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Memories of North Hull Estate (Part 2 - Endyke Lane)

by HarryDownes about 1 year ago in North Hull Estate
Last updated 11 days ago.

Backin 1951,I always found Endyke Lane to be the main place for interest and entertainment,with a good selection of shops stretching some 300yards from The Endyke Pub to Gladstones Fishmongers near Ellerburn Ave corner.About equi-distance between the two,there was a small department store( similar to Woolies) called Dewhursts.It sold practically everything from household items to ladies and gents clothes. As money was quite tight in those days,people could make a purchase with a Clubcard and pay it off at a few bob a week without any interest added.What surprised me was when a payment was made, the amount was deducted from the card occasionally in pencil and initialed by the girl in the Pay Kiosk. This system could have been easily abused but never was.My parents bought most of my clothes from there,so I was never without my Khaki shorts and elastic snake belts.

The Endyke Pub gave a great service to the community throughout the Fifties. Every year,they had a family trip to the coast-Brid one year and Withernsea the next. On the day of the trip, it was an impressive sight with about 12 coaches spread out along Endyke Lane covered in balloons and streamers, Each kid got a packed lunch and 12 bob spending money. Every coach boot was packed with crates of Hull Brewey mild and bitter in case of emergency. Everybody preferred going to Withernsea in those days, as strangely enough no kids ever got lost there and it was just as easy finding your parents in the Spread Eagle singing their hearts out.Once they had a few pints down them,that was the time to tap them for more money. On the return journey,we were treated to Endyke’s version of David Whitfield,Johnny Ray and Slim Whitman sound alikes. With Mother on accordian and Dad on mandolin,there was no stopping them.By the time we got home,I must have been the only 8year old that new the words to Rose Marie and China Doll backwards. My Grandparents were regulars at the Endyke during and after the war.Grandad told me this fascinating story about the night they left the Endyke during an Air-Raid. On the way back to 33rd Avenue, he heard a whooshing sound in the sky. As it was a blackout they could’nt see anything. but he told the others that was the sound of a parachute-mine coming down.Granny said ."No,it is only a train going through Cottingham!" Seconds later they heard this enormous explosion some distance away.The following day,they discovered that the Rent Office on Greenwood Avenue had been hit and totally demolished. When they went to the Endyke at night they found it full of regulars celebrating the demise of the Rent Office and applauding the accuracy of the German pilot.

Next to the Endyke was the Rex Cinema,which provided years of wonderful entertainment and enjoyment for all the people on North Hull Estate. Built in 1932, it was an impressive but somewhat ugly building at first sight. Every Thursday night(Pay night), my father took me there on the crossbar of his bike,left it outside without a security chain and it was still there when we came out. The Saturday morning matinees(ABC Minors) gave 2 hours of wonderful entertainment for thr princely sum of 6 pence. On your birthdays, they gave you a free ticket for the following Saturday’s show.Needless to say, I had about six birthdays in the year.

Further down to the east, we come to the Endyke Club, which was another hugely popular watering hole. Back in those days they had a prolific Racing Pidgeon Section which had great reputation in the homing world. Two of my relatives were involved and i was amazed at the prize money that could be won. Back in 1967,I took my wife to Endyke Club for the first time,hoping to impress her.When I got to the bar,there was only a bottle of Whiskey and one bottle of Gin on display. I asked the bar-maid for a Bacardi and Coke and she replied, " What the hells that?" Having told my wife that it was a classy place,she was’nt very impressed but she settled for her first pint of Moors and Robson’s which she thoroughly enjoyed. Little and Large was on the stage that night. This was before they hit the big time and they were a Country & Western duo. They were a straight act,no comedy but my wife thought they were funny. Years later when they become big as comedians on T.V. she didn’t they they were funny at all.

At the Beverley Road end of Endyke Lane we have the Cross keys Hotel which as always been one of the better pubs in Hull Then we have Endike School a combined junior and infant school for 400 was opened in 1932 and formed two separate depts. in 1938 when a junior block was erected. A senior dept. for 520 boys was added in 1937 and this became Endike High Sch. after 1945. This school always had a good reputation and seemed to excel especially on the sports field. Back in the late 50’s and 60’s they had an exceptional rugby league team which had players like Jim and Alf Macklin,Joe Brown,Nick Trotter,to name but a few. All went on to play for Hull FC. There could be a lot more to say about Endyke Lane but it is one area of Hull that I always found fascinating. Now I’m retired I have time to sit back and reflect. It would be interesting to hear other views posted as I am sure there is much more to be said.

