Taking shape…. after months under cover the scaffolding around Hull’s Maritime Museum has now been removed, slowly revealing the newly restored sandstone exterior of the iconic building.
Hull Maritime, a multi-million-pound, five-year project, aims to transform its nautical treasures and celebrate 800 years of seafaring heritage – including a £12m refurbishment of the historic former Dock Office Chambers in the heart of the city.
Visitors will have to wait until spring 2025 for the fully restored museum to reopen, but the project has taken a major step towards completion with vital restoration work to bring the building back to its former glory.
While the façade is now on show once again, more intricate work has been carried out inside the museum – which closed its doors in 2019 – as delicate restoration work aims to return the building to its original 1871 splendour.
Currently, the grand, high-ceilinged Court Room is the focus of attention. The frieze, column capitals and ornate mouldings – including maritime motifs such as shells and starfish – are being repaired and cleaned by specialists.
Already completed is extensive work to the roof with glass installed to create a new atrium, along with the restoration of three domes.
Funded by Hull City Council and The National Lottery Fund, Hull Maritime also includes creating a new visitor attraction at North End Shipyard for the restored trawler Arctic Corsair and the restoration of the Spurn Lightship.
Once completed, visitors will be able to chart a course through the city, exploring its contributions to the UK and the world.
Until then, here’s a sneak preview of some of the behind-the-scenes work underway to breathe new life into the listed building.
For more details about Hull Maritime, visit maritimehull.co.uk
And for general tourist information on Hull, see www.visithull.org
All photos: Hull Maritime