Garry Crossland, volunteer archivist at ABP will be leading guided tours and delivering a talk on the Port of Grimsby.
The architecture of Associated British Ports’ (ABP) Port of Grimsby is being explored as part of the national Heritage Open Days in September through a series of intimate guided walks.
Throughout this month, the largest port operator in the UK, will be giving people the opportunity to learn more about the design of some of the buildings on the port, and the stories behind them in a series of small, heritage tours led by ABP staff and volunteers.
Andrew Dawes, Regional Director of the Humber ports said: “Being able to share our rich architectural and historical tapestry of our port in Grimsby with the community is one of the great reasons we participate in Heritage Open Days.
“It’s a tremendous opportunity for attendees to understand the port of today and learn from the ports of yesterday. This event allows us to share our stories from the archive and examine buildings which have shaped our maritime story.”
Garry Crossland, local maritime author and volunteer archivist of the ABP collection will deliver two talks as part of the 2025 event. He said: “The architecture of many of the principal buildings on the Port of Grimsby estate replicate those influenced by the railways. This is reflected in the many engineers’ drawings that are retained within the archives.
“The most iconic building on the port is the Dock Tower, and of course there are many buildings that were commissioned by fish merchants. As part of the presentation, we will display some of those drawings, which will show the ingenuity and vision of the Victorian engineers.”
This year due to the major renovation works taking place within the historic quarter, a limited amount of bookable guided tours are taking place on Friday 12th, Tuesday 16th, Wednesday 17th and Thursday 18th September, and there are also options to attend a talk within Grimsby Port Office on Tuesday 16th or Thursday 18th September. The smaller events replaces the large Saturday event that is usually held as part of the Heritage Open Days.
The buildings located within the historic operational area are part of a phased renovation programme of works, which has included surveying, structural assessments and external mapping to show the condition of the roofs and facades, before moving on to survey the interiors. The scheduled works will ensure buildings are wind and watertight, with repairs made to roofs, windows, doors and brickwork as required. As part of this many of the structures are cordoned off and streets closed for safety reasons.
Places on the tours are limited. To book on one of the free guided tours or a talk visit our Eventbrite page https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/abp-humber-port-tours-748869. Entry to these events is by ticket only.
