Heritage Open Days

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Picturing The Past

Heritage Open Days Thursday 6 – Sunday 16 September 2018 Barton upon Humber Guide


Picturing the Past

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elcome to Barton upon Humber, and your guide to Heritage Open Days, taking place from Thursday 6 - Sunday 16 September 2018.

Each year, Heritage Open Days is an opportunity to celebrate Barton’s best-loved treasures and hidden gems, with events and activities for all the family to enjoy. This year’s theme is “Picturing the Past”, and we’re offering a special insight into some of the historic buildings that shape the past, present and future of our town. With exclusive guided tours, theatrical performances, art exhibitions and even a hearty Lincolnshire afternoon tea, there are 90 events happening over 11 days, so come and experience as many as possible! Within this brochure, you’ll find details of all the events taking place, contact details and a map to plan your route. Also included is some extra information about each of the venues participating in this year’s Heritage Open Days, and influential people who have had significant impact on the town over the years. Use this guide to get the most from the Festival and keep it to visit many of the venues at other times in the year. We encourage you to walk, wherever possible, between venues to fully experience the heritage offering of our market town. Stroll along the High Street and visit our independent shops and eateries, look out for plaques marking important historic buildings, and walk in the footsteps of notable figures that once called Barton upon Humber their home. There’s so much to discover, with 11 days and 18 different venues to explore. Come and celebrate the rich and diverse heritage of Barton upon Humber! Some events require booking in advance, which is clearly marked on the relevant listings. Most events are free of charge although some do incur a small fee.

We would like to thank David Lund, Michael Lee of David Lee Photography and Jo Marwood for supplying photographs for this brochure. This is a partnership project managed by The Ropewalk and Wilderspin National School Museum, and funded by Heritage Lottery Fund.


EVents Applegate House Experience an air raid! Sunday 9 and Sunday 16 September, 10.00am - 3.00pm, and Tuesday 11, Thursday 13 and Saturday 15 September, 1.00pm 4.00pm Take a trip underground, and explore one of the lastremaining public air raid shelters in Barton upon Humber, built during World War II in the grounds of this former school. Booking not required - just turn up!

Bardney Hall Lincolnshire afternoon tea and guided tour Sunday 9 and Sunday 16 September, 2.00pm - 6.00pm Explore the historic and beautiful Bardney Hall and grounds, once the site of Bardney Abbey rectory, the Lincolnshire monastery that owned much of the town during the Middle Ages. Now a boutique bed and breakfast, enjoy a guided tour of the spectacular house and grounds, and a luxurious Lincolnshire afternoon tea with prosecco! Afternoon tea with tour is available every hour from 2.00pm - 6.00pm, priced at ÂŁ13 per person. Booking is essential on 01652 638188.

BarDneY Hall


BaYsgarth ParK Gates

Barton Cemetery Natural heritage guided walk Wednesday 12 September, 6.15pm Like most British civil cemeteries, Barton Cemetery was a product of the Burial Acts of the 1850s, which set out to deal with the problem of “over-full” churchyards. The original part of Barton Cemetery, with its chapels of rest, cemetery-man’s house and quality planting, is a fine example of Victorian public investment as well as being a pleasant green space today. Meet local historian Richard Clarke at the west gate of Barton Cemetery for a guided evening walk. Booking is advised on 01652 635172

Baysgarth House Museum A portrait of Barton upon Humber’s industrial past Thursday 13 - Sunday 16 September, 12.00pm - 4.00pm (tours at 1.00pm and 3.00pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday) Come and explore Barton’s industrial past with a temporary exhibition, guided tour and talk revealing how Barton became the town it is today. Catch a glimpse of life “behind the scenes” at Baysgarth House with a special tour of the museum! Booking for the tours is required as numbers are limited, on 01652 637568 or email info@champltd.org to reserve your place.


Baysgarth Park Guided walk Saturday 15 September, 11.00am and 2.00pm A guided walk of Baysgarth Park, the former parkland and gardens of Baysgarth House. The estate belonged to the Nelthorpe family (1620 1792) and the house is now a museum, where the walk commences. Car parking and public toilets are available. Booking is advised on 01652 635172.

The Beck Guided talk with Richard Chadd, Environment Agency Tuesday 11 September, 11.00am The Beck is an artesian spring-fed pond that sits between the churches of St. Mary’s and St. Peter’s, and is said to have been used by St. Chad for baptisms. Barton Civic Society’s Beck SubCommittee has worked to transform the Beck, and after several years of planning and fundraising there is now a permanent pond, seating and paving. The Environment Agency’s Richard Chadd will be delivering a talk about the artesian springs and the restoration of the site. Booking is advised on 01652 635172.

BaYsgarth House Museum


HumBer BriDge

Far Ings National Nature Reserve Guided walk Saturday 8 September, 11.00am Join the team at Far Ings to explore the industrial heritage of the site and how this has transformed into a haven for wildlife. Meet at the Visitor Centre (parking available on site). Places are limited, so booking is required on 01652 637055 or email faringscentre@lincstrust.co.uk

Humber Bridge Exclusive Tour Friday 7 September, 9.15am, 10.30am and 11.45am (above tours) and 1.30pm, 2.45pm and 4.00pm (below tours) At 37 years of age, the Grade 1 listed Humber Bridge is an iconic landmark admired across the globe. Many cross it by road and foot every day, but few people have witnessed the spectacular views from the top of the Bridge towers or the amazing sights beneath the Bridge deck and in the anchorage. 2018 will see the Humber launched their Heritage Open Days with 2 exclusive tours, “Above” and “Below”. “Above” will give visitors the chance to witness the spectacular views of our region from the top of the Humber Bridge. “Below” will take visitors deep into the belly of the Humber Bridge, walking inside the road deck and down into the anchorage in an experience that will be like walking onto a film set. Places are limited to 12 per tour, so booking is essential via the Humber Bridge Tourist Information Centre on 01482 640852. Due to safety restrictions the tour can only be undertaken by 18 years+ and individuals capable of climbing ladders of up to 6 metres.