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HarryDownes Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

There used to a collection of Prefabs on Endike Lane near the corner of Ellerburn Avenue.I would be interested to hear from anyone that used live in them.There is very little information written down about life in the Prefabs and how people felt when they had to leave them. Any information at all, would be greatly appreciated.
frosty Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Gee Harry you have wonderful tales to tell, if my memory server,s me right the Hessle Road slum clearence started in the 50s and people were put into prefab,s in nth Hull estate and were like fish out of water, they had lived on Hessle road all their live,s and had to go all that way to Nth Hull. Have heard tales of folk putting coal in the bath becauce they did,nt have a coalhouse!!Happy Days.Bye the way Harry is Moors and Robsons still on the go?
HarryDownes Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Hello again Frosty- Good to hear from you again.Yes- a lot of families moved to the Prefabs and many of them loved living in them.Some were reluctant to leave them when the demolition order came in.

I remember one of my friends lived in one on Endyke Lane and his family were happy there,but as they had only two bedrooms,life was a bit cramped.Their living room ceiling used to flap up and down in the high winds,but it did’nt worry them,although the noise used to annoy them if they were listening to the Goon Show.

You were asking about Moors & Robsons Frosty- You must have been in Oz for a long time,because they stopped brewing in the 70’s(I think). I’m sure they were taken over by Bass Brewers. Fosters is a big seller over her now.
HarryDownes Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Frosty- The family I knew in the Prefab never used coal,preferring to use Paraffin Stoves in each room. The Aladdin Paraffin Stove was used quite a lot in many homes on North Hull Estate.By Heck-they used to stink the house out and the fumes always guaranteed a good nights sleep. The instructions were to adjust the wick until you saw a blue flame. If it had a tinge of yellow you were gradually shortening your life.
HarryDownes Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Not forgetting-Bom Bom Bom Bom-Esso Blue!
HarryDownes Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Frosty- Bath time was also another problem,as most Prefabs and houses were without a proper bathroom. Bath time for me was the old zinc bath in the kitchen. Mother used to boil up two or three pans of water to take the chill off. I am sure she used to put in a handful of OMO washing powder,as when I came out all my freckles had gone!
frosty Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

WOW Harry those old bath,s were something else gee Friday was bath night if remember rightly and if you had a few brother,s and sister,s the water used to get a bit grimey and cold.As a kid i used to go to Albert Ave baths and i think folk would go to the slipper baths or something for a good scrub.Those paraffin heater,s were something to behold !! they did work but the aroma was very strong to say the least. Pity about M R a good drop although it will be soon 40yrs since i had the pleasure about two bob a pint! i paid i think
KenStarkey Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Think your wrong there HD about prefabs having no bathrooms. That was the whole idea of the prefab, a two bedroomed modern house with bathroom, toilet & kitchen that could be erected much quicker than traditional housing.

I always looked forward to visiting my Auntie Mary And Uncle Tom who had a prefab down Coronation Rd. in west Hull. As a kid I thought it was like stepping into a space ship it was so ‘modern’. The fitted kitchen had cupboards with metal doors with pressed ventilation louvres and chrome ‘D’ handles. There was also the luxury of a fridge, can still remember getting the ice cubes out of the aluminium tray and dropping them in my orangeade after a game of cricket in the big garden. In the front room was a coal stove with doors and an all night burner grate which meant you didn’t have to light the fire every morrning as you did in our house on North Hull. By, those winter mornings!

Where I live now in London there’s a big estate of prefabs just down the road that the council want to redevelop but a lot of the residents want to keep them as they’ve lived in them since they were erected. Good luck to them but I’m sure the prefabs will go eventually, just hope someone has the wit to keep one and put it in a museum somewhere, I’d love to see my ‘spaceship’ kitchen again!
HarryDownes Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Thanks for that mine of information Ken-All these years I thought we had the better of the deal in our traditional house.No wonder they did’nt want to move out.

