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FERRIES CARRIED FARM ANIMALS TO MARKET
Scunthorpe Telegraph Monday 26th June 2006
With the passing of the New Holland to Hull ferry 25 years ago on Saturday, it is worth remembering it was not only people who used the service.
For generations, the ferry boats on the New Holland route had been used as the only way of moving cattle from the north bank to the south bank or the south bank to the north. Although very much an oddity in the years before the ferries came to an end, old photos show it was once a regular and important cargo across the Humber.
The New Holland route was not the only ferry in the area to have carried cattle, with the Hessle to Barton ferry route having once been part of the droving trail for cattle from north to south.
Memories of the transfer of cattle across the Humber were recalled in Goxhill Bygones, featuring memories of villagers, compiled by Ron Parker, of Goxhill.
"When most of the livestock in Goxhill was sent to Hull market on a Monday morning, this was in the days before road transport came into its own and they had to be waled (driven) to New Holland Ferry.
"For this purpose there was a short cut from Sykes Lane, which linked up with Oxmarsh Lane, in New Holland, as from halfway down the lane from the village it becomes a private road to two farms (both now demolished)."
He noted there was a gate on the short cut which was normally kept locked, but by paying a toll for each head of livestock to charity, the farmers moving cattle could obtain the key from the relevant farmer.
"There is many a good story to be told of these days of cattle droving as they are called."
The tales include ones of cattle getting into people's gardens, the wrong fields and of animals running amuck in Hull streets with their owners in pursuit.
"One story I recall is of Tom Raby's manager, George Johnson, who, with his men, had a problem with the cattle they were driving to catch the market boat as the popular timed boat was known."
They apparently arrived late, missing the boat, and had to wait to catch the next one.
"The decks had sectioned pens and these had been dismantled and stowed away, with the deck washed down with a steam pump using water from the river."
The crew complained they would have all the washing down work and dismantling to do again.
George walked over to the ferry side and looked over into the river, then turned to the crew and said: "There looks to be plenty of water left."
Memories of the ferry at Barton-Upon-Humber, once the main ferry across the Humber, featured in the Barton-on-Humber Workers' Educational Association series The Later History of Barton-on-Humber under the title Barton and the river Humber 1086-1900, penned by Rodney Clapson.
"The earliest written record of ships at Barton appears in the Domesday Book. This recorded a ferry across the Humber rendered £4 per annum to its owner," notes Mr Clapson, whose family were shipbuilders in Barton, and currently run the marina at South Ferriby.
"Several other Lincolnshire ferries were recorded, but the one at Barton appears to have been the most highly valued. It is likely the ferry referred to crossed from Barton to Hessle - here the river's narrowest crossing point is some 2,461 yards.
"The major Roman crossing from the end of Ermine Street at Winteringham to Brough is about 3,555 yards and the crossing from South Ferriby to North Ferriby is about 4,102 yards. In Roman times, the distance between these two ferry havens would probably have been less, because over the past two millennia there has been considerable shoreline erosion at South Ferriby."
In his notes Mr Clapson records: "Barton ferry played a part in English politics in 1464 when, during the Wars of the Roses, King Edward IV crossed the Humber from Barton to Hull to put down an uprising in the North."
He notes in the years before the Civil War three boats appear to have operated on the ferry route.
"The Parliamentary Survey of 1649 indicated the largest carried 24 oxen, the next in size 10 horses, while the capacity of the third, a 'cock boat' was not recorded."
A tragedy befell the ferry in 1640 when several passengers were lost overboard.
"These included the Rev Andrew Marvell, who was the Rector of Winestead, master of Hull Grammar School and father of Andrew Marvell, the poet and Member of Parliament for Hull.
Mr Clapson also quotes a famous passage from the writings of Daniel Defoe in the 1720s when he crossed the Humber from Barton to Hull.
"There are some good towns on the sea coast, but I include not Barton as one of them, being a straggling mean town, noted for nothing but an ill-favoured dangerous passage; a ferry, over the Humber to Hull, where in an open boat, we had about 15 horses, and 10 or 12 cows, mingled with about 17 or 18 passengers. We were four hours tossed about on the Humber before we could get into the harbour at Hull."
Defoe went on: "Whether I was seasick or not, is not worth notice, but that we were all sick of the passage, anyone may suppose, and particularly I was uneasy at it, that I chose to go round by York, rather than return to Barton."
In 1837, when ferries were still operating between Barton and Hessle and Barton and Hull, a leaflet noted the charges for carrying sheep was 20d a score, horses a shilling each, cattle 7d a head and pigs 2d a head.
The coming of the railways in the late 1840s favoured the New Holland to Hull service and saw Barton lose its stage coach service to Lincoln in November 1848.
Mr Clapson notes: "The Barton ferry was still popular with cattle drovers. In the week before November 30, 1849, a total 1,500 beasts and more than 100 horses crossed the river."
Further memories of the ferries will be featured in our July Nostalgia special edition, available in a little over a fortnight.
Goxhill Bygones was published in 2005, priced £12, including postage and packing. Further details on (01469) 532183.
Copies of Barton and the River Humber 1086-1900 and details of other publications in the series are available by contacting Geoff Bryant, 8 Queen Street, Barton-on-Humber, DN18 5QP.
VILLAGES WELCOME TAX CREDIT WINDFALL
Scunthorpe Telegraph Monday 19th June 2006
Seven community groups have shared in a £20,000 windfall for facilities in villages across the region.