Joseph Wright Hall Up in the Gallery Friday 7 September, 7.30pm £6.50 (adults), £5.00 (children/concessions)

Joseph Wright Hall Barton Town Band talk Friday 14 September, 7.30pm £2.00 per person

Enjoy the thrills of Victorian music hall theatre in our “eclectic, energetic and effervescent” variety show, certain to entertain and keep you smiling! Although not essential, the audience is encouraged to wear Victorian attire! Please note our Victorian theatre is accessible by stairs only. Booking is essential on 01652 635172, or pop into Wilderspin National School Museum from Thursday - Sunday, 10.00am - 4.00pm.

Barton Town Band is one of the oldest organisations in Barton, originating in the mid-Victorian era. Jonathan Evison, its present chairman, tells the story of Barton Town Band from its beginnings as the Ropery Band in 1873 to its Championship status in 2011. Booking not required - just turn up!

Joseph Wright Hall “Welcome to Barton” with Barton upon Humber Civic Society Saturday 8 September, 10.00am - 4.00pm An exhibition created by Barton upon Humber Civic Society of reflective stories of newcomers to the town. Why do people choose to move to Barton, what were their first impressions, lasting memories and special places? Booking not required - just turn up!

Joseph Wright Hall Open for viewing Thursday 13 - Sunday 16 September, 11.00am - 3.00pm This huge and ornate chapel opened in 1867, and originally had seating for 600 people. The chapel was one of renowned architect Joseph Wright’s most impressive buildings and is now one of his last surviving works. Most of the gallery, ceiling and organ chamber arch plasterwork, and virtually all of the beautiful windows, survive. The first-floor gallery of this Grade II-listed building is open for viewing. Booking not required - just turn up!

JosePh Wright Hall


ProViDence House

Providence House Local history display Thursday 6 - Friday 7, Tuesday 11 and Thursday 13 - Friday 14 September, 9.30am - 5.00pm Saturday 8 and Saturday 15 September, 9.00am - 1.00pm Monday 10 September, 9.30am - 6.00pm Wednesday 12 September, 9.30am - 2.00pm Barton’s Library was once a home for a family of philanthropists, a refuge for orphans after the war and a scene for the grisliest of deaths! Delve into the past with a display of local history books, and unseen photographs from the archive. Booking not required - just turn up!

Ropery Hall Films from the archive Thursday 6 September, 7.30pm A selection of short films and archive footage, uncovering the evolving industrial heritage of Barton upon Humber and the surrounding Lincolnshire landscape. Booking not required - just turn up!

Ropery Hall Heritage book fair Saturday 15 September, 10.00am - 4.00pm A programme of talks by local authors and historians, with heritage book stalls and refreshments. A chance to delve into the fascinating history of Barton with other enthusiasts, and build your collection of local texts! Booking not required - just turn up!


The Ropewalk Artists’ exhibitions Thursday 6 - Sunday 16 September, 10.00am - 5.00pm (Sundays 10.00am - 4.00pm)

The Ropewalk Miniature woven landscapes Wednesday 12 September, 6.30pm - 8.30pm £1.50 per person

Gallery One - A Lincolnshire Landscape An exhibition of artwork from members of the children’s art charity ST-ART, a weekly group based at The Ropewalk. The exhibition follows a visit to historic Thornton Abbey, where the young people developed drawing and observation techniques, and is an exploration of the local landscape from a young person’s perspective.

Explore ancient weaving techniques with children’s art charity ST-ART, and our weekly Art Club! Create your own ready-framed miniature woven landscape in textiles, taking inspiration from the Lincolnshire countryside, using various yarns and fabrics. For young people aged 7-19 years. Booking is essential on 01652 660380.

Artspace - Melvyn Petterson: Recent Work Hainton-based printmaker Melvyn showcases a collection of etching and drypoint prints made from his observations of the landscape. His work often centres on the drama played out in nature, from fleeting moments captured as a dark cloud threatens, to a sudden burst of sunlight or a moody sky against snow-covered fields. Booking not required - just turn up!

The Ropewalk Traditional etching with the Ropewalk Printmakers Wednesday 12 September, 2.00pm - 4.00pm

The Ropewalk Guided tour Thursday 13 September, 3.00pm and Sunday 16 September, 11.00am Join Liz Bennet, Managing Director of The Ropewalk, for an exclusive guided tour through this historic building. Hear the stories of how Hall’s Ropery began on the Maltkiln Road site, the expansion of the rope making trade, and its eventual closure and re-purpose as a regionally-acclaimed arts centre. Walk through this iconic quarter-of-a-mile long building, and finish the tour in Ropery Hall with an illustrated talk on the recent past of the site. Booking is essential on 01652 660380.

Join the Ropewalk Printmakers for a demonstration of traditional etching on copper, and try your hand at making a press print using images of local historic landmarks as your inspiration! Booking is essential on 01652 660380.

