The Tin House, Immingham: Last surviving Edwardian shack built for Yorkshire dock workers open to the public

Inside it looks quite cosy and lived-in, with a piano, chairs in front of a fire, and long johns draped over the end of a brass bed.But it and others like it were “glorified tin sheds” built for the navvies who constructed Immingham Docks in the early 1900s.
Alexandra Wood
By Alexandra Wood
Published 22nd Jul 2023, 06:00 BST

The Great Central Railway had wanted to expand but decided rather than using Grimsby Docks they’d go to a new site at Immingham - then only a small village of a few hundred people.

With their timber frame covered with corrugated iron, the shacks soon got nicknamed “Tin Town”.

Now there’s only one survivor of the era - Fernlea, at 359 Pelham Road, which has been lovingly restored back to the Edwardian era. Run by volunteers, the Tin House is one of the attractions which will open to the public today along with a behind-the-scenes tour of the docks itself, run by Associated British Ports.

Malcolm Cullum, owner of the Tin house in Immingham sits in the living room in the now heritage Centre, the last remaining building which formed part of a temporary town built in 1906 to house the workforce to build the Immingham DocksMalcolm Cullum, owner of the Tin house in Immingham sits in the living room in the now heritage Centre, the last remaining building which formed part of a temporary town built in 1906 to house the workforce to build the Immingham Docks
Malcolm Cullum, owner of the Tin house in Immingham sits in the living room in the now heritage Centre, the last remaining building which formed part of a temporary town built in 1906 to house the workforce to build the Immingham Docks

Now the largest port in the UK by volume of tonnage, the docks were officially opened on 22nd July 1912 by King George V and Queen Mary. The 1,230-acre site was built for the export of coal from the Derbyshire and Yorkshire coalfields and was designed by Sir John Wolfe Barry, who built Tower Bridge, London.

Today it is home to the Humber International Terminal and the biomass railroad facility which is part of the Immingham Renewable Fuels Terminal, Immingham Container Terminal, and Immingham Bulk Terminal. Some £75 billion of goods flow through the port every year.

Just a quick look at the MarineTraffic website shows container ships, which carry everything from furniture, to food and toys, oil and chemical tankers and bulk carriers in the docks, which are the fourth in size in Northern Europe after Rotterdam, Antwerp and Hamburg.

There are regular sailings to Holland, Denmark, Iceland and beyond.

The Tin House has been restored to how it would have looked in 1906The Tin House has been restored to how it would have looked in 1906
The Tin House has been restored to how it would have looked in 1906

The port is a key part of the energy supply chain serving major power stations in the region. The state-of-the-art rail load out facility can fill one train with 1,500 tonnes of wood pellets in just 40 minutes.

While its masterplan forecasts handling 7.5m tonnes of biomass in 2030, it will still be handling much more coal - 20m tonnes – from countries like Colombia, the US and Poland. The UK banned Russian coal imports last year.

It will also receive 6m tonnes of iron ore - the port is part of British Steel’s distribution network for their plant in Scunthorpe.

Regional director Simon Bird said: “This weekend is always special as it’s an opportunity to showcase our world-class facilities. People will get a glimpse in to the work being done and the key part the port plays in the UK economy, the green energy agenda, and the vital part it plays in keeping the country’s lights on. It’s a rapidly expanding port as it responds to global markets, and I think many will be amazed at what happens here.”

Admission is by donation today, 1pm to 4pm or tomorrow, 1pm to 4pm. Booking is not always necessary. Visit http://imminghamtintown.org/ for details.