A New Face to Grimsby.

After heavy overnight rain, this morning was warm and overcast. A 15 minute walk into the village where we caught the bus to Grimsby. Everybody associates Grimsby with fish and fishing as it was the largest fishing port in the world at the beginning of the 20th Century with 3 docks handling over 700 fishing boats. With the arrival of the railway in 1848 fish could be sent inland and south to Billingsgate Market greatly increasing the demand for fresh fish. It was in the 1950’s with the Icelandic “Cod Wars” that the fishing industry here collapsed putting hundreds of fisherman back ashore looking for alternative work.

The old face of Grimsby. A derelict warehouse awaiting a new lease of life.

A new use for an old barge.

Old warehouses on the inland navigation above the port of Grimsby.

Alexandra Dock lift bridge, Grimsby.

During WWII the port had a big resurgence being used by the Navy as a base for it’s Minesweepers. These days the port is renowned for the importing and exporting of Motor Vehicles. Whereas the port also used to export coal from South Yorkshire mines it now imports coal from overseas for use in the coal fired power stations around the country.

Old grain warehouse at Alexandra Dock.

A sidewinder trawler built in 1957 and fished until 1984. It was then used as an oil rig tender boat until 1992.

National Fishing Heritage Centre, Grimsby.

A fisherman's wife repairs nets in the back yard between other household chores.

In 1991 the National Fishing Heritage Centre was opened on Alexandra Dock to celebrate the work and lives of fisherman with guided tours of the largest sidewinder trawler “Ross Tiger”. The tour takes you through the crew quarters, down into the engine room and the hold where the fish was frozen and stowed. There are plenty of dioramas inside the museum depicting the lives of fisherman of the 1950’s.

Skipper standing on the bridge checking all is ship shape before sailing.

Trawlers radio room.

Trawler wheelhouse.

Memorial to Grimsby fisherman lost at sea.

Well, what have we here then!

You can even stand on the deck of a heaving trawler as the crew land the catch or in the wheel house watching the bow rise and fall against the horizon. The museum is well worth a visit and will quite easily fill in an afternoon, no trouble at all.

Taken tonight at 9.30pm. Does this mean we are going to get a sunny day tomorrow? It’s Long overdue.