The house I lived in 6th Avenue,was cold all year round and you will probably remember the huge larder adjoined to the kitchen. The toilet was isolated, seperated from the kitchen by the rear porch entrence,The toilet was baltic in the winter and not a place to hang about in.The slippery toilet paper or Hull Daily Mail cut out squares did nothing to relieve the agony.
KenStarkey Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

We lived in 8th. Ave. and Harry, you just reminded me of that winter dash across the porch to the lav. Dad eventually fitted a porch door, remember distinctly him wheeling the door home on the pedal of his bike. His generation were very good at ‘acquiring’ items from around the estate, I supposed the army honed those sort of skills for most Dads. Once it was fitted it was quite cosy in there especially with the little paraffin greenhouse heater going, sometimes warmer than the house itself. I do remember the larder with a window onto the passage and there was also the coal cupboard under the stairs which we used until we got a coal bunker outside. Remember Mr. Lazenby the coalman and Mr. Sudren the milkman?
HarryDownes Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

I don’t remember those two Ken, but I certainly remember Mr Rout pushing his three wheeled Wall’s Icecream barrow.

The kids from 8th and 12th Ave were a rotten lot!I woke up early on the 5th of November only to find that they had stole all the wood from our bonfire-done the night before and planned with military precision!. Is’nt it strange how you remember unimportant things that don’t matter.My Dad used to tell me that there is 3 important things you must do when you get old. The first one is don’t lose your memory!- the other two I can’t remember.
KenStarkey Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Certainly remember ‘Routy’ with his cry of ‘WALLSIES’ usually prefixed by nearby kids shouting ‘What killed the cat?’

Another strange sight on the streets of NHE was ‘Roundabout Man’. He used to have a horse drawn trailer which had items from fairground rides on it,not really a roundabout, but for a tanner you could clamber aboard and he’d take you two or three streets and then you’d have to get off and walk back home, could never see the point of it myself! The bloke always wore a trilby and lived in one of those ‘flat top’ houses near Holmsies on Orchard Park.

Harry, it’s funny you should mention bonfire wood nicking, our gang in 8th. always knew it was your lot in 6th who used to raid our meagre pile! Collecting started just after we went back to school after the never ending six week summer holiday as I remember. Ireland’s paper shop always carried a good range of fireworks, the 1d. banger was always popular but my favourite was the 2d. cannon from Standard Fireworks. The game was to stick some clay round the bottom ,light it and when it started fizzing drop it off Greenwood Ave. bridge, it would either go off with a mighty echoing bang or if it hit the water there be plop with bubbles rising. Think we always expected a U-Boat to surface and surrender at this point!

Simpler pleasures in those sunlit days.
HarryDownes Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Ken – Yes, I must hold my hand up to being a major player in the ‘Bonfire Wars’ Most of the plotting was carried out in the Air Raid Shelter at the back of our house in 6th Ave. The spoils of war were hidden behind the shelter until the big night.The two of our most devious plotters were Dave T and Arthur B who are now in Toronto- and you know them well. The night before the 5th, we used to Lugg all the wood,paper,cardboard over to the green area on 12th Ave,as it was the only place suitable for a big fire. Is’nt it strange how you can remember in fine detail of events that happenened over 50years ago and yet you struggle to remember the Pythagorus Theorum
KenStarkey Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Never mind ancient Greeks Harry, I struggle to remember where one of my three pairs of reading specs might be yet I can still remember choosing to go to see ‘Davey Crockett’ at the new ‘Cecil’ cinema rather than the Duke of Edinburugh who was officially opening the Princess Elizabeth playing field that same Saturday afternoon!

Just on the subject of 12th. Ave oval, when they built on it with a small estate of bungalows my Mam who’d lived in our house down 8th. for nearly 60 years got so fed up with the riff raff who were being moved in around her applied for one and was successful then my Aunty moved in next door after leaving her flat in Homethorpe flats, another Hell hole!
KenStarkey Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Bit of a postscript here, During the intermission of ‘Davey Crockett’ there was a personal appearance of Billy Panama-European yo-yo Champion. His yo-yo’s were 2/6 and the special replacement strings a shilling which we thought a bit steep!
HarryDownes Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Ken- I see what you mean about the new bungalows on 12 th Ave. I had a look on Google Earth (see pic).

I remember that Yo Yo chap coming to the Rex Cinema. Of course,typical kid,I wanted one. My Dad,who was with me,was’nt impressed and said,"Don’t waste your money on that rubbish-here is some money,spend it on something useful". I took his advice and later I bought 2 sticks of Spanish and 2p Tin Peashooter.

The Davy Crockett film started a fad for Davy Crockett hats and the HDMail reported there was a lot of cats going missing in Hull(enough said!)

