A Bridge Across Time

Paddle Steamer 'Lincoln Castle' in British Rail livery

FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS the River Humber has presented a barrier to be crossed, with ferries been the main way of crossing until 1981 with the construction of the Humber Bridge.

The Humber Bridge has dominated the landscape for the past 30 years and local people have perhaps begun to take it for granted.

It is also all too easy to forget the old paddle steamer ferries, which carried people across the Humber in the mid-twentieth century, particularly now that the last surviving steamer ferry in this region, the Lincoln Castle, has recently been scrapped.

The East Riding Archives and Local Studies Service, through the "Film and Sound Archive Presents…" series, will remind people how remarkable a feat it was to build the Humber Bridge, when it shows a repeat screening of ‘Crossing The Humber’ this May.

The screening will be a compilation of archive documentary footage, which looks back to the nostalgic days of the Humber ferries during the 1960s, and also at how the Humber Bridge was built.

Sam Bartle, collections officer, said:

"The plans to construct the Humber Bridge ultimately spelled the end for the ferries, which simply couldn’t compete with a faster and simpler method of getting across the river. “It was a sad loss, but the ferries and the bridge each have their place in the history of the River Humber, and our show is a nostalgic celebration of both."

‘Crossing the Humber’ will be screened on Tuesday, 24 May, at 6.30pm, in the Treasure House Education Room. Tickets are priced at £3, with booking essential as places are limited.

To reserve a seat, call (01482) 392790, or visit the archives and local studies search room at the Treasure House, Beverley.

Photo made available by kind courtesy of degakh under Creative Commons Licence : Creative Commons 2.0