Free Collection
Heritage
Deeply rooted in the region’s history, Drapers has played a major role within the local community since its establishment in 1922. Our involvement within the region includes work with the re-named ‘Alderman Albert Draper’, a 1930’s steam locomotive which we saved from being scrapped over 40 years ago.
In a long and eventful journey, the ‘Alderman Albert Draper’ was restored to its former glory and given a new lease of life. The locomotive was restored whilst being housed at the Old Dairycoates Railway Depot, before spending ten years at Binbrook in Lincolnshire and then becoming a hit with the tourists on the Great Central Railway and national network.
Following the strict exclusion zone around Iceland after the Cod Wars, which left Hull trawlers lying idle and their crews without work, Drapers also played close witness to the collapse of the fishing industry in Hull, and had a major role in its aftermath.
Stripped of the lucrative proceeds from fishing, trawler owners sold trawlers for scrap, taking advantage of the government’s decommissioning fund.
A sad and hard task for all involved, around 30 trawlers were broken up by Drapers at Victoria Dock Slipway between 1972 and 1981. Six Silver Cod winners
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