Going back to porches-I used to regularly visit my grandparents in 33rd Ave. My Grandfather’s porch was always full of dead chickens and rabbits hanging on hooks on the ceiling He was a retired Butcher but still made a useful living selling to neighbours and regulars in the Endyke Pub. I was quite used to seeing him plucking feathers in the kitchen and singeing them with a lit taper. He had a proper butchers chopping table in the kitchen and one day,without warning he picked up alive chicken and chopped its head off. I was amazed when he put it down to see it running around the floor headless.He then put the axe in my hand and invited to have a go with the next chicken. I think he wanted to see my reaction- well he certainly got it. I dropped the axe and bolted out the back door and ran back to 6th in next to no time!. My Grand dad said years later that he had watched me disappear up the street and had never seen a kid run so fast.
JamieGreen Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Dear Harry Downes,

I was born in a prefab on Endike Lane in 1949 and went to Endike Infant and Junior School. I lived in the prefab until I went to Leeds University in 1970 and my mother lived in the prefab several years after that. As a young kid, life was good in the prefabs, a strong community spirit and lots of kids my age to play with. I remember the Queen’s coronation and a street party held furhter down the road, guess I was about 2 then.

I only learned how stigmatised prefab kids where when I went to Hull Grammar at age 11 and there I rapidly learned I was the equivalent of what the Americans now call "Trailer Trash." It was a harsh lesson in life!

You asked about what it was like in the prefabs – as post war temporary housing (that ended up not so temporary) I think you could say they were well equipped. A kitchen with a belfast sink, a gas cooker and a gas fridge. A lounge with a tiny coal fire. A hallway that led into two bedrooms with a toilet at the end of the hallway and a bathroom with bath and handbasin. The prefabs had large windows and the walls were thin, so it was cold in the winter. Our prefab was pebble-dashed, not all were. There was quite a large garden that backed on the Hull University’s sports ground and I used to watch people run around the running track from our garden. It was a tough area for kids to grow up in. Frequent fights with the kids from 7th Avenue I remember. Freedom came with a bicycle and I discovered the centre of Hull, particularly the docks. I remember I used to cycle to Spurn and back, sometimes to Bridlington. I also went to the Rex nearly every Saturday morning. Was the ABC minors or something? Remember Faulstons the Butchers (started smoking when I was 13, there was an off-licence next to Faulstons where I bought cigarettes), Dewhursts, and opened my first bank account with the Trustee Savings Bank. I can’t remember any of the other shops. My Grandparents lived down Oldstead Avenue, which was like visiting another world for people living on Endike Lane. Attended Endike Methodist.

Unfortunately, I have no photos from my early days there, they all got lost with time as I have travelled a lot. I left the UK as a young man and lived in S. America, France, Mozambique and now live in Denmark.

If there is something more you would like to know about prefab life, let me know.
HarryDownes Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

JamieGreen-Thanks for your comments Jamie.Your information on the Prefabs was just what I was looking for.The Prefabs as I remember stretched along the southside of Endike Lane from near Ellerburn Avenue and as far down as near the corner of Cranbrook Avenue.I was born in 1944 but lived in 21st Avenue in 1958,near the corner of Ellerburn Ave.(house highlighted with an arrow in the top lefthand corner of the attached photo)

The photo shows the private houses which have replaced thr Prefabs.The photo also highlights a number of cricket pitches on the Hull University sports ground.Back in the 1950’s I went to High School for Building ( later Sir Christopher Wren Tech) in Osborne St. I used to train on the very same grounds with HSB’s football team.At the same time the Newland High School girls used to play Hockey on the next pitch-very distracting!

Interesting to note that we lived quite near each other, a matter of a few yards and our paths never crossed.I too left the city in 1965,working in Scotland and have lived there ever since. But as you may have noticed in my previous posts,I have fond memories of Hull and I am sure you have as well

Ps Jamie do you remember what year the Prefabs were demolished?
JamieGreen Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Hi Harry,

Sorry, I’m not sure of the exact date they were demolished. My mother moved out in the mid 70’s. I would be interested to know how long they were up too!

Sure I have fond memories of Hull; I guess as you grow older one gets somewhat nostalgic about one’s roots. I also have very fond memories of the girls at Newlands High School – Oh, those formative years! For a dare, a mate and I walked into their school grounds and stood chatting to the girls for a full 30 minutes before we were spotted and and sent packing. We were heros after that and both ended up with our first ever girl friends – although my romance only lasted three days; the girl was called Moira and I thought she was very posh because she lived in Cottingham and her Dad had a car.

