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The very first street in Wyke upon Hull was Westgate, subsequently named Beverley Street (the semi-continuous modern-day Sewer Lane, Fish Street, King Street, Trinity House Lane, Land of Green Ginger, and Winter's Alley that exits at No. 7 Parliament Street). This winding street most probably followed the route of a watercourse, probably Wycotedyke, that flowed into the Humber. By 1293, the newly-named Kingston upon Hull included Hull Street (nowadays called High Street, but originally named after the river whose banks it closely followed), Marketgate (Market Place) and Munkgate (Blackfriargate and Blanket Row). By 1347 all the other streets within the medieval town had appeared.

Street nameplates are known from as early as 1636 in London, but the oldest in Kingston upon Hull is most probably that affixed to Trinity House, bearing the legend ‘T.W. POSTERN GATE’: Link
LAND OF GREEN GINGER is probably the most unusual street and famous name in the city: Link

Much design advice has been issued over the years, but a national style has never been adopted, such that each local authority has determined its own. Consequently, many different styles, fonts, sizes, colours and materials are to be found, even within the same authority. Some types of plate have proved to be more durable than others.

CAST METAL PLATES OF C19: The oldest style of nameplates have typeface with serifs, either embossed or debossed, painted black on a white (exceptionally, blue) background. Framed, with chamfered corners. Found entirely on the older buildings in central Kingston upon Hull. Example: Link

TILED NAMEPLATES: These consist of an individual, manufactured tile for each letter. They were introduced circa 1844, are abundant in the older parts of the city, and have proved to be very durable. It is possible that they were manufactured by Minton Tiles, whose catalogue reproduces similar tiles in ‘Series 2917’. Tiles used are chiefly letters with serifs, overwhelmingly white on a black background, with just a few on a blue background, 'Series 2919', and mainly composed in a single row. Example: Link It would appear to be the practice that tiled nameplates for 'ten-foots' (avenues, groves and similar) were to be in sans-serif typeface, but the reason for this is unknown. Several cases have been seen where the letters are of varying heights. Example: Link In Kingston upon Hull, it would appear that tiled nameplates were phased out in the 1920s in favour of cast metal plates, where the taller characters rendered the plates more legible. Further information: 'London Street Signs' by Alistair Hall, 2020, pp. 55 – 69, and Herbert Minton Tiles in Devon: Link

CAST METAL PLATES OF C20: This type superseded the tiled plates in Kingston upon Hull in the 1920s. With taller characters and in black on a white background, they were more legible than hitherto. The drawback is that the plates needed to be repainted as the lettering faded or the paintwork flaked. Initially, plates were made with chamfered corners, subsequently merely rounded. Example: Link

MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT ALPHABETS: Standard and Compressed alphabets introduced simultaneously early 1930s. Compressed was used the most being the cheaper option. A Revised alphabet of 1952 modified the two earlier alphabets. The MOT additionally recommended Kindersley (see below), Gill Sans and Caslon Old Face: Link

KINDERSLEY ALPHABET: Named after its creator, David Kindersley, and adopted by the Ministry of Transport in 1951. Example: Link

'HULL OLD TOWN' PLATES: Introduced circa 2013. Incorporate Three Crowns logo of the city together with 'Hull Old Town'. Kindersley typeface, white on a blue background. Example: Link Probably about the same time, all the existing cast metal nameplates in the Old Town were repainted with a blue background.

ALPHABETS IN 2020: Recommended in current legislation: MOT Revised: Link Kindersley: Link Gill Sans: Link and Transport Heavy: Link

Further reading: Streets of Hull – A History of their Names, by John Markham, 1987, 62 pp
What’s in a (street) name? Link What do Hull’s street names mean? Link Lost Streets of Hull: Link The Streets of Hull: their names and history: Link

… and from other places: London Street Signs: Link London street name fonts: Link London Travel Watch: Link London’s Oldest Street Signs: Link

Hull Trinity House, established in 1369, is a seafaring organisation consisting of a charity for seafarers, a school, and a guild of mariners. The guild originated as a religious guild providing support and almshouses for the needy and established a school for mariners in 1787. By the 18th century it had responsibilities including management of the harbour at Hull, and buoys and pilotage in the Humber Estuary. After the loss of many of its responsibilities as a result of the Humber Conservancy Act 1852, the guild continued its work as a charity, and the provision of education, which continues to the present day: Link

Trinity House and adjoining offices and houses cover the site of the White Friars (Carmelites), dissolved in 1539, and given to the institution by Thomas Ferres in 1621. The premises face onto Trinity House Lane, Posterngate and Prince's Dock Street. The Trinity House Building was rebuilt in 1753, and a guild house added in 1775. Grade I Listed Building Link Statues of Neptune and Britannia were installed above the main entrance, with the building forming a square around a courtyard, with almshouse rooms around it.

Trinity House Chapel, built 1842 in the Classical Revival style, replaced the chapel of 1772. Grade II Listed Building: Link

Hull Trinity House almshouses, Posterngate, built 1826 by Charles Mountain the Younger. Converted to offices 1956-57. Carmelite House is named after the Carmelites or White Friars, who held land between Posterngate and Whitefriargate until the dissolution of their monastery in the town. Grade II Listed Building Link

The buoy shed was built 1901 for the Trinity House in Tower Street. It has latterly been occupied by Northern Divers, now vacant for several years. Grade II Listed Building Link

Further information in Wikipedia: Link

In 1785 a marine school was founded on the property of the Trinity House. A new building was constructed on the Trinity House site, adjacent to the chapel and the school opened in 1787. Students were taught reading, writing, accountancy, religion, and navigation for three years after which they were apprenticed. The school moved to a new building in Prince’s Dock Street in 1842. By the second half of the 20th century the school (Trinity House Navigation School) had become an independent secondary technical school. The school gained specialist status in 2008 and became Hull Trinity House Academy in 2012. In 2013 the school moved to a new site on George Street, using a refurbished former university building. The site of the old school was redeveloped as a car park/events area called Zebedee's Yard in 2014. The academy moved to the former Endeavour Academy site on Beverley Road in 2023.

The Gatehouse to Trinity House Navigation School was built in the Classical Revival style, 1842. Grade II Listed Building Link

Further information in Wikipedia: Link