Statutory Address: St Andrew’s Quay, Hull, HU3 4SA
Coordinates: 53°43’34″N 0°22’34″W
Description of Location –
Located on the site of St Andrew’s Dock (‘Fish Dock’), with the western dock area (where the memorial is located) now a retail shopping park. The dock was once home to the world’s largest deep sea fishing fleet. Shipping activity in the quay ended on 3 November 1975.
Details –
Erected: Steel sculptures were erected in 2017 but were removed to facilitate the construction of flood defences in 2019. The project was fully completed in September 2023, with the steel sculptures being reinstalled amongst a wider ceremonial area.
Listed: Not Listed
Monument Type: Memorial
Associated Site(s): Not Applicable
Inscription(s): “There are no roses on a trawlerman’s grave, Nor lilies on an ocean wave. The only tribute is the seagull’s sweep, and teardrops that loved ones weep.”
“The City’s Memorial to the Lost Trawlermen of Hull”
“Journey distances in nautical miles to deep sea fishing grounds from Spun Light Vessel
26 River Passage – St Andrews Dock entrance to Spurn Light Vessel
645 Kidney Bank (Whaleback) SE Iceland via Pentland Firth
895 Skomvær Lofoten Islands Norway
1084 Malangen Bank Norway
1155 North Cape Ground around west side of Iceland
1275 North Cape of Norway
1316 North Cape Grounds around east side of Iceland
1330 Bear Island south of Cape Bull
1443 Spitzbergen west side”
“For those in peril on the sea”
Description: The project was spearheaded by STAND (St Andrews Dock Fishing Heritage Group), with support from Hull City Council and public donation, and constructed by local firm W. Campbell and Son Ltd. The site is intended to commemorate the six thousand trawlermen from Hull who lost their lives over the last century. The memorial consists of thirteen fishermen, sculpted out of steel, standing within a wider ceremonial area imitating the shape of a ship’s bow.
Additional Resources –
“Council Steps in to Secure Permanent Lost Trawlermen Memorial for City,” HullCCNews, 26 August 2022, https://news.hull.gov.uk/26/08/2022/council-steps-in-to-secure-permanent-lost-trawlermen-memorial-for-city/.
“History of Hull Docks,” Hull History Centre, accessed 26 December 2023, https://www.hullhistorycentre.org.uk/research/research-guides/history-hull-docks.aspx.
“Opening and Blessing of ‘The City’s Memorial to the Lost Trawlermen of Hull’,” Maritime Hull, 20 September 2023, https://maritimehull.co.uk/whats-happening/news/news-opening-and-blessing-of-the-citys-memorial-to-the-lost-trawlermen-of-hull.
“St. Andrews Memorial to Lost Trawlermen,” St. Andrews Dock Heritage Park Action Group, accessed 26 December 2023, https://www.hullfishingheritage.org.uk/memorial-heritage-garden/.
Andrew Barton, “Hull: Work Begins on Trawlermen Memorial Garden,” BBC, 11 May 2023, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-65544987.
Luke Green, “‘Wonderful’ Memorial to 6,000 Hull Trawlermen Lost at Sea Unveiled at St Andrew’s Quay after 20-year Campaign,” Hull Daily Mail, 24 September 2023, https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/hull-east-yorkshire-news/wonderful-memorial-6000-hull-trawlermen-8776267.