Abbey Walk car park

Information

Please note: this page is dedicated to the Abbey Walk project. If you are looking for local parking, please visit: Car parks.

Background

The Abbey Walk car park was built in 1969 by Holst & Company of Scunthorpe at a cost of approximately £200,000.

Whilst a key asset for the town centre, the car park was closed in May 2024, after structural defects were found. This was water ingress into key structural supports, making the car park potentially unsafe to use.

It has now been approved to proceed with plans to demolish the car park, and replace it with a 120-space surface car park, but with the capability in the foundations of being built on in future years if needed.

The car park is due to be demolished in 2026.

Artwork: Harold Gosney Reliefs

On the pillars of Abbey Walk car park, there are a series of modern art concrete panels that were designed in the 1960s by artist and sculptor, Harold Gosney, having been asked to carry out the car park commission by the architects, Nicholson and Rushton.

Though there are 40 panels on the structure, these are a repeated series of 4 designs – some flipped 180 degrees.

In an interview with the BBC, artist Harold Gosney explained the inspiration for these: “The four designs I produced were inspired by drawings in the handbook of the car that I had at the time, which was an Austin Cambridge estate car, and included suspension, carburettor, etc.”

The artist confirmed that these panels were cast in situ, with metal bars running through them which were integral to the car park structure, which is likely to make removal of the artwork incredibly difficult. Other options to preserve this artwork were discussed, and agreed.

In early 2025, Lincoln University digitally scanned these artworks for permanent digital preservation.

View the artwork in 3D.

Image gallery of the artwork

Click on any image to see the full size photograph.

Relief by Harold Gosney on Abbey Walk Car Park. Image taken Sept 2025.

History

Abbey Walk car park has been a feature of Grimsby’s skyline for more than 50 years.

You can read the full Heritage Statement from the planning application online.

The site is within the Central Grimsby Conservation Area, and is also close to several locally listed and Grade II listed buildings.

The car park is in the oldest part of Grimsby. Originally open fields, with close access to the dock and the Haven, it was developed at some point following the introduction of the railway to Grimsby.

By 1889, the site of Abbey Walk car park was lined with Victorian buildings, including multiple shop premises and residences.

By 1946 a number of cars and other motor vehicles can be seen on the streets and the Bull Ring and Old Market Place are both being used for ad hoc parking.

Through the Second World War, multiple buildings in the immediate area of Abbey Walk were damaged by bombs. But it’s not until 1952 that the first car park can be seen on Abbey Walk. The use of cleared bomb sites for parking was a common phenomenon in the immediate post-war years but this appears to be the only one in this part of Grimsby that was utilised. It was replaced in 1969 with the multi-storey car park we see there today.

Click on any image below to see the full size photograph.