The RoPeWalK


St. Peter’s Church

St. Peter’s Church Open for viewing and guided tour Sunday 9 and Sunday 16 September, 10.00am - 3.00pm (tour 11.00am) This famous Anglo-Saxon tower, and medieval nave and chancel, are archaeological and architectural treasures. Admission is free by kind permission of English Heritage, and local historian Geoff Bryant will be offering a fascinating guided tour uncovering the stories of this historic church. Booking is essential on 01652 635172.

The Old Tile Works “Ted Lewis and the Riverbank” exhibition Thursday 6 - Sunday 16 September, 9.00am - 4.00pm An exhibition of the life, art and times of Ted Lewis (1940 - 1982), the Barton-based novelist attributed as the father of criminal noir writing - the seminal film “Get Carter”, starring Michael Caine, sealed his reputation. Photographs and text from his youth with the “Riverbank Boys”, adventuring on the open spaces and declining industrial landscape of the South Humber bank, to his career as a writer, artist and musician. Booking not required - just turn up!

The Old Tile Works Guided walk along the “Ted Lewis Trail” Sunday 16 September, 10.30am - 12.00pm A guided walk along the Ted Lewis Trail, conducted by one of his biographers and Barton friends. The two-mile trail will include where the “Riverbank Boys” adventured, Ted’s first home in Barton where he painted his famous oil painting of the Humber bank, and his later family home which featured in two novels. Booking is advised on 01652 661823.


Trinity Methodist Church Coffee Morning and Guided Tour Saturday 8 and Saturday 15 September, 10.00am - 12.00pm (tour 11.00am) Visit the historic Trinity Methodist Church for a guided tour, a display of archive photographs, and a celebration of the heritage of Methodism in Lincolnshire and beyond. Join us for our coffee morning and sample home-made produce in this historic building! Booking not required - just turn up!

Trinity Methodist Church Open for viewing Sunday 9 and Sunday 16 September, 2.30pm - 4.30pm Thursday 13 and Friday 14 September, 12.00pm - 3.00pm (tour 1.00pm) Visit the historic Trinity Methodist Church to view a display of archive photographs, explore the building and see a sculpture of Christ made by Barton sculptor, singer and choirmaster Philip Pape. Booking not required - just turn up!

Trinity Methodist Church Special Sunday service Sunday 16 September, 6.00pm A special Sunday service celebrating the heritage of Methodism and John Wesley, including many of his hymns. Booking not required - just turn up!

TrinitY MethoDist ChaPel


TYrWhitt Hall

Tyrwhitt Hall Open for viewing and guided tour Sunday 8 and Sunday 16 September, 1.30pm - 4.00pm (tour 2.00pm) A rare opportunity to view the medieval timberframed Great Hall in one of Barton’s most historic buildings, associated with Barton sculptor, singer and choirmaster Philip Pape. Join local historian Richard Clarke for a guided tour and insight into the heritage of this building. Booking is essential on 01652 635172

Waters’ Edge Visitor Centre The Road to Waters’ Edge Thursday 6 - Sunday 16 September, 9.00am - 5.00pm (Saturdays and Sundays 10.00 - 5.00pm) An exploration of the history of the Waters’ Edge site from the 18th Century to the present day, including the lengthy processes required to make the site the haven for wildlife that we see today. Malt kilns have been present on the site since the 18th Century, and the area was excavated for clay for use in the manufacture of bricks and tiles. From the 1950s to the 1980s, the site was used for the manufacture of a range of fertilisers, using animal waste and agrochemicals. The legacy of this was heavy pollution, with many contaminants such as heavy metals, acids and ammonia left in the ground. When North Lincolnshire Council inherited the site in 1996, work commenced to decontaminate the area and convert it into a country park. Booking not required - just turn up!


Wilderspin National School Museum Art on the Railings with Jon Dent Saturday 8 September, 1.00pm - 4.00pm £4.00 per person Join this session for young artists of all abilities to work with local artist Jon Dent, painting images of Barton’s historic buildings. Working in the Wilderspin Art Group’s painting studio, using professional-quality materials including acrylic paints, and with Jon’s expert tuition and support, you’ll create a wonderful picture which will be exhibited the following week. Booking not required - just turn up!

Wilderspin National School Museum Art on the Railings Exhibition Saturday 15 September, 11.00am - 4.00pm An exhibition of paintings by young people in the town, capturing a range of Barton’s historic buildings. Tutor and local artist Jon Dent will be on hand, accompanied by members of the Wilderspin Art Group, and a panel of judges will award a “Best in Show” prize. Booking not required - just turn up!

Wilderspin National School Museum The Camera Never Lies Saturday 15 September, 1.00pm - 3.00pm £3.00 (trail only), £5.00 (trail and dressingup activity with photograph) Travel back in time and follow the family trail to meet the Victorians of Queen Street, including an Artist in Light who will take your portrait photograph! Booking not required - just turn up!

