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Hessle Road, Hull · Our illustrated heritage
A road to remember.A story for everyone.
Beautifully illustrated stories of the people, places and working lives that make Hessle Road special. Explore the artwork, discover the history and share your own memories.
18 features to explore · New content every week
Find a story
18 illustrated stories
16 / Shops & people
Behind the Shop Counter
Explore Hessle Road shopkeepers, remembered counters and the small details of local shopping, with colourful artwork and prompts to share your memories.Explore this story ↗17 / Our people
The Women of Hessle Road
Celebrate the women of Hessle Road, from the 1968 safety campaign to shopkeeping, family life and community support. Help preserve their names and stories.Explore this story ↗18 / Skills & creativity
Made on Hessle Road
Discover a new Hessle Road feature about making, repairing and community creativity, including planned heritage gifts whose profits support Hull Creative Skills and Heritage CIC.Explore this story ↗01 / Our people
Famous Names of Hessle Road
Aviation, music, theatre, sport and community courage: remarkable lives with roots in Hessle Road and its neighbouring streets.Explore this story ↗02 / Discover the road
Ten Fascinating Facts
From an old country lane to electric trams, the Airlie Birds and the three river streets: ten ways to see Hessle Road afresh.Explore this story ↗03 / Places we remember
The Old Pubs of Hessle Road
Four familiar landmarks, each with its own character: the Vauxhall, Alexandra, Criterion and Rayners.Explore this story ↗04 / Behind the counter
Shops We Remember
Boyes, Henry Hird, Woolworths and Premier: names that bring whole shopping trips back to life.Explore this story ↗05 / Changing times
Hessle Road: Then & Now
An illustrated connection between the working road of the past and the community keeping its memories alive today.Explore this story ↗06 / Through the years
A Walk Through History
Eight selected moments, from the Vauxhall in existence by 1814 to the fishing docks, safety campaign and today’s heritage project.Explore this story ↗07 / Skilled hands
The Working Life of Hessle Road
Trawlermen, fish workers, net braiders and local trades: the skilled hands that helped build a community.Explore this story ↗08 / Community courage
The Headscarf Revolutionaries
Remembering all four women whose 1968 campaign helped secure better safety for Hull’s fishermen.Explore this story ↗New / Everyday journeys
Getting About on Hessle Road
Trams, buses, bicycles and walks: explore the journeys that connect Hessle Road memories.Explore this story ↗New / Our streets
Signs of Our Street
Familiar street names, family homes and neighbours: eight names from around the main Hessle Road.Explore this story ↗New / Your memories
In Their Own Words
Your voice, your photographs and your memories: an invitation to help tell the community’s story.Explore this story ↗New / A road full of life
A Day on Hessle Road
From opening the shops to an evening with friends: six illustrated moments of everyday life.Explore this story ↗New / Familiar landmarks
Buildings That Remain
The Vauxhall, Alexandra, Criterion and former Yorkshire Bank: four recognisable Hessle Road landmarks.Explore this story ↗New / Happy memories
Celebrations & Good Times
Family occasions, music, Christmas and pub friendships: share your happy Hessle Road memories.Explore this story ↗New / Childhood memories
Growing Up on Hessle Road
Pavement games, pocket-money sweets, bicycles and coming home for tea: childhood moments that last.Explore this story ↗
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These artworks are artistic interpretations of local heritage. Each story includes readable history, research links and notes about its illustrations.
Pub artwork uses Criterion and Rayners photo references by Bernard Sharp, Geograph, CC BY-SA 2.0; adapted as painted illustrations.
Your memory could be the next chapter
Help us keepthe stories alive.
A shop you loved. A family photograph. A working life. Your contribution can help us tell a fuller story.Share a photograph or memory ↗
All profits from project merchandise sales are reinvested in the community and community projects through Hull Creative Skills and Heritage CIC.
Our community. Our story.
HessleRoad.com is a living heritage project celebrating Hessle Road, Hull — preserving the past, recording the present and inviting everyone to contribute. New content added every week.
Explore & contributeAll 18 illustrated storiesBlack-and-white photograph galleryHistory & memoriesHeritage painting galleryShare a photograph or storyVolunteer or support the project
Part of HCSH CIC
Part of Hull Creative Skills and Heritage CIC.All sales proceeds go back into the CIC, with all profits reinvested in the community and community projects.
Based at the Vauxhall Tavern,1 Hessle Road, Hull.Visit the new CIC Heritage website ↗info@hessleroad.com
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