February 24th

On 24th February 1814, John Taylor, aged 62, of Soffham Farm, Sutton-on-Hull, was in Chamberlain Road, on his way home from Hull, when he was shot by a man who leapt out from the hedge, robbed him of £30 and ran off. Taylor died a week later, but had identified his assailant as James Forbes, an Irishman. Forbes was tried at York but acquitted despite being identified, for lack of corroborating evidence.

On 24th February 1942, Charles James Kent of Bristol Road, Hull, a foreman in the Rescue Party Service, was awarded the George Medal for gallantry in the rescue of Mrs Crawford (deceased) and Miss Crawford. They were trapped when their house in Eva’s Terrace, De la Pole Avenue, was demolished, and Kent managed to crawl to them and create space for jacks to be used.

On 24th February 1943, Thomas Cooper Kinchin, aged 27, 2ndofficer, of North Ferriby, was lost by enemy action aboard SS Stockport of Grimsby, an Atlantic convoy rescue ship.

Blitz

February 10th

On 10th February 1644, Sir William Constable of Flamborough led Parliamentary troops from Hull in routing the Royalists at Kilham.

On 10th February 1801, Sir Samuel Standidge, aged 75, died at Thorngumbald. He was born at Bridlington, and at age 19 was taken prisoner by privateers and taken to Rhode Island. Later in life he traded goods to Rhode Island and bought lands in Holderness, building New York Farm, Preston, to mark his financial success in New York.  He is credited with restarting the Hull whaling industry, acting as master of his own whaler.  Sheriff of Hull, Mayor, and warden of Hull Trinity House 5 times. His memorial is  in St Mary’s Lowgate, Hull.

On 10th February 1866, 6 days after running aground on the Isle of Juist, Germany, 15 people were rescued from the rigging of the ‘Excelsior’ of Hull, where they survived without food and water. Mrs Newton was considered a hero for her support of her fellow survivors.

On 10th February 1871, at least 70 mariners lost their lives in Bridlington Bay in the Great Gale, including 6 lifeboatmen. 23 vessels were lost. There is a mass grave in the Bridlington Priory churchyard, and an annual Fishermen’s Service was held for 100 years.

On 10th February 1893, Revd Francis Orpen Morris died aged 82 at Nunburnholme. Vicar at Nafferton 1844-1854, rector of Nunburnholme to 1893. Irish-born naturalist and author of children’s books, and books on natural history and architecture. Anti-feminist, anti-hunting and opposed to Darwinism. (b25.3.1810)

On 10th February 1898, Commander Cave, of Humber guard ship Galatea, rescued the crew of SS Marbella in the River Humber, near Humber Dock, Hull. The Marbella had problems with its steering gear, and almost collided with 2 ships before hitting the Galatea. The only passenger had to swim to safety, and the Marbella’s cargo of 41 horses were all lost. The Galatea was itself later stranded on the Hebbles sandbank, but refloated later.

Saml Standidge memorial

October 18th

On 18th October it was the tradition, on St Luke’s Day, to appoint an official dog-whipper to keep dogs out of church, and to whip any dogs found in the streets; the tradition is said to have begun when a dog ate a consecrated wafer in York Minster.

On 18th October 1654, The Petition of the Three Colonels or The Humble Petition of Several Colonels of the Army was published, authored by Alured, John Okey and Thos Saunders. Colonel Matthew Alured, brother of Hedon MP John Alured, lost his commission, and was imprisoned for a year for stirring up dissatisfaction with Parliament among English troops in Ireland.

On 18th October 1833, Capt John Ross was granted the Freedom of the Town of Hull. Having returned to Hull on expedition to find the lost Isabella, was then himself thought lost.  (He was also granted the freedoms of London, Liverpool, Bristol and Wicklow)

On 18th October 1850, the Hull Advertiser reported that the ring leaders of a riot which resulted in the deaths of 4 Irish labourers on Sunk Island in July were found guilty of riot and sentenced to 4 months each with hard labour.They were: Robert Smith, John Londsbro, George Bellamy, John Dent, George Bielby and Fewson Towse.

 

John_Ross_rescued_by_Isabella,_1833

August 23rd

On 23rd August 1326, Richard Furnewes, barber to the Archbishop of York, was appointed to keep the park at Bishop Burton and the deer, at a salary of 2d per day.

On 23rd August 1601, Lord Burley, Queen’s Lieutenant and President of the Council of the North, visited Hull. His visit was marked with a firework display in the Market Place. Tragically, the cannon misfired, and at least 4 died, and several others were injured.