WilDersPin National School Museum


MAP

KEY APPLEGATE HOUSE

PROVIDENCE HOUSE

BARDNEY HALL

THE ROPEWALK/ ROPERY HALL

BARTON CEMETERY

ST.PETER’S CHURCH

BAYSGARTH HOUSE MUSEUM/BAYSGARTH PARK

OLD TILE WORKS

THE BECK

TRINITY METHODIST CHURCH

FAR INGS NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE

TYRWHITT HALL

HUMBER BRIDGE

WATERS’ EDGE VISITOR CENTRE

JOSEPH WRIGHT HALL/ WILDERSPIN NATIONAL SCHOOL MUSEUM


Venue

Historical Information Baysgarth House Museum Baysgarth House is a Grade II-listed building, and adjacent to the property are Grade II-listed gate piers in an 18th century style, topped by a lion and a unicorn. An ancestral home to the Nelthorpe family, who owned the house between 1620 and 1792, Baysgarth House changed hands frequently until 1889 when it was bought by barrister Robert Wright Taylor, whose father, Robert, had lived at New Hall on Newport. The heir of the house, Lieut. George Robert Marmaduke Stanbury Taylor, was killed in a gas attack while serving with the Royal Field Artillery at Passchendaele. On the death of Wright Taylor in 1929, Baysgarth was inherited by his daughter Clare Ermyntrude Magdalen Wright Ramsden (née Taylor) who, being married and settled in Norfolk, gave the house to the town in 1930. After the house was gifted to Barton Urban District Council it saw a range of uses. In 1940 an Air Raid Precaution (ARP) Officer was stationed in the house, and an ambulance service operated from the site. Following the war, it became part of the Barton Grammar School, with the School Chair still present in the parlour. Council Offices were located in Baysgarth from 1960-1997, with a museum opening in the building in 1981. This museum was taken on by CHAMP (Community, Heritage, Arts and Media Project) in 2004 after the council closed the building. Today, Baysgarth House Museum celebrates the lives

of local people through permanent and temporary exhibitions and projects, and hosts its own collection as part of the North Lincolnshire Museum Service’s archives.

site was sold to Bridon PLC, who soon announced the closure of the site in December 1989.

Hall’s Barton Ropery

Samuel Wilderspin (1791 - 1866), one of the founding fathers of modern schooling, had a profound impact on educational practice and the design and furnishing of schools and their grounds. He specialised in the youngest age group, from 18 months to seven years, and was especially concerned with education for the poor. He became best-known for his pioneering work on infant schools, but his innovations gradually transformed schooling for children of all ages.

Hall’s Ropery dates back to 1767 when the Halls, a wealthy ship-owning family from Hull, first became involved in rope making in Barton as the town already had a workforce of skilled dressers, spinners and rope makers. Ropemaking on the Maltkiln Road site is believed to have begun in 1800 when Thomas Hall and his son William bought land to the east of Barton Haven, and buildings, including the characteristic “ropewalk”, were constructed. Thomas’s eldest son, John, began the development of ropemaking in earnest after the business was transferred to him around 1802 and the works steadily expanded. His son, John Edward, continued the expansion of Hall’s Ropery but the company suffered with the advent of steam fishing, so it was reborn in 1890 as Hall’s Barton Ropery Ltd. with the works extended to meet the war-time demands between 1914 and 1918. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the company’s export trade was vigorously pursued with “Hall-Mark” ropes being supplied around the world. With the advance of new technology in plastics in the 1950s, the works began producing ropes from synthetic fibres and continued throughout the 1960s and 1970s to make both synthetic and natural fibre ropes. In 1986, Hall’s Barton Ropery was bought by Bridport Gundry who continued making rope until 1989 when the

Wilderspin National School

After many years spent travelling and promoting infant schooling throughout Britain and Ireland, Wilderspin moved to Barton and created his own model infant school on Queen Street, which was built in 1844. He was the first superintendent of the infant school, and taught here with his wife and daughter, as well as training teachers and nursery governesses, and using it as a base for his promotion of enlightened education throughout Britain. The school, a Grade II*-listed building, closed in 1978 and fell into disrepair. Restoration of the School was completed in 2009, and it now stands as a celebration of the life and work of Samuel Wilderspin. It has been identified by English Heritage as “one of the most important schools in England”, firstly for its unique links with the leading educational pioneer Samuel Wilderspin, and secondly for its importance as a design for other Victorian schools and a model example of an enlightened

form of schooling that spread throughout the world. Wilderspin National School is the only place in the world where a Wilderspin school building and playground survive, making it a place of national and international importance. Joseph Wright Hall The foundation stone for the former Queen Street Primitive Methodist Chapel was laid in April 1867, and the chapel was opened later the same year to replace an earlier chapel of 1838 in Newport. Barton upon Humber fell within the Hull District at the time, one of the leading areas for Primitive Methodism in the country. This huge and ornate Primitive Methodist Chapel was opened in 1867, and originally had seating for 600 people. The Chapel was designed by architect Joseph Wright of Hull (1818 – 1885), who designed more than 20 chapels in the region. At a cost of £1,500 to build, this was one of his most impressive buildings, and is among the last surviving examples of his work today. The building ceased to be used by the Methodists in 1961 and subsequently became the Salvation Army Citadel in 1965. The interior of the main hall was substantially redesigned by the insertion of a floor at gallery level, the removal of the ground floor pews and alterations to the frontage. Most of the gallery, together with virtually all the beautiful windows and the plasterwork to the ceiling and organ chamber arch, survive.


St. Peter’s Church

Barton Cemetery

St. Peter’s Church can trace its history back more than 1,000 years and is one of the most studied churches in England. The stone church visible today was first built in about 970, and has distinctive Saxon features. Around the time of the Domesday Book, the tower was heightened with a new belfry that survives today, whilst various phases of building continued over the next four centuries with notable features including the rare, early14th century Crucifixion window above a side altar, and a series of carved portrait heads, grotesques and Green Men among lush foliage. By the mid-16th century, St. Peter’s had grown to six times the size of the original Saxon church.

