Grimsby Local History Library

Grimsby Local History Library The Local History collection has a wide range of resources available to help you with your research

South Parade School, Grimsby, 1980s.North East Lincolnshire Archives Reference: 166/732/4.South Parade School – an accou...
05/06/2026

South Parade School, Grimsby, 1980s.
North East Lincolnshire Archives Reference: 166/732/4.

South Parade School – an account of the laying of the foundation stone on 5th November 1879.

The ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the new Board School in the West Marsh was performed on Wednesday afternoon by Henry Smethurst, Vice Chairman of the School Board, in the presence of a moderate concourse of spectators. The architect, Mr Charles Bell of London, was expected to be present, but he sent a telegram stating that he had accidently missed his train and couldn’t possibly arrive in time. The school is of commodious dimensions, being calculated to accommodate 750 scholars and is estimated to cost £4,800. The contractors are Riggall & Hewins of Grimsby, builders.

The Corporation Hotel, 88 Freeman Street, Grimsby, 1892.At this time the hotel was run by Henry James Curry. The pub ope...
05/06/2026

The Corporation Hotel, 88 Freeman Street, Grimsby, 1892.

At this time the hotel was run by Henry James Curry. The pub opened in September 1865.

Private Collection.

In 1883, Henry James Curry, landlord of the Corporation Hotel, made a gift of three benches to People’s Park. In September 1883, Councillor Mudd suggested in a council meeting that Curry was trying to ingratiate himself with the Mayor, Thomas Bell Keetley, and he described the gift as “A sop to the Mayor”.

Curry was very annoyed by the remark and he wrote this letter to the Grimsby News on 7th September 1883:

“Sir,
As an Englishman and a lover of justice I feel deeply hurt that my gift to the Park of three seats should have given rise to the though and expression “Has is been done for a sop?” The seats above mentioned had been ordered some time back, simply to supply a want so evident, and not to conciliate anyone. Why may not a licensed victualler be permitted to have the same disinterested feelings as any other tradesman? Greed and self-aggrandisement are not altogether confined to our own much abused calling. During the four years I have resided in Grimsby I have, I think, proved my disinterestedness, and desire to benefit the town as much as lay in my power. Do I subscribe to the Hospital for a sop? The Sailors’ Orphans for a sop? Soup Kitchen and other institutions for a sop? I think not. I should not have mentioned in any way the above facts, but the assertion made in the Council Chamber on Monday last naturally caused me some little annoyance, and I feel it to be my duty not to let it pass unnoticed. Trusting that you will kindly insert this protest against the inference that it was done for a sop.

I am, your faithfully, H J Curry.”

The lake in People's Park, Grimsby, c1905. Private Collection.Gifts to the newly opened People’s Park, 1883:“Thousands o...
05/06/2026

The lake in People's Park, Grimsby, c1905. Private Collection.

Gifts to the newly opened People’s Park, 1883:

“Thousands of people have visited the Park since the opening ceremony, and have expressed their admiration and pleasure at the progress made in the laying-out and its present appearance. Much pleasure and enjoyment have been realised from the various seats which have been presented: Councillor Southworth, six very useful seats; Mrs George Smith of Market Place, one very beautiful and substantial costly seat, which has been much admired and appreciated; Mr H J Curry of the Corporation Hotel, three useful seats; Mr George Chapman of the Lincoln Arms, three very superior seats placed near refreshment room; from Mr William Butt, smack owner, three large seats, which are very comfortable and have the Grimsby Corporation Coat of Arms cut out at the front of the back rail. Colonel Seddon JP of the Grove, Waltham, has presented two couples of very beautiful decoy ducks for the lake; James Robinson of Abbey Road, a quantity of assorted fish for the lake; and Thomas Campbell of Abbey Villa, two dozen good shrubs.”

A tram on Welholme Road, Grimsby, 1927.The turreted house named “Belvedere”, on the corner of Welholme Road and Ainslie ...
05/06/2026

A tram on Welholme Road, Grimsby, 1927.

The turreted house named “Belvedere”, on the corner of Welholme Road and Ainslie Street, can be seen in the background.

Picture kindly provided by Jill Smith.

St James' Church, Grimsby, c1910.On 2nd January 1883, the Vicar of St James’ Church, the Reverend James Peter Young, was...
05/06/2026

St James' Church, Grimsby, c1910.

On 2nd January 1883, the Vicar of St James’ Church, the Reverend James Peter Young, was married in his own parish church by his own father; his bride being True Augusta Gibson, the daughter of George Gibson, a retired bank manager who lived at 5 St James’ Terrace on Bargate.

