The Dance Hall at Madeley Swimming Baths (1947-02-01) by Hull Corporation, City Engineers DepartmentHull History Centre
Dance Hall at Madeley Street baths, Hull, 1947
As Hull emerged from the War there was a recognition to re-introduce sports, recreation and entertainment activities back to their peacetime levels. This morale boost for the City saw repairs to damaged buildings, including the City Hall, while in sport the Football League also returned.
As a final piece in the jigsaw, the government organised the Festival of Britain in the summer of 1951, which was to give the British people a feeling of recovery after the War.
Midsummer Nights Dream playbill (1949-11-21) by Hull New TheatreHull History Centre
Hull New Theatre play bill
Hull New Theatre had opened in October 1939. The beginning of the War had meant increased building costs to finish the project which in turn had created huge losses. By 1950 the theatre was in profit and was sold to the Whitehall Theatre Ltd in London for £78,000. Productions were varied, some fresh from London, some on their way to London and even a few world premieres. Performers who came to the New Theatre included Flora Robson, Alastair Sim and Michael Redgrave.
Cinderella programme (1951-12-26) by Palace Theatre, HullHull History Centre
Cinderella Souvenir Programme, 1951
There were a variety of entertainment venues in the City including theatres, cinemas and variety halls. Such performances as ‘A Midsummer Nights Dream’ at the New Theatre, ‘Ta -ra-rah-boom-dy-ay: a whirlwind of gaiety and glamour’ at the Tivoli were on offer as well as films such as ‘The Bells of St. Mary’s’ starring Ingrid Bergman and Bing Crosby at the Regal, and ‘The House of Frankenstein’ with Boris Karloff at the Tower.
Invitation to the re-opening of the City Hall Organ (1951-02-27) by Hull CorporationHull History Centre
Invitation to the re-opening of the City Hall Organ, 1951
Music was very important. The City Hall had a grand reopening' on the 1st December 1948 during a Royal Visit by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh after suffering bomb damage in 1941. Elsewhere the Hull Philharmonic Orchestra began their post war season in 1945 at a packed Queen's Hall.
Did you know?
King George V and Queen Elizabeth were originally coming to open the City Hall but unfortunately the King was ill so the Duke of Edinburgh came instead
Hull City Programe (1946-08-31) by Hull City AFCHull History Centre
Hull City match day programme, 31 August 1946
The Council recognised that as the population returned to the City, sport and recreation would play a leading role in boosting morale. They encouraged the redevelopment of sport grounds and the parks despite building materials being in short supply. Fans were keen to return to supporting their local teams and after the War and when the Hull Daily Mail carried appeals for both Hull F.C. and Hull Kingston Rovers for spare clothing coupons to help them buy kits, they were more than willing oblige.
Hull City AFC's newly built Boothferry Park finally opened in 1946 after delays due to funding and the outbreak of the war.
Did You Know?
An unofficial World Cup between Preston Ladies Football Association FC and a French ladies team took place at Craven Park Stadium on 23 June 1948 and was kicked off by Miss New Zealand.
East Park Dance Hall (1945-03-05) by Hull Corporation, Town ArchitectHull History Centre
Plans for Hull's East Park Dance Hall, 1945
Dancing was also very popular and the Council converted a World War II First Aid Post in East Park into a ballroom which opened on New Year's Eve 1948. The Ministry of Fuel gave permission for the premises to be heated and there was an event on most nights of the week. East Park also had an open air theatre, a model railway, swimming pool and lake. It even offered donkey rides in the summer and mechanical elephants all year round.
Shopping week poster (1951) by Hull CorporationHull History Centre
Post advertising shopping week in Hull
The Festival of Britain was a national exhibition held throughout the United Kingdom in the summer of 1951. It was organised by the government to give the British a feeling of recovery in the aftermath of war and to promote the British contribution to science, technology, industrial design, architecture and the arts.
Festival of Britain programme of events (1951) by UnknownHull History Centre
Festival of Britain Programme of Events, 1951
The Exhibition officially opened in Hull at 2pm on Saturday 19th May 1951, and was held in the City Hall until 26th May. For 1/- entrance fee visitors could see many of the products of Hull factories, hear music by the Black Dyke Mills Band and follow the “Story of Wool”, recalling the role of this commodity in making Hull Britain’s third port as early as the 13th century. The story was complete from the daily sheep shearing demonstrations by champion East Riding farmers, to demonstrations of weaving the wool into patterns and the making of dresses and coats, and to finally the wearing of the garments, as displayed by models in a parade which concluded the demonstrations.
Original Layout Plan (1951) by Hull CorporationHull History Centre
Original layout plan of the festival for Hull, 1951
Due to circumstances connected with the weather and the rearmament programme the originally proposed £20,000 Industrial, Commercial and Agricultural Exhibition had to be abandoned.
Campania booklet (1951) by UnknownHull History Centre
Sketch of the Festival Ship HMS Campania
Berthed at No.3 Quay, King George Dock, the Festival ship was officially opened at Hull on 19th June 1951 by the Lord Mayor, Alderman R. E. Smith. The ship was made as accessible as possible with a special bus service put on to take visitors to HMS Campania leaving every 15 minutes from the coach station. Visitors could also enjoy a meal on board the ship in the Hangar Deck Restaurant.
We would like to extend our thanks to the James Reckitt Library Trust whose grant has enabled the Hull History Centre to catalogue the Local Studies books and archive collections, some of which can be viewed in this story.
