Category Archives: Grimsby

Grimsby Streets

Grimsby steeped in Scandinavian history. Our language is filled with words that our Danish forebears would recognise. Take the suffix -gate on streets DeansGATE, WellowGATE, BrighowGATE, CarterGATE and the lost streets of FlotterGATE, and BaxterGATE. The suffix -Gate comes from the Scandinavian GATA and can also be traced to Anglo Saxon GEATA. It means aContinue reading “Grimsby Streets”

Star of stage and screen

Grimsby saw a star of the stage and screen shine bright in the 20th Century. She even starred in Hitchcock’s films.  Violet Sutcliffe Farebrother was born in the town on 22 August 1888. Her father Ernest was the town’s architect and surveyor, and Farebrother Street is named after him. She had two brothers.   ErnestContinue reading “Star of stage and screen”

Lived for the day

My motto has always been ‘today’ and perhaps it is a very good thing for me Grimsby’s World War One fighter ace Bert ‘Chips’ Wood lived for the day. He joined the Royal Flying Corps in 1916 and had 13 confirmed aerial victories. Unheard of when the average life expectancy of an RFC pilot wasContinue reading “Lived for the day”

Festival of the Sea – Grimsby

We haven’t had many special festivals in Grimsby – none that I can recall, unless you include some of the events that have been held in People’s Park or the Fish Docks Open Day. This weekend (Saturday 17 July) we can all look forward to celebrating the town and its connection with the sea. TheContinue reading “Festival of the Sea – Grimsby”

What’s in a name?

Or how some people get wound up simply because they don’t believe it’s true! The Kasbah Since it was announced an area on Grimsby Docks was being reenergised and it was going by the name The Kasbah, people have been going apoplectic on social media channels. They have accused others, who have heard it beingContinue reading “What’s in a name?”

Who was Grim?

Grim – the founding father of Grimsby and saviour of Havelok. What truth is there in the legendary tale of how a Danish fisherman saved the Prince of Denmark and founded an English settlement? Many will remember the statue (above) sited at Nun’s Corner outside the Grimsby Institute. It was commissioned in 1973. Built ofContinue reading “Who was Grim?”

Sir Alec Black

Born on 23 December 1872, Alec Black was another of Grimsby’s great philanthropists. Alick Black was born in Grimsby, his mother was Charlotte nee Fox, the youngest daughter of John Charles Fox. As a child he lived at 69 Cleethorpe Road which on the 1881 census shows his mother working as a confectioner. He hadContinue reading “Sir Alec Black”

Sir George Doughty

One of the great philanthropists in Grimsby was George Doughty. From humble beginnings to becoming a knight, the town was at the heart of everything he did. Who was he? In his life he worked as merchant, ship owner and was a partner in Hagerup, Doughty and Co. He was also a carpenter and hadContinue reading “Sir George Doughty”