Do you remember the TA barracks at the top of Endike Lane near Beverley Road? When I was nine, I went past once and there was a tank parked there. I stood looking at it for ages. I used to hang around watching the soldiers and was often told to **ger off. Undeterred, I ended up spending 23 years in the Army.

Other memories? Drewery’s bakers, a rag and bone man who came round with a horse and cart, falling into Barmston drain and nearly drowning in the reeds, Snedons Newsagents (another source of fags, the barbers shop on Ingelmire Ave, cycling down Greenwood Ave and dropping bangers in peoples’ dustbins,Susan from Marlborough Ave who gave me the first really interesting biology lesson, and being smacked across the ear by a policeman for cycling on the pavement.

Halcyon days…
HarryDownes Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Hello again Jamie- I remember the TA barracks well enough with the high fence and barbed wire.I never saw much activity there.The trolley bus terminus was at the same corner and I used to have a nose to see what was going on,but nothing except for a couple of armoured cars.When I was in my teens I joined the TA at Wenlock Barracks on Anlaby Road and went to a camp in South Wales for a fortnight.The place was called Penally Camp,near Manorbier and Tenby.Fired my first 303 rifle there and frightened the life out of me with the kick that it had.A few months later I was on my way to Scotland and have been there ever since.

Your memories reflect some of my own,exploring the countryside around NHE.We would think nothing of walking great distances,such as 6th ave to East Park via Sutton Road. Pearson Park and Cotty Park were also favourites.Thumbing lifts to Beverley and the Westwood was a regular jaunt.It would be too risky for kids to do that nowadays.When you think back,there was few facilities on the estate,but it did’nt matter, you found your own fun.You never thought of damaging peoples property or any form of vandalism,but raiding orchards was done with military precision, or stuffing as many Goosegobs(Gooseberries) in your pockets.Remember one time being caught by a policeman in Beverley for ‘chudding’.With about thirty apples stuffed down my jumper,the bulge was obvious.He made me take them back.The ladyowner took half of them and put the rest in a bag for myself.She said,next time if I want apples,don’t steal them, just knock on the door and she would give me some.

Being smacked across the ear by a policeman for riding your bike on the pavement seems a bit severe,but if Susan was giving you a bio-lesson on the crossbar,I’m not surprised.

Best regards-Harry
KenStarkey Submitted about 1 year ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Remember being taken to Endike TA barracks by my sister to see a parade because the lad who played the big drum in the band was a neighbour. I was very impressed because he wore the leopard skin tabard and the leopard’s head was resting on the top of the drum. Was even more impreessed when an armoured car pulled in off Bev. Rd. and it was exactly the same as my Dinky toy model only a bit bigger!
tigerlilly Submitted about 1 month ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Oh Harry what wonderful memories you`ve brought back for me. I was born in 25th ave almost opposite the prefabs on endyke. It was my grandparents house and I think we lived there for about 18months because of the housing shortage. My Mum worked in the office at Dewhirst for years. They also had branches on Hessle road and Holderness road. Eventually we rented the flat above the Holderness road shop. The endyke branch was enormous to me as a child and because Mum worked there I got to know all the staff. I well remember Peter Crane, the manager and Mr & Mrs Hudson who owned it. My grandma`s friend lived in one of the prefabs and I played with her daughter. When my daughter first went to Winifred Holtby on bransholme, one of the first girls she met turned out to be this girls daughter. Small world. I remember my auntie Barbara taking me to a small fair at the bottom of York road when I was about five. That would have been 1959/60. There were a lot of her friends with us, both boys and girls and I remember feeling very important because the boys took me on the rides and gave me piggy backs. They would have been about 14 or 15 but I don`t think they complained about me tagging on. Oh I got go on for ever. Thanks for bringing these memories back.
HarryDownes Submitted about 1 month ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Thanks Tigerlilly-I enjoyed reading your comments and you obviously have fond memories of living on NHE all those years ago.Dewhirst’s was the nearest shop that compares to Boyes for size and saleable items they had to offer. I often wondered what happened to the company or why they ceased to trade or who bought them over.Do you remember the vacuum tube money system they had in the store.When you made a purchase,they put your money in a tube shaped canister,then fired it through tubular piping at high speed and it went whizzing through the store,up walls and along the ceiling,finally ending up in the cash office some distance away. After a minute or so,your change and receipt was returned to you by the same cannister and the loud noise’‘KERR-CHUNK’ as it hit the buffers.

