Photo credit (c) Hull Daily Mail / Hull Live

Synopsis - 'The Battle of Melbourne Grove'.

Kingston-upon-Hull in the early 80s was a city in flux. Rows of terraced houses were slated for demolition, their residents relocated to concrete estates on the outskirts of the town. Among the rubble stood one man who refused to leave.

Barry Nuthall, a fiercely proud Hull native, made his stand—not with weapons, but with humour and grit. Outside his home, he created a “military camp” complete with sandbags, barricades, and a makeshift flagpole. To the council, he was a troublemaker. To his neighbours, he was either a hero or a fool.

What started as an eccentric gesture soon evolved into something more. As eviction notices piled up and bulldozers loomed, Barry’s defiance drew attention. Locals came together, journalists took notice, and his camp became a symbol of resistance. But as the council held firm and police hovered, Barry had to confront the limits of his stand.

When the demolition finally came, Barry’s home was reduced to rubble. Yet, his protest—captured on now-lost film, reported by the Hull Daily Mail, and remembered by many—left its mark, proving that even the smallest acts of defiance can resonate far beyond their time.

Do you want to be involved?

• Were you in Hull late 70’s / early 80’s and aware of the story?

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