There’s something very odd about the history of Hull – its links to East Yorkshire’s very own Atlantis.
Few people will have heard of Hull’s medieval neighbour, Ravenser Odd, a short-lived town on an island in the Humber that rose from the sea to become a bustling port, before being abandoned and sinking beneath the waves more than 600 years ago.
Both Ravenser Odd and its surviving city neighbour gained their charters from King Edward I on the same day – ironically, 1 April 1299.
And to mark this year’s 725th anniversary of the royal approval, a new exhibition is being staged in Hull when both charters, on loan from The National Archives, will go on display together for the first time.
Running from 26 March to 30 May at Hull History Centre, Hull/Ravenser Odd: Twin Cities, Sunken Pasts will also bring the virtually unknown story of this lost island to life.
Built on the sandbanks along the Humber estuary from Hull, close to Spurn Point, it was founded around 1235 and thanks to its prime coastal position, became a nationally significant trading centre, serving more than 100 merchant ships a year. Once home to around 1,000 residents, for many years it eclipsed Hull as a port, attracting seafarers from across Europe and the Nordic nations.
But the fabled town became an early victim to climate change when coastal erosion brought a decline in its fortunes and after an exodus of merchants to Hull, the island was completely flooded by the middle of the 14th century.
The exhibition comes amid moves to discover the submerged ruins, with researchers believing they have located the rough area where the island town sank after surveys were carried out in 2022. If located, it is hoped that a fundraising campaign will pay for a future archaeological exploration.
And to coincide with the exhibition, on 10 April, local historian Phil Mathison and Dr Steve Simmons, from the University of Hull, will host a talk about their search for traces of the island. More details about the history and folklore of Ravenser Odd will also be revealed at another lecture event, on 9 April, when Dr Kathryn Maude, from The National Archives, and the University of Sussex’s Dr Emily Robinson give a presentation. Both talks are free.
Along with the charters, the free entry exhibition will also highlight existing items in Hull History Centre’s collection, reflecting on the city’s own 800 years of maritime history.
Meanwhile, Hull is set to reveal its £30m Maritime City new look. A city revitalised in 2017 as the UK’s City of Culture is set to be transformed once again as a five-year project is finally revealed. Visitors to Hull in 2024 will get their first glimpse when two refurbished attractions re-open, Hull’s historic Spurn Lightship in the spring, followed later by the Arctic Corsair trawler at a new £3.8m ‘eco-friendly’ visitor attraction.
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More information about Hull, can be found at www.visithull.org
Photo: Gareth Sleightholme