[ d u n g c a r t d o t c o m ]A place for the stuff that leaks out of my head

Cloudmaker from duncmc via flickr.

The distant cooling towers of Saltend power station, taken from St. Andrew’s Quay, Hull. A nice still day on the river.

Shedded from duncmc via flickr.

Derelict sheds on “Dead Bod* Jetty” off the former quayside of Vitcoria Dock in Hull, East Yorkshire.

* Bod = bird (Hull dialect)

The Humber Dock from duncmc via flickr.

Tuesday night looking over Hull Marina – formerly the Humber Dock – with the last of the sun. The remains of Pepis bar and restaurant is in view to the left of the frame.

Ringside Seat from duncmc via flickr.

Shot from St Andrew’s Dockside looking across the old dock basin towards the derelict Lord Line building. The dock was closed in the mid 1970s, about ten years after this picture was taken.

“Prinny Quay” As It Is Sometimes Known from duncmc via flickr.

There doesn’t seem to be much time for photography at the moment – most of my energy is going into a work-related project. But this just goes to show that I still occasionally get to wander the streets of Hull with a camera to hand.

Princes Quay Shopping Centre of course, taken from round the back at the south east corner of the Princes Dock.

Right Over My Feet from duncmc via flickr.

Another shot of the first buildings going up as part of the Boom development. This one is taken from under Myton Bridge, and includes a view upriver towards the old Rank mill and the Shotwell building. The Arctic Corsair at the rear of Hull’s Museum Quarter can be seen to the left.

One #3 from duncmc via flickr.

It’s been a while since I went out with the camera – work commitments have been getting in the way. Me ’n’ the missus spent an hour wandering around the marina last night, hoping to get something of the sunset. The sun set further north than we thought it would – not over the river at all, so most of the marina itself was in shade well before sundown.

I was pleasantly surprised by this shot of Nº One, Humber Quays – the clean lines of the building and the sunset colours have given it an illustrated or CGI quality which I really like.

The Only Verdict from duncmc via flickr.

The back door (or western entrance) to the new St. Stephen’s shopping centre in Hull. It’s an easy shot, but that’s it out of the way. Next time I might be able to see past it and get something a little less obvious (security permitting).

Matchless from duncmc via flickr.

A view of Hull’s KC Stadium from the empty “Executive Car Park” to the south. This was taken with my new polarising filter, which I picked up from fellow flickr member altitudezero at a recent meet.

Rank Outsider from duncmc via flickr.

The Clarence Flour Mill on the east bank of the River Hull, next to Drypool Bridge. Rumour has it that the building is earmarked for demolition, to make way for a 24 storey residential development. The building has been empty for some time, and is one of the most characterful of the remaining riverside mills in Hull. Many of them have been left derelict and decaying. Many have been destroyed to make way for modern industrial units.

We should be learning from places like Gateshead in Newcastle, where the old Baltic Flour Mill has been sympathetically redeveloped into the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Arts. Like the Clarence, the Baltic was once a Rank Hovis mill.

The Clarence Flour Mill has particular cultural significance for the city of Kingston-upon-Hull. It was originally owned by Joseph Rank Ltd., a large flour milling business built up by Joseph Rank. His son J. Arthur Rank was born in Hull and went on to inherit the family business and also to found the Rank Organisation, which became a major force in British film making.

The family business became Rank Hovis McDougall responsible for some of the best known consumer brands on the supermarket shelf – Hovis, Bisto, Mr Kipling, Paxo and Sharwoods to name but a few.

The Rank Organisation, founded by J. Arthur Rank in 1937, owned five leading film studios, including Pinewood Studios. As well as employing several major British film directors of the day, it launched the careers of many British actors. The company also founded or owned many of the brands that are household names in the entertainment and multimedia industries – Butlins, Haven, Oasis, Rank Xerox, Wharfedale, Tom Cobleigh Inns, Mecca Bingo, Hard Rock Cafes and Hotels.

And it all started in Hull!

I once heard it mooted that the old Clarence Flour Mill ought to be redeveloped into a national museum for for movies and film, because of its association with J. Arthur Rank. I think that would be an excellent idea. But at the end of the day it comes down to vision and money, neither of which seem to be available in the required quantities.

Oh, and a heads up to James (theholyllama). When I found both my batteries wanting for power he selflessly offered his own so I could get the shot. Thanks mate!