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

Group photograph of a cricket team at Clee (Humberstone) Foundation School, c1890.The school song (“Sons of the School”)...
15/10/2026

Group photograph of a cricket team at Clee (Humberstone) Foundation School, c1890.

The school song (“Sons of the School”):

Some men boast of their ancient lineage,
Humberstone, none had he;
But he didn’t forget that he owed a debt
To the hamlet a mile from the sea.
Honest and brave was Matthew Humberstone;
Wealth in the end gained he;
So he founded the school under Anne’s wise rule,
And the Sons of the School are we.

Chorus:

Sons of the School, hurrah for Clee!
Here’s to the School’s prosperity!
May she shine brighter yet,
May her star never set!
Long live the school of Clee!

Some schools boast of their royal founders,
Some of their cloisters grey,
But the pious man, who the school began,
Is the pride of the school today.
Some find joy in the field of learning,
Some in the field of play:
But we’ll all be true to school we knew –
To the school that we’ll love for aye.

Chorus.

Glory’s the beacon of spirits noble,
Honour’s the prize we pursue;
And pathway to fame is playing the game
With courage and patience too.
Sons of the school that is shaping our manhood,
One with her sons of the past,
Let the honour of Clee ever dear to us be,
Let us guard her fair name to the last!

Chorus.

Picture postcard of the Old Market Place, Grimsby, c1905.The entrance to the Corn Exchange is on the right of the photog...
15/10/2026

Picture postcard of the Old Market Place, Grimsby, c1905.

The entrance to the Corn Exchange is on the right of the photograph. The shop of John Henry Turner (draper, milliner & outfitter) is in the middle of the picture.

John Henry Turner was born around 1851 in the Lincolnshire village of Sudbrooke. By 1871 he was working as a draper’s assistant in Lincoln. By 1881 he was living in Grimsby with his wife, Sarah, and running a draper’s shop at 2 High Street (the census of that year records that he employed “6 Females”).

By 1891, the Turners had moved away from their business premises and were living at 3 Cromwell Avenue. They had no children, but the 1891 Census records that they shared their home with Herbert Beaumont (17 – draper’s apprentice) and Annie West (26 – housekeeper).

John Henry Turner died from heart disease on 15th September 1906, aged 56, and was buried in Scartho Road Cemetery three days later. He left effects valued at £12,956 4s 10d. He had evidently been in poor health for a long time, as his obituary in the Grimsby Telegraph makes clear: “For a long time now he has been ill and unable to attend to business, and though he had the best of skill, physicians and doctors could not cure him…”

At the time of his death, John Henry Turner was living at 5 West Parade, Grimsby. His widow, Sarah, continued to live in the house until her own death on 21st April 1909. John Henry Turner and his wife gave away a great deal of money to good causes, and their generosity is mentioned in this notice from the parish magazine of St James’ Church from May 1909:

“The death of Mrs Turner of West Parade breaks a link with the past. In their lifetime Mr and Mrs Turner were devoted Church people, and being blessed with prosperity in the business they built up just outside the church gate, were ever willing to help all good causes. It is well known that in the course of time the whole of their fortune will be applied to charitable purposes, and among them, the restoration of the church they loved so well.”

By 1921, John Henry Turner’s shop was being run by Arthur Ellis Roberts (1878-1959), who was born in Bradford in Yorkshire. For many years Arthur Roberts lived in a house named “Clifton” at 5 Abbey Park Road.

The Ship Hotel and Flottergate Chapel (junction of Flottergate and Maude Street), Grimsby, January 1971.The clock on the...
15/10/2026

The Ship Hotel and Flottergate Chapel (junction of Flottergate and Maude Street), Grimsby, January 1971.

The clock on the front of the Ship Hotel was made by William Potts of Leeds, a major manufacturer of time pieces for public buildings, railway stations and churches (the company had built the clock that was installed in St James’ Church in Grimsby in 1897).

Join us at Grimsby Town Hall on Friday 20th November (10am-4pm) for a free exhibition that will explore the history of t...
15/10/2026

Join us at Grimsby Town Hall on Friday 20th November (10am-4pm) for a free exhibition that will explore the history of the parks and recreation grounds of Grimsby and Cleethorpes.

