A river runs through it: Barge journey documented in new exhibition
JOURNEY’S START: The George Dyson making its way into a setting sun along the Humber. Pictures by Richard Duffy-Howard
By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor
A two-day river journey by barge that began in Hull is the subject of a new exhibition opening next month featuring video, photography and music.
The exhibition, Goole by Barge, is the latest chapter in Rich and Lou Duffy-Howard’s Open Bridges project, and documents a journey that began on January 24, 2020, when they were passengers on the Deans Marine Services barge, George Dyson.
They accompanied vessel owner and skipper John Dean, who owns the last remaining working dry dock on the River Hull, on a two-day working voyage from Hull's Albert Dock to York, with the job of removing hundreds of years of rubble from its city centre 15th century Guildhall on the banks of the Ouse.
The barge berthed in Aldam Dock, Goole
The destination on the first day, on a high tide, was the port of Goole. The Humber was as “still as a mill pond” and the journey was “cold and slow”.
Yet the time and shore flew by as the water stood still. John drove the barge into the sunset, mooring in Aldam Dock just before 7pm. A few hours later, before first light on the next tide, Goole was the start of the next adventure.
Leaving Ocean Lock, the barge passed under the railway swing-bridge, then Boothferry Bridge, heading towards Selby and York.
Goole became central to the journey and exhibition, depicting the town as both crossroads and harbour for road, rail and river workers and travellers.
Rich, who photographed the journey from the barge, said: “Taking photographs in low light without a flash is always a challenge but at night on a moving barge, it’s something else.
“Goole docks at night from the quaysides was different again and I’ve tried to capture the stillness and silence away from the daily bustle.”
Goole South Dock
As well as 60 of Rich's photographs, visitors will see three videos and soundtracks made by Lou: The Goole Captain, The George Dyson Entering Ocean Lock, and The Scenic Route to York, which is accompanied by their Loudhailer Electric Company track, Night Heron.
Councillor Nick Coultish, East Riding Council’s cabinet member for culture, leisure and tourism, said: “This promises to be a fascinating exhibition and will be very evocative for local people in the Goole area.
“Come along to Goole Museum and see this unique collection of photos and immerse yourselves in the videos and soundtracks.”
Rich and Lou’s original Open Bridges event made history in 2017 when, for the first and only time, all 13 of the bridges over the River Hull were raised, swung or closed simultaneously as a flotilla of historic vessels representing three centuries mustered at the mouth of the River Hull.
They were met on the Humber by three 21st-century tugs during the premiere performance of a new piece of musique concrete by BAFTA-award-winning composer John Stead.
The specially commissioned music score was diffused live in octophonic sound at the Stage at the Dock. The event was recorded by 16 film makers with the score as soundtrack by Humber Film Creative Community and was selected for four international film festivals.
Leaving Goole for York under Goole Railway Swing Bridge
Following the Open Bridges event, Rich and Lou embarked on A River Full of Stories, an oral history project which gathered memories of life and work on and around the River Hull. They produced a series of films and a book, published in September, 2019. Copies were given to Hull and East Riding libraries.
Lou said: “After hearing many fascinating stories and memories of lightermen and river pilots, river men and women in the heyday of river transport, going on a real working journey was remarkable – and a great inspiration for us to create a document of the experience.”
For more information visit the Open Bridges website here.
The exhibition at Goole Museum runs from February 9 to April 13. Admission is free.
