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East Yorkshire National Trust
THE East Yorkshire National Trust meeting was held at Cottingham Civic Hall.
Cannons to Bollards
One either hates or loves bollards. One should love them as they keep cars and lorries away from pavements and narrow lanes.
However, they can be seen as an eyesore and a restriction on walking space.
Mr Geoffrey Bell who gave a fascinating talk to National Trust members on Cannons to Bollards first developed an interest in bollards when he was staying in Swanage 27 years ago.
He noticed several bollards in the area and explored their history in detail. Many of the bollards and London names on them eg Bloomsbury, St Giles, St Anne's and London with the city's coat of arms, with dates from 1812 to 1844.
One dated 1862 mentioned a Westminster church warden. Mr Bell discovered that a local stonemason organised the transport of stone from Purbeck quarry to stone cargo.
Ballast was found in the rubble from demolished buildings and amongst the ballast were some bollards.
These line paths appear on streets and have been used for gateposts.
In the 18th century bollards were possibly made from cannons used in the Napoleonic wars.
The cannon barrels would be stood upright and a cannon ball placed on top.
In time cast iron bollards of similar shape were made. When the production became too expensive different materials and some stylisation was introduced.
The balls on top of the newer bollards sometimes look unlikely to have come from a barrel.
In Hull an actual cannon barrel can be seen near the preserved fishing smack opposite the banana shed in Hull docks.
In Alexandra Dock bollards are used for mooring boats, and the former Victoria Dock which is now filled in is still outlined by cannons which are muzzle down.
Bollard spotting anyone?
If you visit Swanage which is known as Little London by the Sea you will see buildings, brought stone by stone, from London along with the bollards.
For example the front of the Mercer's Hall in the City of London is on the front of the town hall in Swanage.
Durlston Castle in Swanage is a restaurant built from the masonry of a building from behind Trafalgar Square.
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Weather for Whitby
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -5 C to 1 C
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Wind direction: South
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Sunny spells
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