The exhibition will tell the story of local parks, with particular emphasis being placed on the development of People’s Park and Grant Thorold Park. The display will include documents relating to the “lost” features of these parks, such as the Queen Victoria Memorial Tower, the gatekeeper’s lodge on Welholme Road, and the bandstand in Grant Thorold Park.

The exhibition will also examine the impact of both World Wars on local parks and will include material relating to bomb damage, the construction of air raid shelters, and the temporary cenotaph in People’s Park. There will also be a chance to see photographs of the presentation tanks that were once on display in People’s Park and Thrunscoe Recreation Ground.

The West Marsh area of Grimsby will also feature prominently in the display, with items relating to “The Bully” and the “Shanty Town” playground. Although “Shanty Town” was only open for a few years, it is still fondly remembered by many Grimbarians.

The display will also explore the history of some of the open spaces of Cleethorpes, including Sidney Park and the Pier Gardens. Visitors to the exhibition will discover some of the misdemeanours that took place in these parks, including the football players who used “obscene language” and the boy who decided to help himself to some roses.

A trolleybus on Victoria Street, Grimsby, 1950s.Picture kindly provided by Jill Smith.On this day, 100 years ago:From th...
15/10/2026

A trolleybus on Victoria Street, Grimsby, 1950s.

Picture kindly provided by Jill Smith.

On this day, 100 years ago:

From the minutes of Grimsby Town Council for 15th October 1926:

“Resolved that, as recommended by the Special Committee re Tramways, such Committee be authorised to purchase two additional trolley vehicles, with Roe bodies, from Messrs Garrett Limited, similar to the present vehicles, at the price of £1,475 each.”

Humberston Half Marathon, 6th May 1990.Datsun Cherry Coupé on the right of the picture.North East Lincolnshire Archives ...
15/10/2026

Humberston Half Marathon, 6th May 1990.

Datsun Cherry Coupé on the right of the picture.

North East Lincolnshire Archives Reference: 1334.

The Humberston School, 1997.North East Lincolnshire Archives Reference: 1334.
15/10/2026

The Humberston School, 1997.

North East Lincolnshire Archives Reference: 1334.

Join us at Grimsby Town Hall on Friday 20th November (10am-4pm) for a free exhibition that will explore the history of t...
15/10/2026

Join us at Grimsby Town Hall on Friday 20th November (10am-4pm) for a free exhibition that will explore the history of the parks and recreation grounds of Grimsby and Cleethorpes.

The exhibition will tell the story of local parks, with particular emphasis being placed on the development of People’s Park and Grant Thorold Park. The display will include documents relating to the “lost” features of these parks, such as the Queen Victoria Memorial Tower, the gatekeeper’s lodge on Welholme Road, and the bandstand in Grant Thorold Park.

The exhibition will also examine the impact of both World Wars on local parks and will include material relating to bomb damage, the construction of air raid shelters, and the temporary cenotaph in People’s Park. There will also be a chance to see photographs of the presentation tanks that were once on display in People’s Park and Thrunscoe Recreation Ground.

The West Marsh area of Grimsby will also feature prominently in the display, with items relating to “The Bully” and the “Shanty Town” playground. Although “Shanty Town” was only open for a few years, it is still fondly remembered by many Grimbarians.
The display will also explore the history of some of the open spaces of Cleethorpes, including Sidney Park and the Pier Gardens. Visitors to the exhibition will discover some of the misdemeanours that took place in these parks, including the football players who used “obscene language” and the boy who decided to help himself to some roses.

The ruins of Bolingbroke Castle, near Spilsby.Today is the 627th anniversary of the coronation of Henry IV (13th October...
13/10/2026

The ruins of Bolingbroke Castle, near Spilsby.

Today is the 627th anniversary of the coronation of Henry IV (13th October 1399).

Henry was born at Bolingbroke Castle in April 1367 and he has the distinction of being the only English monarch to have originated from Lincolnshire. He seized the throne from his cousin, Richard II, and his 13-year reign was plagued with plots and rebellions against his rule. He died at Westminster Abbey on 20th March 1413, aged 45.

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Grimsby
DN311HG

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Thursday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 5:30pm
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