’t blink!

This video was found on YouTube by Justin Macartney of Seaside FM 105.3 and shows perhaps one of the first journeys by a diesel engine following British Rail’s ‘dieselisation’ from 1955 onwards.

The Hull and Holderness passenger service was closed following the Beeching report (published in 1963) and the last passenger train ran on 19th October 1964. See Wikipedia for more information

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Posted in Burstwick, Hedon, History, Holderness, Hull

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A Voyage Round the World

Posted on July 15, 2011 by | Leave a comment

ADMIRAL LORD GEORGE ANSON was Member of Parliament for Hedon from 1744 – 1747. He is, perhaps, the most famous person ever to have held the position of Hedon MP.

In 1740, during war with Spain, Commodore George Anson led a naval expedition to disrupt Spanish possessions in the South-Seas. He returned four years later in 1744 via China to complete a circumnavigation of the world.

The book of his journey A Voyage Round the World written in 1748 is a remarkable account. It contained a huge amount of useful information for future navigators and with 42 detailed charts and drawings it laid the basis for later expeditions by Captain Cook. But more than that, it is a professional account of seafaring adventures, naval warfare, of disease, wrecks, mutiny, treasure – and disasters, particularly disasters! Of the original 1,854 men that set sail from England, only 188 survived.

The book also changed the popular depiction at the time of naval officers as ferocious individuals with “a turn of mind and temper resembling the boisterous elements they had to deal with”. Anson was keen to promote seamanship, science and art as essential to a ship officers’ development.

Anson used his great influence and wealth to ‘acquire’ his Hedon parliamentary seat in the days when the influence of a patron determined who ‘won’ elections in the borough. It is not known if he ever visited Hedon during his term as its MP.

Anson continued his naval career with distinction, joining the Admiralty Board in 1744, then becoming First Lord of the Admiralty from 1751 to 1756, and again from June 1757 until his death in 1762.

Lots of places bear Anson’s name across the world, including Anson Villas in Paull, and seven British warships have been named HMS Anson.

Sources: Voyage Round the World purchased from Dove House for £1 and Wikipedia

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Posted in Hedon, History, Paull

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