Barton Cemetery was a product of the series of Burial Acts of the 1850s, which set out to deal with the problem of ‘over-full’ churchyards. In November 1866, the Burial Board gained a loan of £3,000 from the Public Works Loan Commissioners for the creation of a cemetery on the Barrow Road site. By early 1867, Bellamy and Hardy of Lincoln had been appointed architects and surveyors for the scheme, and A. Swanson, gardener of Barton, had been contracted to plough, harrow and grass seed the 4.5 acre site. He was also to plant trees, shrubs and plants as prescribed by the architects, maintain them for a year, dig out existing hedgerows and reduce the bank beside the road.

In 1819, St. Peter’s was the first building in England to be identified as Anglo-Saxon, by Thomas Rickman, the historian who defined the various styles of Saxon, Norman and Gothic architecture.

An early photograph of Barrow Road shows it to have been a sunken, leafy country lane. The site for the cemetery was on gently sloping land leading down to the estuary warplands, therefore some embanking was needed which is still evident today. The site was divided into rectangular blocks, some being consecrated by the Bishops of Lincoln to accommodate the then requirements of the Established Church, whilst the unconsecrated land was often preferred by the Non-conformists. Gradually, burial became less denominational although a Catholic area remains today. Unusually, Barton cemetery has no specific area to accommodate the preferences of ethnic minorities. As was usual in cemetery design, the site was to have three buildings; a cemetery man’s Lodge with a range of outbuildings including a Registrar’s Office, Chapels of Rest and a Dead House. Although the Dead House no longer exists, the ‘Lodge’ remains in good condition,

St. Peter’s became redundant in 1972, passing into public guardianship in 1978. From 1978 until 1984 a major programme of excavation and survey was instituted, exploring the church and its churchyard, which means that St. Peter’s is now the most intensively-studied and recorded parish church in the country. It is home to more than 2,800 burials dating from Anglo-Saxon to Victorian times, and remains from these burials (about a quarter of those estimated to lie here) have yielded important information on early medical practice, as well as the history of diseases such as arthritis.

retaining most of its original features, and the Chapels of Rest also remain, although no longer serving their original purpose.

of the ponds and an area of native woodland was created, with the first part of the country park opening to the public in 2003.

Waters’ Edge

A design competition was launched to develop an innovative, sustainable green building on the site to act as a centre for visitors to the park and also to house local businesses. The winning design was from Gerard Bareham Architects of Leeds and was opened three years later in 2006.

Between the early 19th century and mid-20th century, the site on which Waters’ Edge stands was quarried for brick and tile clay. In 1955, the last brick works were demolished, although the clay quarries to the south of the brick works are still in existence today. The remains of a number of the quarries can be seen in the form of fresh water reedbeds. The quarries located to the west of the works were filled in and later built upon. Other industries associated with the area and the site before 1874 include rope making, malt kilns and fertiliser production. By the 1950s, a large factory was wellestablished on the site, making fertilisers from animal waste. The process had advanced and the factory was an established chemical plant with facilities to make acids. Unfortunately, these fertiliser materials and the associated chemicals contaminated the site. The site was bought by Glanford Borough Council from BritAg (a subsidiary of ICI) in 1989 and MTM in 1995. North Lincolnshire Council inherited the site from Glanford Borough Council in 1996, and work soon began to convert the site to a country park. The old contaminated soil was stripped back, layer by layer. It was moved in convoys of lorries off site and buried in a secure site. The ponds were excavated, and local topsoil from the nearby Far Ings National Nature Reserve was brought in. Thousands of reeds were hand-planted along the banks

Far Ings National Nature Reserve For centuries, the thick layer of clay which borders the Humber Estuary has been used to make tiles, bricks and cement. The tile yards on the Far Ings site were abandoned in the 1950s, leaving the pits to fill naturally with water. “Ings” is an old English word for the wet pastures to the west of Barton which, before embankment, were part of the Humber flood plain. In the late 19th century there were 15 brick and tile yards; hundreds of men were employed to dig the clay by hand. Supplies of clay began to run out during the early 20th century when many yards were abandoned, including those on the Far Ings site. The clay workings soon filled with water and were colonised by reed and willow, forming a haven for many wildflowers, insects and birds. In 1983, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust acquired the 100 acres of old pits which now form the Far Ings National Nature Reserve.


In the 1980s the reeds in the old clay pits were thick and dense, and the booming call of the bittern was just a dream. Over the years, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust has developed the techniques of reedbed management to dramatic effect. Bitterns, kingfishers, water voles and an array of other wildlife can now be seen at Far Ings National Nature Reserve. Applegate House Applegate House has long been renowned for offering support services to the local community, including once operating as the Lindsey County Council Welfare Centre from 1933, and subsequently as an antenatal and postnatal clinic for the new mothers of Barton. During World War II, many households received Anderson Shelters, but an additional 12 public air raid shelters were built around the town, including one in the grounds of Applegate House. This public shelter has two separate entrances/exits, and survives in its entirety today – the only publicly-accessible shelter remaining in the town.

Land was purchased and a Chapel built on the present site on Chapel Lane, opening in 1816 with a register of only 46 members. By 1839, the number had increased to 200 members, with an additional 700 “ hearers”, and the Chapel had to be enlarged. Two years later, more land was purchased, with vestries, Sunday school rooms and classrooms being built. A new organ was installed in 1841, and in 1846 the chapel was registered for solemnizing marriages. In late 1859, the Trustees considered the need for further enlargement of the building and decided that a rebuild was the only option. On May 22 1860, demolition was complete and the foundation stones were formally laid for the new building. Five months later the Chapel was ready, and the official opening, marked by the delivery of sermons by popular preachers, was held during the first few days of 1861. Further significant demolition and building work occurred in 1905 when the Lecture Hall and other rooms were built as a red-brick extension, and the premises took their present form.

