Editing Humber (section)

==Crossings==
The [[Humber Bridge]] was the longest single-span [[suspension bridge]] in the world from its construction in 1981 until 1998. It is now the [[List of longest suspension bridge spans|twelfth longest]].

Before the bridge was built, a series of [[paddle steamer]]s operated from the [[Corporation Pier railway station]]<ref name=cp>{{cite PastScape|mnumber=498352|mname= Hull Corporation Pier station|access-date=14 January 2013 }}</ref> at the [[Victoria Pier, Kingston upon Hull|Victoria Pier]] in Hull to the [[New Holland Pier railway station|railway pier in New Holland]]. Steam ferries started in 1841, and in 1848 were purchased by the [[Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway]]. They, and their successors, ran the ferry until the bridge opened in 1981.<ref name=cp/> Railway passenger and car traffic continued to use the pier until the end of ferry operations.<ref>{{cite PastScape|mnumber=498365|mname= New Holland Pier station|access-date=14 January 2013 }}</ref>

The line of the bridge is similar to an ancient ferry route from [[Hessle]] to [[Barton upon Humber]], which is noted in the ''[[Domesday Book]]'' and in a charter of 1281. The ferry was recorded as still operating in 1856, into the railway era.<ref>{{PastScape|mnumber=79005|mname= Barton Ferry|access-date=14 January 2013 }}</ref> The Humber was then {{convert|1|mi|spell=in}} across.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=50783#s9|quote=The ancient ferry to Hessle, across the Humber, which is here about a mile broad, is appurtenant to the manor, which is vested in the crown...|title=A Topographical Dictionary of England|editor-first=Samuel|editor-last=Lewis|year=1848|pages=164–168 'Barton, St Michael – Basing'|publisher=Samuel Lewis & Co.|location=London|access-date=24 January 2013}} (entry for Barton-upon-Humber)</ref>

===Foot===
Graham Boanas, a Hull man, is believed to be the first man to succeed in wading across the Humber since [[Roman Britain|ancient Roman]] times. The feat in August 2005 was attempted to raise cash and awareness for the medical research charity, [[DebRA]]. He started his trek on the north bank at [[Brough, East Riding of Yorkshire|Brough]]; four hours later, he emerged on the south bank at [[Whitton, North Lincolnshire|Whitton]]. He is {{convert|6|ft|9|in|m|2}} tall and took advantage of a very low tide.<ref>
{{cite web
|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/humber/4173118.stm
|title = Humber crossing after 1,000 years
|work = [[BBC News Online]]
|publisher = [[BBC]]
|access-date = 28 July 2008
|date = 22 August 2005
}}
</ref> He replicated this achievement on the television programme ''[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear]]'' (Series 10 Episode 6) when he beat [[James May]] who drove an [[Alfa Romeo 159]] around the inland part of the estuary in a race without using the Humber Bridge.

=== Swimming===
On Saturday 26 August 1911, Alice Maud Boyall became the first recorded woman to swim the Humber. Boyall, then aged 19 and living in Hull, was the Yorkshire swimming champion. She crossed the Humber from Hull to New Holland Pier swimming the distance in 50 minutes, 6 minutes slower than the existing men's record.<ref>{{cite news|work=Yorkshire Post & Leeds Intelligencer |date=28 August 1911|title=Annual Humber Swim|page=5}}</ref>

Since 2011, Warners Health have organised the 'Warners Health Humber Charity Business Swim'. Twelve swimmers from companies across the Yorkshire region train and swim in an ellipse from the south bank to the north bank of the estuary under the Humber Bridge over a total distance of approximately {{convert|1+1/2|mi|km|1|round=5}}.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/Business-people-swim-Humber-charity-challenge/story-16641429-detail/story.html#axzz2XLVgoNro|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130628033515/http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/Business-people-swim-Humber-charity-challenge/story-16641429-detail/story.html%23axzz2XLVgoNro|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 June 2013|title=Business people to swim the Humber for charity challenge|date=4 August 2013|work=Hull Daily Mail|access-date=26 June 2013}}</ref> Since then, an organised group crossing at the Humber Bridge has become an annual event, with a small number of pre-selected swimmers crossing in a 'pod' which remains close together, in aid of Humber Rescue.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-humber-48900113|title=Countryfile star takes Humber challenge|date=7 July 2019|access-date=30 July 2019|work=BBC News}}</ref>

In 2019, Hull-based competitive open water swimmer Richard Royal became the first person to attempt and complete a two-way swim across the estuary,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.itv.com/news/calendar/2019-07-28/man-from-hull-completes-first-swim-across-the-humber-and-back-in-aid-of-rescue-charity/|title=Man from Hull completes 'first swim across the Humber and back' in aid of rescue charity|website=ITV News|access-date=30 July 2019}}</ref> beginning and finishing at Hessle foreshore, with Barton on the south bank as the mid-way point, fulfilling the land-to-land criteria, covering a total of {{cvt|4,085|m|yd}}. Royal holds the record for the fastest one-way swim across the Humber (35 minutes 11 seconds) and the fastest two-way swim (1 hour, 13 minutes, 46 seconds), certified by Guinness World Records and the World Open Water Swimming Association.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/hull-east-yorkshire-news/richard-royal-humber-swim-solo-3143685|title=Hull man becomes first to swim solo across River Humber and back|first=Phil|last=Winter|date=27 July 2019|newspaper=Hull Daily Mail|access-date=30 July 2019}}</ref> He raised over £900 for Humber Rescue, who provided safety support during the swim.