The Humber Bridge

 

In 1981, a bridge across the Humber Estuary was opened to traffic crossing the estuary from 5 miles west of Kingston upon Hull to Barton on Humber. It was a marvellous feat of engineering, being at the time the longest single span bridge in the world.

The opening did not only provide continuous access day and night across the estuary, but it also brought to an end over 600 years of ferry history. The modern ferry service began in the nineteenth century between Hull and New Holland, a bleak windy place in North Lincolnshire. A pier was built there, which was served by the Barton on Humber to Grimsby and Cleethorpes local train service. It was the quickest and shortest way from Hull to Lincolnshire, thus avoiding a long circuitous journey inland. Over the years, the ferry service was operated by a variety of ships. One of the most well-known was the 594 ton paddle steamer ‘Lincoln Castle’ the last coal fired ship of its kind in Britain, before its withdrawal in 1978.

Sailing the ferry across was not a simple task, for the waters of the Humber Estuary need skilful navigation. It is a large tidal estuary and extremely turbid. This means the water is muddy, disturbed, and discoloured, but it is not dirty. In fact, it is healthy with many nature conservation areas. At low tide, vast expanses of mud flats are exposed together with sandbanks, providing feeding grounds for the abundance of wildlife.

Operating the ferry called for considerable skill as the ship had to twist and turn to avoid running aground on the sandbanks. On some occasions, the abundance of sandbanks prevented the ferry operating, and a round trip had to be cancelled until the water rose with the tide.

The ferry passage is a picture of life’s journey. We set off in our youth, fully expecting a direct unhindered pathway, but the waters we find are murky. They hide the sandbanks of life’s challenges and disappointments. Our march to achieving ambition is slowed down or even halted. The destination may be near, if only we could head directly there in a straight line, but we can not. There is the challenge of navigating around the sandbanks that threaten to cause us to run aground. Skill, patience, and knowledge will get us there, if only we will take the right course. Who, however, will get us safely across the troubled waters of life? We need a pilot. The ferry boat had one. He had a certificate to say that he knew the tidal conditions, the sandbanks, hazards, and channels of the Humber Estuary very well. This was so needful as a wrong instruction to the man at the wheel could result in the ship running aground, becoming stuck and maybe in danger.

There is a chorus sung about the Lord Jesus being a pilot. The words go like this:

Do you want a pilot, signal then to Jesus. 

Do you want a pilot, then bid Him come on board. 

For He will safely guide across the ocean wide. 

Until you reach at last the Heavenly Harbour. 

The only one who can safely pilot us through this life to Heaven is the Lord Jesus Christ. He knows the way we need to go because He said, ‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man comes unto the Father but by Me’. So why not today put your faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.  He will ever be, for you, the perfect pilot, who will guide you through this life and on to Heaven.

DAILY MESSAGES WITH MEANING (02/09/25)

Written by RODERICK BARTON 

All photos courtesy of Unsplash