Trinity Methodist Church

Blyth’s Tile Yard

There are records of a Wesleyan Society in Barton-uponHumber dating back to 1760, when they were meeting at a house on King Street. In 1788, land was purchased in Cottage Lane and a building erected, but as the Society grew, so did the need for larger premises.

William Blyth’s Tile Yard is one of the few remaining tile works in the UK still using traditional production methods. Blyth’s Tile Yard began operations in 1840, and was one of 13 tile works in Barton by the late-19th century. The tile industry flourished in the area thanks to the rich source of clay along the banks of the River Humber that was ideal for making tiles and bricks. The

industry was particularly prosperous after 1850 when the Brick Tax was abolished. Blyth’s Tile Yard has been a key player in the UK’s construction industry throughout its history, with many roofs across the country, particularly in London, being built with tiles from this yard. Many of the workers in the industry lived in cottages built in the yards, of which one pair still remains. The remaining ponds, marking the pits from which the clay was extracted, are evidence of its former importance to the economy of the town. Now known as The Old Tile Works, tile production continues on this site today, and uses the same traditional clay and firing techniques to produce a variety of colours and textures to the tiles. The Humber Bridge A bridge was originally proposed by Hull City Council in 1920, but due to lack of funding and a strong petition by the Farmers’ Company of Barton, the proposal was denied. Had the proposal gone through, the view of the River Humber would be very different. In fact, a range of proposals had been made that could have changed the history of the river, including a railway bridge, toll bridge, road tunnels and railway tunnels. Approval for the construction of a suspension bridge was granted in 1959 with the passing of the Humber Bridge Act and the creation of the Humber Bridge Board, although it was not until 1973 that work finally began on this iconic structure.

There were two reasons why a suspension bridge was chosen. Firstly, because of the geology and topography of the area, the cost of constructing a tunnel would have been excessive. Secondly, the River Humber has a shifting bed, causing navigational problems for vessels. This necessitated a wide, unobstructed path to be maintained across the channel, which could only be achieved via a suspension design. The bridge first opened to traffic on June 24, 1981 and was official opened by Her Majesty The Queen on July 17, 1981. Bardney Hall Bardney Hall is a fine Queen Anne house in Barton upon Humber, built in the early 1700s for William Gildas as a private residence. Located on the corner of Whitecross Street, Preston Lane and Caistor Road, opposite to Baysgarth Park, it stands on the site of Bardney Abbey Rectory, the Lincolnshire monastery owning much of Barton during the middle ages and reputed to have a secret passage to Thornton Abbey. The Hall has many fine architectural features which reflect the town’s growing prosperity during the 18th Century. This Grade II-listed property features a wealth of original and period features including stunning fireplaces, Ionic capitals and pillars, wooden panelling, sash windows and beautifully-proportioned rooms.


Set in superbly-landscaped grounds within the conservation area of Barton upon Humber, Bardney Hall is mentioned in Pevsner’s architectural guides.

Following the closure of the orphanage, Providence House was used as an annex to a local school, and now operates as a library and adult education centre.

At one time used as a Rosminian Sisters church school, the adjoining St. Augustine Webster church stands within its former grounds. Bardney Hall has recently been refurbished to an exceptionally high standard, and currently runs as a high-end boutique Bed and Breakfast.

Tyrwhitt Hall

Providence House

Its north wing is a magnificent timber-framed open hall while the south wing, built of a combination of chalk, brick and heavy timber framing contains the chambers, or private rooms, used by the household.

Providence House was designed and built in a heavy neo-classical style in 1854, by D.W. Ashton of Hull, for Thomas Tombleson, one of the largest land owners in the parish. The building sits in large gardens, and after it ceased to be a family home it was used as an orphanage run by the National Children’s Home. In 1922, orphan Sidney Conway, who lived at Providence House, fell into a bath of hot water and was badly burned; four days later, he finally died from pain and shock. There have been numerous reports of strange happenings in Providence House, including revolving book stands and the sounds of a child’s cry.

Tyrwhitt Hall is a Grade II-listed building, late medieval in origin and extended and altered in the 17th and 18th centuries and later, and is one of the oldest surviving buildings in Barton.

Tyrwhitt Hall is also connected to Philip Pape, a local sculptor, letterer, singer and choirmaster who lived and worked here between 1960 and 1982. During the 1960s, Pape was also a tutor at the Grimsby Art School. Several of his works can be seen in Barton, including a carved bust of Christ in the Trinity Methodist Church, and a carved notice board at the entrance to St. Mary’s Church.

The Beck

St. Mary’s Church

The Beck is an artesian spring-fed pond that sits between the churches of St. Mary’s and St. Peter’s, and is said to have been used by St. Chad for baptisms. The Beck has been the centre of debate throughout its history and a major concern for Barton Civic Society. In the early 1970s, The Beck was very dry in the summer months and many were concerned that the artesian springs would not flow again. A plan was drawn up to encourage water retention within the Beck that included ideas proposed by Chad Varah and Phillip Pape.

