Sammy's Point in Hull. The origins of the land

In a previous posting I wrote about the origins of the name ‘Sammy’s Point’, a name very familiar to most Hull folk. But what were the origins of this land? Well it came about by the various attempts to defend the town.

14th centuary map of Hull showing the chain across the River Hull

Published 1973 by Hull City Libraries

The River Hull itself was a weak point to the towns as attackers could sail up it essentially into the town. To prevent this a chain was drawn across the mouth of the River Hull (1380?) usually at night to ‘repel’ hostile ships. This chain seems to have been operated from a tower and windlass on the west bank of the River Hull (see map). During a worrying period when a war with the Dutch was expected (1590s) logs were attached to the chain so it floated. The chain can be clearly seen in the 14th century map of Hull (facsimile pub. Hull CC 1973).

In 866, some 400 years before Hull was actually named by Edward 1st, the Vikings sailed up the Humber estuary to attack York, then more important than Hull but also they also did it for better penetration inland. As Hull (previously called Wyke) increased in importance and with the fears of wars and invasions the fortifications round it were increased. The town was walled (1327) and block houses and a ‘castle’ were built on the east bank of the River Hull (1543). Some stone for this was robbed from Meaux Abbey when Henry VIII dissolved the abbes. (see Meaux Abbey on this site).

Hollars map 1640 showing the north and south block houses and the castle in the centre. Published 1973 by Hull City Libraries

Later the Castle and block houses were to be superseded by the large garrisoned Citadel (1680).

When the military use of the Citadel ended in 1848 it was dismantled and the land cleared for industrial use. On Peck & Sons ‘New Plan of Hull’ 1882 (An original belonging to C Coulson) the area we know as Sammy’s Point can be clearly seen and is labelled ‘Iron Ship Yards’. By this time Martin Samuelson’s iron ship building business was no longer under his control although it continued to operate.

That land now houses The Deep, Hulls famous marine attraction

The deep from across the entrance to the River Hull. Once the site of Martin Samuelson's ship yard. Photo by Chris Coulson.