Hull, Ferries and Ferry Crossings

Welcome to the Hull (UK) section of FerryCrossings.org, the site for information about major UK and continental ports and the ferries between them. Our site includes an introduction to a number of ports and feature pages about the various crossing ways, lanes and routes and companies operating between them to help you plan your journey and discover interesting travel destinations along the way.

Port of Hull

Kingston upon Hull, better known to us all as just 'Hull' is a city found in the historic East Riding of Yorkshire. It sits inland from the coast on the River Hull where it meets the Humber estuary. The city has a long, lively and well documented history as a centre for trade on both land and sea, fishing fleets and warfare and 19th century industry and commerce. Like many cities in the UK it suffered serious bomb damage in the Second World War followed by a mid 20th century down-turn in its industrial and commercial fortunes. However, the latter years of the last century have seen strenuous efforts in development, regeneration and renewal, injecting the city with a new sense of well being and hope for the future.

Passing through Hull on your way to or from the continent the traveller might be encouraged to linger, discovering some of Hull's present day attractions and finding out a little about its cultural heritage. One of her more notable literary links is to the poet Philip Larkin who wrote many poems with Hull as the backdrop. If it's the history of the port that you'd like to explore then visit one of the several museums documenting and exhibiting stories of Hull's maritime, economic and social history. Music, both classical and contemporary, can be enjoyed at the many concerts or as part of the lively nightlife of the city.

Hull's early history, as is to be expected, was founded on the export of wool to foreign ports. The fledgling port acquired the name 'Kingston upon Hull' (or King's Town') as a result of the Royal Charter granted in 1299. It had originally been known as 'Wyke', named for the Archbishop of York, John Wyke. King Edward, who granted the Royal Charter, recognised the defensive and commercial potential of the village's location, which was frequently of strategic importance in the on-going battles with the Scots.

Commercially, the town prospered in exporting wool and cloth and importing wines and other commodities from overseas, particularly with the Baltic ports. The influence of wealthy trading families of Hull could be seen in many ways both across the country and through the years. The first person to hold the position of Mayor, in Hull, was Sir William de la Pole, who loaned large sums of money to the king and became influential in government. Another of Hull's 'merchant sons' was bishop John Alcock who went on to found Jesus College, Cambridge. During England's Civil War, Hull, with its important arsenal, was held by the Parliamentarians and, as a consequence, suffered in the conflict between the King's forces and those of Parliament. By the mid 19th century the whaling industry played an important part in Hull's rising fortunes and the port was granted city status in 1897. However, after the First World War and the decline in the whaling industry, the port's economic prosperity depended increasingly on deep-sea fishing, but the Anglo-Icelandic disputes of the mid 1970s, known as the 'Cod Wars', further damaged Hull's economy for many years.

Although, unusually for a city, Hull doesn't have a cathedral, it does possess a very impressive and massive parish church, Holy Trinity. The church's origins date back to the 13th century and it contains some interesting mediaeval brickwork. The city is in the Anglican diocese of York and the Roman Catholic diocese of Middlesborough.

Although Hull's importance as a fishing port has been drastically eroded, it does remain a very busy port handling both freight and ferry services and, in addition, has a large marina in the centre of the city for leisure craft. Exploiting its prime position at the centre of transport links, the city offers great shopping and leisure facilities which are part of an on-going process of development and regeneration programmes.

Culturally, Hull has a lot to offfer the visitor. You can visit the birthplace of William Wilberforce, the anti-slavery campaigner, whose house is dedicated to a museum of his life and work. The 'Arctic Corsair' is a deep sea trawler that has been converted into a museum dedicated to the story of Hull's fishing industry. Other art galleries and museums, all well worth a visit, include, The Hull & East Riding museum which houses the 'Hasholme Logboat', the Streetlife Museum of Transport, the Ferens Art Gallery, the Maritime Museum, the Spurn Lightship, and the 'Deep', a Millennium Project which is a fantatic underwater aquarium designed as a tourist attraction and a centre of marine research. It is housed in an iconic, modern building designed by the architect Sir Terry Farrell. Music plays an important part in Hull's modern-day life with classical concerts by prestigious orchestras and choirs. Popular music is a part of the lively nightlife scene to be found and enjoyed in the city.

Getting to Hull couldn't be easier ........... by train or road it is easily accessible from all the major cities and is truly the gateway to northern Europe.