On 23rd August 1619, a woman bonesetter from South Dalton attended Londesborough House to treat Earl Francis’s shoulder, dislocated in a fall while out hawking. She was paid £1 5s for the treatment, which included 2 visits. (A physician might charge £2 a visit).

On 23rd August 1653, Robert Acklam was fined £5 by Hull Trinity House for taking the ship Blessing from Hull to London and from there crossing to Holland without the correct licence.

On 23rd August 1830, 60 farm workers rioted in Burton Pidsea, armed with clubs, scythes and stones, and visited every farmhouse where there were known to be Irish labourers, aiming to drive them out of the neighbourhood. 6 of them attacked Irish men working in a field belonging to Mr Baxter. The Hull Packet reported on 10.9. 1830 that the 6 ringleaders had been arrested and would be tried at the next Quarter Sessions in Beverley.

On 23rd August 1886, former Hull Trinity House pupil John Lester, aged 20, was killed by a fall from aloft on the Schooner Welsh Belle travelling from Hull to Newfoundland.

On 23rd August 1934, the Yorkshire Post reported on a cliff collapse along a 100-yard stretch at Aldbrough, which resulted in thousands of tons of material falling onto the beach, destroying the boat slipway. No-one was hurt. photo shows more recent erosion at Ulrome.

 

erosion Ulrome

July 26th

On 26th July 1826, the Aire & Calder Navigation Company officially opened the new canal at Goole, locks for ships and barges, dock, and canal basin linking Goole to the west. A new town was built around the small hamlet of Goole (population in 1822: 450).

On 26th July 1845, Capt Dannatt and crew of Hull whaler Prince of Wales came across Sir John Franklin and his expedition to find the North West Passage, in Lancaster Sound, in the Arctic, and invited him and his officers on board. This was the last known sighting of the expedition.

On 26th July 1850, Hull Advertiser printed a report of the deaths by drowning during a riot of 4 Irish navvies (Patrick Langthon, John Dowling, Barney M’Jay and Thomas Twomey) working on the embankment of Sunk Island.

On 26th July 1986, 8 rail passengers and 1 person travelling in a van died when the van was struck by the 9.33 Bridlington to Hull train at Lockington level crossing, and the train was derailed. 51 people were injured, 10 of them seriously. There is a memorial to those who died in Driffield Memorial Garden.

 

lockington crash memorial

May 23rd

On 23rd May 1260, William de Forz III, count of Aumale and Lord of Holderness, died, aged about 45. He gave away his claim to the earldom of Chester in return for 2 small manors, including Driffield. Acted as ambassador for Henry III to Scotland and France, and was a member of the Council of Fifteen, advising the King on government matters. Gave land to Meaux Abbey on ‘the island called Ravenser Odd in the Humber’. His heir, Thomas, was 6 and he and the count’s lands were put into the King’s care.

On 23rd May 1510, Howden tiler Robert Colstayne claimed sanctuary at the church of St John, Beverley, for ‘the security of his body’; the register gives no detail of who was pursuing him, or why.

On 23rd May 1596, Howden churchwardens gave 6d to 2 poor men (presumably travelling through on their way to their home parish).

On 23rd May 1642, Hull Governor Sir John Hotham called a meeting of ‘knights and gentlemen’ to give a ‘learned speech’ explaining why he refused to allow King Charles into the town. This was part of the ‘paper war’ between the King and Parliament.

On 23rd May 1822, Hull merchant Joseph R. Pease attended a public meeting for the Relief of the Suffering Irish, due to famine in the West. He reported it thinly attended.

On 23rd May 1853, a Government enquiry into electoral corruption was opened at the Mansion House, Hull.  This followed a petition from the Conservative Party objecting to the election of James Clay and Viscount Goderich as MPs for Hull in the previous year. Hull was unrepresented in Parliament for almost 2 years; the Commission sat for 57 days and produced a report weighing over 11 tons and costing £5,000. (and see 16.8)

On 23rd May 1904, on Whit Monday, the Holderness Polo club held a polo match which attracted 6,000 spectators. This was held at the Polo Ground, Westbourne Avenue, Hull (modern Westbourne Ave West to Perth St West)The last matches were played in 1907.

On 23rd May 1907, the Mayoress of Hull opened a new military rifle range at Rolston, for use by Militia, Volunteers and Yeomanry. The land was leased from Rolston Hall.  below – Rolston Hall.

On 23rd May 1911, a fire began in the kitchen chimney of Sledmere House, which 24 hours later had destroyed the whole house. Fire engines from Driffield and Malton attended. There were no injuries.

 

 

Rolston Hall.jpg