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Quarry to Country Park

An exciting upgrade to the existing country park with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

About the project

Quarry to Country Park is a three-year Heritage Lottery funded project currently being delivered by East Riding Council. The project's main aim is to reveal the hidden history of the Humber Bridge Country Park; a former chalk quarry that dates back to the 14th century.

The project has seen the restoration and re-opening of Hessle's whiting mill as part of the new Chalk Walk heritage trail, which follows a path through the oldest area of the quarry and continues inside the mill's tower.

Hessle Mill and the Chalk Walk

Hessle Whiting mill is a unique example of an early nineteenth century whiting windmill. It was designed to crush chalk from a nearby quarry which now forms the Humber Bridge Country Park. The mill forms part of the Chalk Walk heritage trail which reveals the hidden natural, industrial and social history of the Country Park. The trail follows a path through the oldest area of the quarry and onto the Humber Foreshore, continuing on five levels inside the mill's tower.

A 48 acre wood with open meadows and wildlife ponds, the Humber Bridge Country Park is perfect for families. There is a small play area near the Mill on the foreshore and the Country Park offers multiple nature walks, picnic and barbecue areas. The distinctive chalk cliffs which surround the park on three sides, give rise to the park's local name of Little Switzerland. The bright white chalk cliffs were said to resemble the snow covered Alps!

The Chalk Walk trail within the Country Park is accessible at all times.

Hessle Mill is open to visitors on Tuesdays and Fridays, 10am - 4pm (closed for lunch 12-1pm).

Admission: Free

Facilities: Toilets, Radar Key Toilet

Hessle Whiting Mill,
Cliff Road,
Hessle
HU13 0HB

There is free parking at the top of the Country Park (accessible from Ferriby Road), where the Chalk Walk trail begins. There is also free parking on the Foreshore to the rear of the mill.

Please be aware, the top car park (Ferriby Road) is currently being used as a Covid Testing Site. A small number of free car parking spaces are available in the former Lorry Car Park near the entrance.

Bikes are welcome to travel along the coastal path or over the Humber Bridge, but are not permitted inside the county park nature reserve itself. Please use the bicycle racks provided near the mill.

Things to see

Discover a full day of family fun, with walks and picnics in the nature reserve, riverside views along the Humber foreshore and learn about the fascinating history of 'Little Switzerland' with the newly renovated Hessle Whiting Mill.

The Country Park

The Mill

The Foreshore

Daily activities

The Chalk Walk

Follow The Chalk Walk heritage trail through Little Switzerland and inside the mill tower to explore the Country Park's hidden geological, industrial and social history.

What was here?

Travel back in time by following the Country Park's digital heritage trail with the free East Riding Archives What Was Here? app.

Under 5s

Take part in the East Riding Museums 'Discover 5 things' or use our Explorer resources to learn, take part and play with your toddler, both inside the mill and in the Country Park.

Schools, families and learning

These learning resources are available to download for use in the classroom or during an onsite visit. These include information and worksheets on the following subject areas: Geology, Geography, Science and Technology, Mathematics, Creative Writing, Art and Design

Image: Cross-section of the whiting works which once adjoined the Hessle Mill's tower.

Image: The internal mechanism inside the mill's cap.

Image: The crushing tub and settling tanks used to manufacture powdered chalk known as whiting.

Image: Cross-section of the mill tower showing the main drive shaft which powered the crushing stones and water pumps.

Image: The five-sailed mill and whiting works how they would have looked when complete.

Image: Detail of the drying sheds where blocks of chalk whiting were dried.

Image: The steam engine (right) which powered the mill after the sails where removed in 1925.

Digital images of the mill

These hugely detailed technical drawings produced by former draughtsman and mill enthusiast John Brandrick, allow us to see how Hessle Mill and its whiting works would have looked when they were built during the early 19th century. The drawings also reveal how the mill developed over the following 150 years as it adapted to new technology.

Get in touch

Humber Bridge Country Park has it's own Facebook page to keep you updated with the latest news, events and more from our magical corner in Hessle. Follow us and never miss out!

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Email: david.marchant@eastriding.gov.uk

Telephone: 01482 848405