An account of the wedding from the local press:

“The vicar of the old parish church of Grimsby, the Rev James Peter Young, was yesterday married within his own edifice to Miss True Augusta Gibson, second daughter of George Gibson Esq, of St James’ Terrace, Bargate, the late manager of the Lincoln Bank in this town. The ceremony was fixed to take place at a quarter past 11, and took place with tolerable punctuality, the wedding party being brought up to the church in three carriages, of which two (with pairs of greys) were supplied by Mr Corringham; the other, with a chestnut-coloured pair, was the private carriage of Mrs Andrew Marshall, and was courteously lent for the occasion. The passage to the church, which was laid with carpet, was lined with a pressing crowd eager to get a glimpse of the bridal party. Rows of bright-coloured bunting were stretched from tree to tree in the church-yard, whilst the venerable tower was decked with flags. The marriage ceremony was performed by the Rev Canon Young, rector of North Witham, the bridegroom’s father, assisted by the Rev H Hutchinson, the service being partly choral. The ladies of the bridal party, whose costumes were supplied by Messrs George Smith & Sons of Victoria Street, were so elegantly attired as to draw forth enthusiastic encomiums from many of the on-lookers.”

Letterhead showing The Clee Park Hotel, 1890s.From the local press, March 1882:An inquest was held at the Clee Hotel, Ne...
04/06/2026

Letterhead showing The Clee Park Hotel, 1890s.

From the local press, March 1882:

An inquest was held at the Clee Hotel, New Clee, on the body of Emma Carpenter*, 46, wife of Charles Carpenter, wheelwright. The deceased was delivered of a child on Friday morning, between 6 and 7 o’clock. Both before and after the event the deceased suffered from haemorrhage, yet no medical man was called in until near 10 o’clock, when the deceased was expiring.

The verdict of the jury was death from haemorrhage, and a rider was added at the request of the jury that the woman who had attended Mrs Carpenter – an uncertified nurse and midwife – was highly censurable for undertaking such a case. Dr Jenkinson, the doctor who was called in at the last moment, gave it as his opinion that Mrs Carpenter would have lived had she had proper attention.

* Emma Carpenter of Weelsby Street. She died on 17th March 1882.

Postcard of Cleethorpe Road, Grimsby, c1910.Eww! From the local press, October 1879:“At the Borough Police Court, George...
04/06/2026

Postcard of Cleethorpe Road, Grimsby, c1910.

Eww! From the local press, October 1879:

“At the Borough Police Court, George Robinson, bacon factor, of 89 Cleethorpe Road, was summoned for exposing bad meat for sale. Mr Mountain appeared for the prosecution and Mr Summers for the defence. Mr Mountain, in opening the case, said that the Sanitary Inspector seized 18 pieces of bacon in the defendant’s shop, which were rotten and full of maggots, and which were exposed for sale at 2d per lb. The meat was taken before the magistrates, and an order made for its destruction. It was so palpably bad that he was at a loss to understand what the defence could be. The fact of its being sold for 2d per lb spoke for itself.”

The former Spring Church on Upper Spring Street, Grimsby.It would appear that the old Spring Church may be for the chop:...
04/06/2026

The former Spring Church on Upper Spring Street, Grimsby.

It would appear that the old Spring Church may be for the chop: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/local-news/ev-charging-car-park-planned-10989377

It is very much more than a "vacant office building" and its loss would be regrettable.

The building was originally constructed as a Congregationalist Church in 1861 (the same year in which Prince Albert died and the American Civil War began). It cost approximately £3,000 to build and had seating capacity for 600 worshippers.

The building was completed in 1862 and the Hull Advertiser of 14th June 1862 reported: “The finishing stone of this pretty little church has been fixed. The edifice is now fast approaching completion. We understand that it will be opened for divine service about the middle of July.”

In 1909 the church was bought for £2,000 by Grimsby Corporation as office space and it continued to be used by administrative staff until the new Municipal Offices opened in 1941. The former church was also used as a children’s clinic and many Grimsby residents can remember having their eye tests or their jabs in the building. The building was later a Civil Defence Headquarters and then had various uses, including a snooker hall and a print works (Graphic Press).

Address

Town Hall Square
Grimsby
DN311HG

Opening Hours

Tuesday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Saturday 9am - 1pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Grimsby Local History Library posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organisation

Send a message to Grimsby Local History Library:

Shortcuts

Share

Category