Monday 31 January 2011

Albert Hall, Midland Street, Hull

In a seedy little street behind Hull's Paragon station stands this ruin of a building. Hull's very own Albert Hall once entertained up to 800 patrons with music hall variety acts. The days of music hall passed and the place became a straightforward public house and later a bingo hall called the Fair and Square Club. It's been closed for nearly forty years and is heavily vandalised. There were rumours of demolition and redevelopment but as I've said before these rumours amount to very little. If something isn't done about it soon I guess gravity, the weather and the thriving buddleias will have the final say.

There's an excellent web page on this building's history here.

Sunday 30 January 2011

It's all done by mirrors

This is Europa House on Ferensway and Anlaby Road. It's clearly been built with photographers in mind.
I posted some reflections from this building before here.

Saturday 29 January 2011

Hull First

Railway enthusiasts (aka train spotters) will no doubt be able to tell that this is a Class 180 Adelante unit, used by First Hull Trains to run its direct Hull to London service. Here it stands at Paragon station waiting its passengers who have grown weary of the delights of this fair city.

Friday 28 January 2011

The wrong side of the tracks

Anlaby Road tower blocks seem to march off into the distance. 
These rail platforms are no longer used. They were specially built to take European emigrants from Hull to Liverpool whist separating them from the native population; they were kept out of sight. Many thousands passed through here in the search for a better life. I guess that, as they didn't stay in Hull, the chances are they found one. If they'd stayed their descendants might be living in these lovely "homes".


Thursday 27 January 2011

For Sale May Rent

This is the Tower on Anlaby Road. It opened in 1914 as a cinema. In 1978 it closed and since then it has been a boxing venue, a roller disco and eventually as a night club and fun pub. It is currently for sale.
The Cinema Theatre Association wants someone to buy the place with a view to returning it to a cinema. All the original plaster work is still there. So with a bit of luck Hull might get another cinema.
You can read here about local memories of the place through the years.

Wednesday 26 January 2011

Saving the planet ...

or just saving money?
Commuters park up their bikes at Beverley station before taking the train to Hull or better places.

Tuesday 25 January 2011

Beverley Arms Hotel


The Beverley Arms Hotel opened in 1794 as a coaching inn. The advertisements on the web for this hotel state that the hotel had a connection with the highwayman Dick Turpin which is odd since he was executed in 1739.

The hotel has a website here.