You certainly jogged my memory when you mentioned the small fair at the end of York Road- a small plot of waste land adjoined to Orchard Park Road.From there on it was all countryside- No Dane Park or Orchard Park Estate then!. Further along the Gypsies used to park their caravans at certain times throughout the year. I’m sure you will agree Tigerlilly,the changes in that area as we knew it are enormous.It was good to hear from you-regards Harry.
tigerlilly Submitted about 1 month ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Hi Harry, I forgot to mention there is an old Hull prefab on display at the Eden Camp museum near Pickering.Now that will bring the memories back!
barrow Submitted about 1 month ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

I went to Endike Lane infants and junior school in the 50’s and lived on Silverdale Road.I do remember the fun fair on York Road,and the few shops at the top of Ellerburn Av.Friend of mine called Richardson lived in a flat top house there.Orchard Park Road was a county lane to us and my and my pal used to bike all over,including a disused farm on West Carr Lane,and the Even Fraser Hospital site nearby.Watched many planes on fire at Sutton Airfield with its big hanger. Always cycled to school(Kelvin Hall) along Endike Lane past the Rex,but saw the yo yo man at the ABC in Hull on the saturday morning mat/And yes,I had a Davy Crocket hat made out of fur.We also made bogies out of wood and old bike wheels which we bought from the chap on Beverley Road who had a mountain of scrap outside.Had some friends in prefabs on Sutton Road which the 19 bus went to,always a single decker AEC,and the first in Hull to be driver pay as you enter bus service.Sad to say that we went along Greenwood Av a few years ago and stopped at the off licence.It had floor to ceiling glass walls with the drinks beyond and a small serving hatch because of all the shoplifters.How times have changed,but happy memories of that area.And we played along the banks of the River Hull,and often walked to East Park.Simple then and no yobs or any bother.Nice post,unlike some today on You Say today.Best wishes to you all.Ian
HarryDownes Submitted about 1 month ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Barrow-Thanks for your comments Ian.It’s strange how most of the posters comments reflect on the 50’s/60’s era and how good life was at that time,leaving memories forever etched on your mind.I missed out on going to Endike School because the Downes family moved to Longhill in 1955 and was one of the first kids to walk through the doors at the newly-opened East Mount High(now closed),The family returned to North Hull(21st Ave)-4 years later and the good life continued.Good neighbours and plenty of characters.I wrote another ‘Memories’post about a character who was a conducter on the No.15 bus(nick-named ‘Hotlips’).Over the year,the post brought many interesting replies,but the HDM thought fit to delete it.Most annoying,considering the time and effort put in compiling the story plus all the contributions made by all the posters.Nevermind-I still keep in touch with old mates that went to Endike School and now live in Canada.They still harp on about the good old days on NHE and who am I to argue with them.
EnidGreenwood Submitted about 1 month ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Hello Harry My late husband’s family owned Dewhirst Brothers store on Endike Lane and other streets in Hull. I cannot find a photo or information about them. I remember my mother in law getting us some pillow cases from there before we were married. At that time she ran the businesses. This was just after the war and they were on dockets. Any information about these stores and tneir jewellers in Bridlington would be appreciated.
HarryDownes Submitted about 1 month ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

EnidGreenwood- Your comments makes the post even more worthwhile considering the part Dewhirsts played in the local history of North Hull Estate.The popularity of the Store on Endike Lane was enormous as they always gave quality service and provided good value and a wide range of goods for sale.

I’ve already mentioned the Club Card they operated,which was a fore-runner before Hire Purchase was introduced.People on low incomes were able to buy at Dewhirsts without running into debt,paying small affordable sums back over a few months.No interest was added and you paid back at cost price.

I am not surprised that you cannot find photos or information re Dewhirsts.There was very little in the way of advertising in those days and view people owned a luxury item such as a camera, Its possible that a company the size of Dewhirsts would have advertised in the Hull Daily Mail.They may have photos and information in their archives-it could be worth contacting them and make an enquiry.