St. Mary’s Church was originally built as a chapel-of-ease to St. Peter’s Church, and the Norman Chapel was began by Gilbert de Gaunt and finished by his son Walter. Described as the Chapel of All Saints, it was again altered in 1248 with the removal of the nave altar, and it was rededicated in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In 1979, the local council was considering various courses of action with respect to the Beck. The pond was empty in the summer months and considered unsightly. However, before any work could be undertaken, the Beck’s springs returned with great force in the early months of 1980, causing a severe flooding risk to local housing. Water had to be pumped out of the Beck at great speed, into the sewer at Beck Hill. The amount of water being pumped out of the Beck at this time was up to 2,600 gallons per minute; equal to around 23,640 bottles of water! Barton Civic Society and North Lincolnshire Council have an ongoing initiative to restore the Beck, and create a feature that benefits the town.

Before the end of the Middle Ages, a churchyard had been enclosed and during the 12th and 13th centuries aisles were added, and the west tower was built. More building work continued during the 14th and 15th centuries resulting in it being along the same scale as its neighbour, St. Peter’s. St Mary’s has very little stained glass; the east window does contain a composite panel of fragments of medieval glass and was built around 1300. This was altered when the clerestory was built, and was then restored in 2001. The current organ in St. Mary’s was built in 1898 and was moved from St. Peter’s Church in 1973. St. Mary’s Church has eight bells; four of these were cast in 1946, and the other four are from the 17th century.


Discover Barton’s Hidden History With our free smartphone app for guided walks, photos and historic video footage. Barton’s InDustrial HistorY/other Venues to eXPlore While you’re visiting the fascinating town of Bartonupon-Humber during Heritage Open Days, don’t forget to explore some of the other heritage destinations on offer. Many of the town’s historic buildings and businesses have been repurposed, but are still remembered with blue plaques awarded from the Barton-upon-Humber Civic Society, and also detailed in the Hidden History app. Barton Cycle Works Barton Cycle Works was founded by Fred Hopper in 1898. Hopper began trading in bicycles in the 1880s, opening his own shop and initially offering repair services for local businesses, before moving onto cycle sales and repairs. Hopper eventually sold his business and moved to a factory on Butts Road, which became one of the most prominent business ventures in the town’s history. The factory employed upwards of 700 people and was one of the largest cycle works in the world.

Place. It is rumoured that one of the sails fell off around 1868, and subsequently a gas engine was installed to drive the workings. Until this point, the mill was a chalk (whiting) mill. Barton Ferry The earliest crossings between Barton and Hull linked the road from London to Beverley and York. A ferry was established in 1315 to run from Hull to Lincolnshire and back, charging tolls for the King’s use on pedestrians, horsemen, carts and animals. It became known as the South Ferry from the middle of the century. During the 17th century, the efficiency of the ferry was frequently criticised. The lease changed hands often, the rent rose, and in 1656 fares were increased for the first time. There was friction btween the lessees and the private boatmen who carried passengers, and rivalry between the crews of the Hull and Barton boats.

Barton has long been home to a thriving milling industry, with two mills noted as far back as the Domesday Book. Additional mills were constructed over the centuries and by the 1600s there were five mills, three powered by wind and two by water.

By 1800, the ferry had become fully-integrated into the overland transport system, but changes associated with the Industrial Revolution were soon to threaten its position. Increased traffic encouraged rival ferries to be established, notably between Hull and New Holland where the crossing was shortest. These new services began in 1826, and the original crossing between Hull and Barton closed in 1851 due to the increased competition.

King’s Garth Mill was traditionally wind-powered, but was also converted to run on steam or oil power. Built in 1803, it towers over the centre of Barton’s Market

The ferry between Hull and New Holland continued to operate until the day of the opening of the Humber Bridge in June 1981.

King’s Garth Mill

Scan the QR code to download the app or visit: hiddenhistory.org.uk/barton or search “Hidden History Barton” in your app store


Famous Bartonians Dr Chad Varah, CH CBE Chad Varah was born in Barton upon Humber on 12 November 1911. He was the eldest son of Canon Edward William Varah, Vicar of Barton and Canon of Lincoln Cathedral.

From humble beginnings, Samaritans has developed a reputation for providing support around the clock, every single day of the year, to anyone who is struggling to cope. The service is offered by 20,000 volunteers and there are 201 dedicated Samaritans branches around the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Following education at Worksop College, Nottinghamshire, and Oxford University, Henry Treece Chad followed in his father’s footsteps and was ordained a priest in 1936, serving Henry Treece (1911 – 1966) was a his curacy at St. Giles, Lincoln. poet, author, editor and teacher, bestknown for his historical novels. Moving It was while he was in Lincoln that he to Lincolnshire in 1939 with his new first became aware of the issue of suicide, wife, Mary Woodman, Henry taught at when he conducted the funeral service for Barton-upon-Humber Grammar School a young girl who had taken her own life. and lived at East Acridge House. From 1938 to 1953, Chad Varah served as a vicar in Putney, Barrow in Furness, During World War II, Henry left his Blackburn and Clapham Junction, and teaching post to join the Royal Air he always made a point of supporting Force Volunteer Reserves. He was an young members of his congregations, Intelligence Officer, serving for a time so they would not feel isolated, alone or at RAF Dunholme Lodge, where he desperate. also developed a reputation for creating caricatures of Station personnel using In 1953, shortly following his charcoal! appointment at St. Stephen Walbrook in London, Chad developed the idea of After the war, Henry resumed his a compassionate, confidential telephone teaching and writing career, also making service for those in need of support. broadcasts on BBC radio. In 1959, ill On 2 November that year, he answered health forced him to retire from his post what was to become the first call to as senior English master at Barton-uponSamaritans. Humber Grammar School, and he died of a heart attack in 1966. There was demand for the confidential listening and support service, and Sir Isaac Pitman Chad quickly realised the value of the volunteers around him, who he personally Sir Isaac Pitman was inventor of the trained. The first Samaritans branch was globally-renowned system of shorthand founded at St. Stephen Walbrook.

