Hessle Whiting Mill and Humber Bridge

Across the River Humber from Hull can be seen the chalk Wolds, worn away by the river. Chunks of chalk were used in the building of houses and roads. Burnt chalk was used to make ‘Quicklime’ for mortar and for improving the soil. Rock was processed on site or crushed into whiting in mills such as this one at Hessle, the one at Stoneferry in Hull, three others at Barton and one on Beverley Westwood. Some chalk went to feed the Thwaite Watermill in Leeds, now a museum where you can watch water being pumped through the crushing tubs and see the settling tanks that grade the powder.

Two hundred years ago the whiting mill at Hessle was state of the art. Built around 1806 to replace a horse powered mill, it had five ‘roller-reefing’ sails and automatic air brakes for steady speed. It continued working up to 1925 when the sails were removed. A new larger grinding tub powered by electricity was then employed until the quarry closed in the 1960’s to be converted into a country park.

Both chalk and limestone are composed of calcium carbonate. Whitewash, made from lime, is an antiseptic. Painting it on walls kept rooms healthy and bright. Lack of calcium in the diet causes Rickets. Since the 1943 Calcium Flour Order chalk has been added to all white flour and bread. Other vitamins and minerals are also now added.
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