The money was handed over by the Humber Playing Fields Association from the Waste Recycling Group Ltd's (WREN) Landfill Tax Credit Scheme. Belton Playing Field Association received £2,060 which will be spent on a rainwater recycling system for its new pavilion which opened last week.
Joan Biddle, secretary of the group, said: "This system will mean we can use rainwater which collects on the roof for flushing the toilets.
"It's very important, because it means we can cut down on the amount of mains water we're using and do our bit for the environment.
"We wanted to have solar panels put in the roof, but it was just too expensive.
"Eventually, we can extend the water scheme, so the water gets purified and we can use it for washing up as well."
Messingham Playing Field Association received £4,120, which paid for refurbishments in its changing rooms, including new showers.
Coun Neil Poole, from the group, said: "This money has meant we could continue with the refurbishments we were already doing.
"The changing room is always in use and the showers - which are about 25 years old - were on their last legs.
"The money means we can have new changing facilities and showers for all the people who use them."
He added: "This award will be very much appreciated because it will help to provide a much better environment for people to change in."
And resurfacing work at the all-weather sports area will be carried out at the playing fields in Winteringham, thanks to a grant of £4,120.
Christine Hammond, clerk to the parish council, said: "We have repaired the fencing around the playing field and this grant means we can replace the cricket strip.
"It had got to the point where it was becoming unsafe - and because there are always children playing there we wanted to improve it.
"The playing field is used by everyone in the village - for football, cricket and tennis - so it was important for us to get the surface fixed."
Other groups to get money were Belton Village Hall, with £1,740 to draught-proof doors and windows, £2,050 for a suspended ceiling at Ealand Victory Hall, £4,120 for Goxhill Parish Council for playground equipment and £1,830 for a new artificial cricket strip at Winterton Playing Field.
'MIGRATION PUSHING UP HOUSE PRICES'
Scunthorpe Telegraph Thursday 8th June 2006
Migrating house-hunters moving to North Lincolnshire villages are pricing local people out of homes, according to a new report.
The Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) found villages in the region have become popular residential areas for commuters. It claims North Lincolnshire is among the top 15 districts - out of 345 in England - in terms of migration.
But the effect is driving up prices beyond the reach of local people, according to David Broadmeadow, a rural housing enabler.
Mr Broadmeadow, who works for the Humber and Wolds Rural Community Council, said: "We need to ensure a programme of investment, coupled with a positive approach in the planning system, delivers more low-cost home ownership schemes and homes for rent. This will ensure the long-term sustainability of villages is maintained for local people."
The report showed many residents who are based in the south buy homes in North Lincolnshire and then commute to work, often using the rail network.
But this has stopped many local house-buyers from being able to afford a property in areas like the Isle of Axholme.
Mr Broadmeadow welcomed the news of proposed new low-cost housing schemes in Epworth, Ulceby and Kirton in Lindsey.
He said: "It will be good news for the people of these rural communities who are keen to secure a home of their own, but who currently find themselves priced out of the local housing market."
But he said there was no room for complacency.
"Although there is housing in Scunthorpe affordable to the first-time buyer, our rural communities present a different picture," he added.
Four affordable housing surveys have been completed and they found Hibaldstow needed 11 affordable homes, Winteringham needed three and Alkborough two.
Mr Broadmeadow added: "Over the past year I have carried out several housing needs surveys and these indicate there is little available on the market below £120,000, and properties at these prices are simply not affordable to many people living and working in rural communities.
"The problem is compounded by the decrease in the availability of decent housing for rent, caused by local authority housing stock being sold under the Right to Buy."
The CRC noted parts of the area had a greater proportion of households on low incomes (below £14,865 per annum) when compared with the average for England.
Most banks offer 3.75 times a person's wage, which for a person on a salary of £15,000 works out at just £60,000.
Mr Broadmeadow said: "That would just about get you a home in Scunthorpe, but it would not buy you anything in the rural villages."
RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
Scunthorpe Telegraph Saturday 3rd June 2006
His Recipes have featured in papers and magazines across the north of England and now, at just 23 years of age, he has been hailed as one of the most influential caterers in the country.
For the Caterer and Hotelkeeper magazine has named Robert Thompson, head chef at the Michelin-starred Winteringham Fields restaurant, among the top 30 rising stars of the industry in its prestigious Acorn awards 2006. These are presented to the 30 young men and women, under the age of 30, who the magazine believes will shape the industry in years to come.
Robert, who was named Young Chef of the Year in 2004, is the youngest chef in the country to hold a Michelin star.
The Acorn judges commented: "When Winteringham Fields changed hands last year, Michelin reviewed its rating but concluded Thompson was more than worthy of retaining their attention and awarded a star.
"Moreover he has retained the highest accolade for his cooking in the AA guide - five rosettes - and achieved a remarkable nine out of 10 in the Good Food Guide."
They also paid tribute to not just his talent in the kitchen but also his disciplined managerial skills which, they claimed, created harmony among his 15-strong brigade and maintained his gross profit margins.
Commenting on his latest prestigious prize, Robert said: "It's a great honour to be awarded an Acorn Award. To be recognised by the judges means a great deal and this will give me even more drive and ambition to try to achieve greater things. Winteringham Fields is a superb place to work, with so many new and exciting things happening here. This award just tops it all."
Offering his congratulations to Robert, Winteringham Fields owner Colin McGurran said: "This award is thoroughly justified. Not only is Robert the most brilliant chef, he is also incredibly dedicated. He spends his days off researching new dishes and takes time at the end of every meal to meet the diners."
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