Its disappointing that Dewhirsts have disappeared into the mists of time,but it would be interesting to find out exactly what happened to the company.Hopefully,someone will be able provide that information
barrow Submitted about 1 month ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Just a note about the pariffin heater.My local doctor was Dr.Sutton whose practice was in his house on Beverley Road near Strathmore Ave.The waiting room had a pariffin heater in the middle and many people smoked.If you did not have a bad chest when you went in,you did when you walked out!
tigerlilly Submitted about 1 month ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Enid Greenwood. I mentioned in an earlier post that my Mum worked in the office at Dewhirst Bros. Although she was based at the Endike lane branch she often helped out in other branches aswell. She always told me she loved going to the Hessle road store because the customers were really friendly. At stock taking time Mum would help at the Bridlington branch. When I was about two Mum and Dad rented the flat above the Holderness road shop and my first memories are of that time. I remember the wicket gate to the side which was how we got to the entrance to the flat. I always thought it was secret door. I also remember we had mice in the flat and had my finger caught by a trap my parents had `hidden` under my bed. The shop and flat were sandwiched between the library and the Ambassador club and Mum and Dad would dance in the enormous bathroom to the bands that played at the club. We would often pop into the shop to see the staff and they would let me play shop. The counters were glass topped and fronted with drawers in holding handkerchiefs and underwear. I would `serve` imaginary customers. I still think that it was here that I got my love of retail work. I wish I had photographs and will ask dad if they have any tucked away anywhere although I doubt it.
EnidGreenwood Submitted about 1 month ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Valerie Barnaby nee Dewhirst who laterly ran the Dewhirst Brothers business is still alive aged 94 and very clever with her hands. She still paints and does beautiful embroidery. My mother in law was Marjorie Greenwood and she ran the business before this until she became ill. I would love to know if your father has any photos.
tigerlilly Submitted about 1 month ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

I will ask Enid. So who were the Hudsons, were they managers? I also remember Peter Crane who I think was possibly a floor manager.
EnidGreenwood Submitted about 1 month ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

I think Mr Hudson was the company secretary. I will ask Val. i haven’t heard of Peter Crane.
EnidGreenwood Submitted about 1 month ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

I have phoned Val Barnaby nee Dewhirst and she says the reason they closed was because people started going to the larger shops in the city centre. She was interestede in what you have both said. She confirmed that Mr Hudson was the company secretary and Peter Crane was the manager of Endike Lane shop. She has asked me to find out about the firm of Barnaby buses on Hessle Road. It was her late husban’s firm. Her memory is amazing for her age.
tigerlilly Submitted about 1 month ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

It is sad when independent stores close like that. As I said I have very fond memories of Dewhirst. Mum would have very interested to hear this information but unfortunately she has alzheimers now. I will have a word with Dad though and have a rake through his photograph collection. I will post back if I find anything.
HarryDownes Submitted about 1 month ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

EnidGreenwood-Very interesting comments above by you and tigerlilly.At least now I know what happened to the Company.Please pass on my respects to Val Barnaby and tell her that there are still many people in North Hull who remember Dewhirsts for all the right reasons,creating a lasting impression which has not been forgotten in time and who still greatly appreciate the wonderful service they provided to their customers all those years ago.
GeorgeGoodison Submitted 14 days ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

G,day Harry, your name rings a bell,and so did you at 21st Ave junior boys school I believe. Fantastic to read your memories of NHE along with the other guys. I remember great times and happy fun hours on the edge of a council estate, so close to fields and fields of adventure and the great Barmy Drain, with Hayworth Hall full of 17th century mystery for our young wild minds. The wonderful characters live on for me even at this sad time when "Gorden Brown" PM is making an apology for the stolen generation (Our Generation Harry) Georgie Warvill sat next to me at 21st school, and vanished. Mr Francis told me he had gone to Australia . Life was a dream really for us so called baby boomers with the times changing so rapidly,considering our elder siblings I remember walking all the way to Sutton Aerodrome to play in the old Spitfires and Wellington Bombers, careful to allude the guards , great fun, priceless. Football on 12th Ave oval, that went all day with 15 a side starring Norman Flynn. Delivering papers for Mrs Hatt with Dave Rothery and on Sat nights 37th Ave Comm for rock n roll disco. Yes Harry Magic Hours. The characters were just great, the Sawdens on Orchard Park, The Staves family on 34th, and the very versatile Roy Atkinson, a true friend of all. Happy hours alright in Greenwood and Endike, a pint with Geoff Owen and Norman Ingram in Lord Nelson. I now live in Brisbane Qld. and relive those wonderful years over and over, so thanks for the memories Harry and just keep them coming
HarryDownes Submitted 14 days ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

