Shropshire Star

Humber Bridge and poet Philip Larkin’s home in Hull to receive listed status

Hull now boasts nine Grade I listed buildings.

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The Humber Bridge has been granted Grade I listed status.

The Humber Bridge and the home of poet Philip Larkin are to get listed status as the built heritage of Hull is recognised during its year as UK City of Culture.

These include the Tidal Surge Barrier, a set of Edwardian-style toilets and the grave of a railway worker whose death inspired new safety measures.

An installation titled We Are Hull is projected onto buildings in the city's Queen Victoria Square
Hull is the UK City of Culture for 2017 (Danny Lawson/PA)

The Humber Bridge gets Grade I listed status on the 36th anniversary of its opening by the Queen on July 17 1981. At 1,410 metres, it was the longest single-span suspension bridge in the world for 17 years and remains in the top 10.

Larkin’s flat at 32 Pearson Park has been given Grade II listed status. This is recognised as where he was most creative and where he wrote many of his best-known and most celebrated poems, sitting in the front room overlooking the park.

Some, such as Toads Revisited, specifically reference the park while the title of High Windows, for his final collection, was taken from those of his flat.

Larkin lived in the flat for 18 years when he worked as Hull University librarian and when the property was owned by the university.

The home of poet Philip Larkin has been granted listed status
Philip Larkin (PA)

The Tidal Surge Barrier, which is also being Grade II listed, is a prominent landmark in the city, where the River Hull meets the Humber. It was built between 1977-1980 to safeguard the low-lying city from flooding from the estuary.

The grave of Edward Booth, who was a 25-year-old railway fireman whose death in the 1906 Ulleskelf station train crash spurred new train safety measures. His grave is in Western Cemetery.

The Nelson Street Edwardian-style public toilets, with art nouveau features, opened in 1926.

The Standidge Buildings, which are late 19th century warehouses, in Chapel Lane.

Hull’s Old Town is also being given a boost as it is named as one of Historic England’s 10 new Heritage Action Zones – a move that aims to bring it back to life, transforming historic buildings and providing funding to residential developers.

John Glen, minister for arts, heritage and tourism, said: “The great Philip Larkin wrote of the domes, statutes and spires that make Hull unique but it is also architectural triumphs like the Humber Bridge and Tidal Surge Barrier that have helped build the city’s reputation.

“What better time than during its year as UK City of Culture to recognise and celebrate the historical and cultural landmarks which tell the story of Hull’s illustrious heritage.”

Hull now has 479 listed buildings – nine at Grade I.

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