that carries his name, and head of the world’s first remote learning course. His novel form of quick, phonetic writing gave transcribers, note-takers, interviewers and journalists everywhere the ability to write faster than they ever had before. This increased the speed at which they could do their jobs and totally modernised the media and legal systems worldwide, as well as many administrative jobs. It was in Barton-upon-Humber where Isaac’s teaching ability was first cultivated, when he became the first Master of the Barton Free Charity School at the tender age of 19, earning £70 a year. He married Mary Holgate, a widow, in 1835 and lived for a short time at Laurel House on Whitecross Street before moving to Wotton-under-Edge in Gloucestershire a year later. He was respected in the town for the same reasons that he would come to be revered in later life because he was a gifted educator and a dedicated innovator who worked hard for what he believed in. He received a knighthood in 1894, and a respected place in history after his death in 1897, with a memorial plaque in Bath Abbey surmising: “His aims were steadfast, his mind original, his work prodigious, the achievement world-wide. His life was ordered in service to God and duty to man”. Samuel Wilderspin Samuel Wilderspin (1791-1866), one of

the founding fathers of modern schooling, had a profound impact on educational practice and the design and furnishing of schools and their grounds.

Born Alfred Edward Lewis – Ted to his friends – in Manchester in 1940, he moved to Barton-upon-Humber with his family when he was seven years old. Ted spent much of his childhood with a group of friends, calling themselves the “Riverbank Boys” and adventuring along the Humber Bank and in the North Lincolnshire countryside.

He specialised in the youngest age group, from 18 months to seven years, and was especially concerned with education for the poor. He became best-known for his pioneering work on infant schools, but his innovations gradually transformed Ted was taught by Henry Treece at schooling for children of all ages. Barton-upon-Humber Grammar School, who encouraged Ted to pursue his Wilderspin first developed the school creative talents in writing and art. After playground and new ways of teaching four years spent at Hull Art School, that still continue today. His influence where he also played the piano in local was international – as well as having a jazz bands, Ted relocated to London major impact in the British Isles, many to work in advertising, and then as an of the first infant schools in Europe, the animation specialist. It was here that he Commonwealth and the Americas were contributed to the animated Beatles film all modelled on his system. Yellow Submarine, before moving into a career in writing. After several years spent travelling and promoting infant schooling throughout Following his debut novel, All the Way Britain and Ireland, Wilderspin moved Home and All the Night Through, Ted to Barton-upon-Humber and created began writing crime fiction with Jack’s his own model Infant School at Queen Return Home. This was subsequently Street. He was the first superintendent of renamed Get Carter after the success of the Infant School, and taught here with the film bearing the same name, which his wife and daughter, as well as training starred Michael Caine and pushed Ted’s teachers and nursery governesses, and novel into the best-seller list. Despite the using it as a base for his promotion fame afforded from Get Carter, coupled of enlightened education throughout with other successes including writing several episodes for the television Britain. series Z-Cars, Ted returned to North Lincolnshire in 1980 to live with his Ted Lewis mother in Scunthorpe, and he died only Ted Lewis is widely recognised as the two years later at the age of 42. father of British crime noir and had nine novels published in his lifetime.

Philip Pape Philip Pape was a sculptor, lecturer and tutor at Grimsby Art School, singer and choirmaster, who lived and worked in Barton-upon-Humber from 1960 – 1982. He trained in his father’s craft of stonemasonry, but progressed into making a number of artistic sculptures which can still be viewed around the region. These include a stone bust of Christ on display at the Trinity Methodist Church on Holydyke, and a carved noticeboard at the entrance to St. Mary’s Church on Burgate. Philip starting sculpting during WWII, and created many pieces for schools across Lincolnshire. Living at Tyrwhitt Hall, one of the oldest residences in Barton-upon-Humber, Philip began a process of restoration in the property, and coupled this with hosting art exhibitions there. Ken Harrison Ken Harrison is an artist, renowned for drawing Desperate Dan for The Dandy from 1983 – 2007. Ken has also drawn a number of other characters for different comics, including Lord Snooty for The Beano and The Broons for The Sunday Post. Ken lives in Barton-upon-Humber, and although he has since retired from professional drawing, continues to support local events celebrating the history of the comic.


Venue ADDresses APPLEGATE HOUSE 50 HolYDYKe, Dn18 5PP BARDNEY HALL Whitecross Street, Dn18 5Df BARTON CEMETERY BarroW RoaD, Dn19 7eB THE BECK BecK Hill Dn18 5hQ FAR INGS NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE Far Ings RoaD, Dn18 6ah HUMBER BRIDGE HumBer BriDge RoaD, FerriBY RoaD, Hessle, Hu13 0Jg JOSEPH WRIGHT HALL/WILDERSPIN NATIONAL SCHOOL MUSEUM Queen Street, Dn18 5QP PROVIDENCE HOUSE HolYDYKe, Dn18 5Pr THE ROPEWALK MaltKiln RoaD, Dn18 5Jt ST.PETER’S CHURCH BecK Hill, Dn18 5eX OLD TILE WORKS Far Ings RoaD, Dn18 5rf TRINITY METHODIST CHURCH 10 HolYDYKe, Dn18 5Ps TYRWHITT HALL BecK Hill, Dn18 5eY WATERS’ EDGE VISITOR CENTRE MaltKin RoaD, Dn18 5Jr


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