GeorgeGoodison-Thanks for your comments George and as you may know,your not a stranger to me as your older brother John told me in recent e-mails that you were living in OZ.I remember you as ‘Goody’in those days and as you know our days at ‘Greenhuts’ generated numerous friends to the point that you knew kids from every street over the whole area of North Hull Estate from Endike to Orchard Park and the borders of Cotty and Beverley Road.You mentioned Geoff Owens and he and his brother Albert lived only 50 yards away from me in 6th Avenue.I last saw them in 1955 and then our family moved to Longhill and four years later we returned to live in 21st Avenue.At least you managed a pint with Geoff-my first pint ever was in the Greenwood and after a couple of Worthington E’s I rubber-legged it down Ellerburn gathering splinters from the wooden railings all the way down to 21st Ave.I too remember Norman Ingram and believe he became Janitor at Endike School.

Its strange how you can remember life in those days in great detail. ‘Pop’ Francis the teacher at Greenhuts and Mr McDonald who looked after the football team-happy days! and loved every minute of it.Reading the Eagle,Victor and Hotspur comics in Greenwood Library and building a wooden ‘den’ at the back of it.Running errands for the old pensioners in Ada Holmes Circle,earning 2p to spend in Elsies.Long walks from 6th Ave to Sutton Airfield,Eastpark with one solitary jam-sandwich rammed in your khaki short pockets.

Most of the posters above,all speak of the good times and happiness of the environment they lived in during those days.Its difficult to find anything bad to say or maybe we were to blinkered to care.The only thing that stuck in my mind was the unsavoury scene of numerous kids and hanging round the pub doors waiting for hours for their parents to come out.If they were lucky their parents made a brief appearance,gave them enough money to buy lemonade and crisps in the off-licence at the side door and then disappeared back inside for another couple of hours.I’m surprised that all the comments for this post are from our era. It would be nice to hear from others from the 70’s until the current time and how they view life on the estate nowadays.

Like yourself George, I now live a fair distance away in Scotland,but the memories are still vivid.These freezing cold houses and sitting on a Baltic lavatory seat never did us any harm.It was only after getting flu-jabs at 65 that I got my first bout of flu. Meanwhile-take care and give my regards to your brother John
tigerlilly Submitted 11 days ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

We moved back to N.H.E in 1982. After marrying my husband we were given a house on Bransholme that had underfloor heating. It was fantastic, no more cold feet and great for drying your washing on wet days. However the electric bills were crippling so after 5 years we exchanged with a friend of a friend into Bainton grove. The end of our back garden formed the boundary with Cottingham. I had long and happy memories of NHE but these were quickly dampened when we got to know some of the neighbours. Don`t get me wrong, I made some very good friends down there, mainly among the older tenants that had lived there for donkeys years but the council began putting rougher and rougher families in. By the time we finally left in 1990 it had the reputation of being the roughest street in N.H.E. I don`t think it`ll ever be like it was in the 50`s and 60s again. Such a shame.
HarryDownes Submitted 11 days ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

Tigerlilly-Good to see a post on the 1980’s period of NHE.It is sad how things have declined badly over the years.The deterioration in family values,lack of respect for other people and their properties have wiped out most of the feelgood factor and life on most of the estates have become an existence.Nobody feels safe anymore and they have put the barriers up.Looking forward to a good night out in your local club or pub carries the risk or threat to your personal safety,or in the dark returning home.

Your quite right Tigerlilly,it is unlikely to return to what it was in the 50/60’s.I remember the street party in 6th Avenue(Coronation Year) when the street lamps were decorated with flags and buntings.Everybody brought out their kitchen tables and linked them up in the centre of the road(no cars to worry about).Music laid on from those who could play accordians,guitars and mandolins.Neighbours baked cakes and made up corned-beef sandwiches and pooled them altogether for a big feast-Unforgettable!

I can’t remember any family who could be classed as a ‘Rough Family’ or caused problems to neighbours.Any ‘fall-outs’ were minor and quickly healed.It all sounds to good to be true,but I woud’nt bother writing about it,if that was not the case.I consider myself lucky to have born in that era.

Thanks for your comments Tigerlilly,you are obviously a caring neighbour.