The Port of Goole

Goole - 'The UK's Premier Inland Port'. Ever since the construction of Goole Docks started in 1824 the Port has had to promote itself, and over its history Goole's record for increasing trade has led to it been considered one of Britain's leading Ports. Part of the secret of this success is publicising the services of the Port in film and print. Over the past 100 years and more the owners of the Port have printed trade leaflets, which provide an insight into services on offer in the Port and what made Goole a success. Outlined below is a copy of a trade leaflet issued by the then operators of Goole Docks the British Transport Docks Board, which promotes the services of the Port.

Front Page

Back Page

The Official Sales Pitch - "Where is Goole? - What are the transport links? - What vessels can visit the Port? - What Equipment and Services are on offer? - Dock Improvements! - A Contintental Trading Port!"

Map of the the Goole Dock Estate. The leaflet probably dates from the early to mid 1970s as the late 1960s works to Ouse Dock and Bond Island have been completed. The blue area marked the extent of the Dock areas in the 1970s. It is interesting to note that previously residential areas such as Albert Street, South Street and areas of Bridge Street are as Dock areas. The map also helpfully labels the 1970s Shed and Berth numbering systems which is an excellent resource for locating pictures and documentation, especially considering so little of the historic dock buildings survive today. Just above Albert Street is one of the pre-'Goole' farms which was demolished to make way for the by-pass road.

Illustrating A Working Dock - Modern Equipment and a Busy Trade

Facts and Figures - 8 Docks, 3 Locks, 3 Dry Docks, 4,235m Commerical Quays, transhit sheds, warehouses, open storage, 27 cranes, mobile bulk conveyor loader, 2 compartment boat hoists and 1 Railway Wagon Coal Hoist (several hundred dockers and a score or more pubs!).





Just some of the goods handled on Goole Docks (and it doesn't even mention that a Goole Docker never went without Carlsberg lager or Danish bacon!)



Goole's trade - Coal, Bulk Cargo and Heavy Lifts. The pictures show the handling of Swedish Steel in and Renault Cars in West Dock.

The leaflet illusrates just a small insight into the Port of Goole, who's Dockers had a reputation for a fast turn around and for not striking.

In the name of progress and development, changing industries and also neglect Goole Docks bears little resemblence to the 1970s Port of Goole, and over time the blog will explore these changes and examine what is left of Goole Docks.

If you want to view more Goole advertising material then visit the Yorkshire Film Archive website or visit the archives of the Goole and Yorkshire Waterways Museums.







Boothferry Bridge Building - Ambulance Hut or Not?

At the footing of the Boothferry Bridge, Goole, there is a derelict building long since abandoned and in process of dereliction.  The building is constructed on a rectangular plan over one storey, with a single room. The main walls are constricted on a plinth of four brick courses. The building is constructed in facing brick with a concrete render. 

The interior of the building is left un-rendered revealing the use of English Bond. The roof is hipped and overhangs and finished in tile. Interesting features include the single swing 9 light steel windows.

 

Many people question when it is from or what it was used for. There are two possible answers to what the building was used for. The first is indicated by a documentary evidence which suggests that an Ambulance was located at the foot of the building on the Airmyn side of the Bridge. It has also been suggested that the building was probably part of the bridge works. 

The answer may lie in the Goole Times. On 5th October 1932 a picture was printed of the "Boothferry Ambulance Hut". The accompanying article states that the Airmyn Road [ambulance] Hut has been removed to the East Riding approach to Boothferry Bridge. The hut was to be taken over by the Goole St John Brigade, who would control and man it. Unfortunately the quality of the Microfilm is poor and the picture is too dark to feature on the blog but the picture is that of a similar type hut. 

It has alternatively been suggested that the building may have been the original pumping house for the bridge. The fact that the building is located from the road by a stairwell and that there is no road access would suggest that it was not intended for a vehicle to reach the building. 

 

The interior structure of the building gives some ideas as to what it was used for. The floor is constructed over a sunken chamber. Within the chamber are possible mechnical remains, possible part of a pumping system.

The style and materials of the building would suggest a date of the early part of the 20th Century and the structure would likely suggest that the building is part of the mechanism of Boothferry Bridge. Unfortunately the building remains neglected and little is know about it's origins.

Picture Album:

Swinefleet's Hidden Memorial

On the Goole First World War Research Group blog much information has been posted about the War Memorials and Shrines erected within Goole. It was quite by accident that whilst appealing for information about the Goole Street Shrines I received a telephone call to tell me that one of the shrines that I was looking for was located in Swinefleet. Unknown to most people Swinefleet's hidden memorial is located in the mortuary building in Swinefleet cemetery. As soon as I saw the memorial I realised that the Shrine was not a Goole Street shrine but an as yet unknown Swinefleet dedicated to all those who had served and killed during the Great War:

It is recorded in the Goole Times that a permanent War memorial was erected in Swinefleet during 1917 but nothing is known about the Mortuary Shrine. The Shrine is dedicated to King and Country and features a Roll of Honour of 184 men who had served, 25 of which are marked with a cross to mark their passing. Although no date is recorded in the dedication the Shrine is signed and dated by it's creator - 'By Fred Pantry April 1929' - at the bottom of the shrine. What is unusal about the shrine is that it is a rare example of a post-war shrine containing a list of all those who had served and had been killed during the war, rather that only listing those who had been killed. The location of the 1917 shrine is unknown but it could be suggested that that this later shrine was an a permanent memorial to replace the earlier shrine and carried on the practice of listing all those who had served.

Sadly the Shrine is hidden away from view and in unsuitable conditions for its future preservation. Anyone with any information about the Shrine or wishing for a transcribed copy of the memorial can comment on the blog below or contact me directly by the e-mail walkerstephen@hotmail.com.