Plans for the future of South Blockhouse will aim to create a new heritage visitor space that conserves and protects the historic site for the future.
The South Blockhouse is a nationally significant monument, part of a scheme fortifications on the east bank of the river Hull, constructed on the orders of Henry VIII between 1541-43.
In July 2022, the largest community archaeology excavation took place over an 11-week programme to expose the monument’s remains, with community volunteers working alongside professional archaeologists from Humber Field Archaeology at every stage of the excavation.
The work was being done to gain a better understanding of its condition and the tell the story of the 16th century fortress, a key part of the city’s maritime history as one of the most important ports on the east coast of England.
This was the largest volunteer-driven archaeological dig seen in the city this century and saw almost 60 per cent of the site excavated, to investigate the story of the South Blockhouse and how it reflects Hull’s history over the last c.500 years. Members of the public visited the dig to see what was happening and learn more about the South Blockhouse.
Its cloverleaf shape, designed by the prominent military engineer John Rogers, is unique in England, and the South Blockhouse remains the only section of the historic town defences to escape destruction during Hull’s urban development and growth from the 19th century onwards.
The history of the South Blockhouse is part of Hull’s deep maritime heritage and complements Hull Maritime, a key cultural regeneration scheme in the heart of Hull’s city centre that will protect and celebrate 800 years of Hull’s maritime heritage.
The history of South Blockhouse:
1541 - King Henry VIII visits Hull – twice!
1541 - 43 Construction of the Henrician defences of Hull – they consisted of a central Castle, with Northern and Southern Blockhouses.
1553 - Royal Charter passes the care of the defences from the crown to the town.
1642 - King Charles orders the Earl of Newcastle to secure Hull for the king. Sir John Hotham becomes Governor and secures Hull for Parliament.
1643 - Second Siege of Hull - repairs to the South Blockhouse carried out
1859 - Citadel guns fire salute for the for the wedding of the Prince of Wales, the last time they are fired.
c. 1577-1613 - South Blockhouse used as a prison for Catholic recusants due to the fear of an English Catholic rebellion.
1643 - Second Siege of Hull during The Civil Wars - repairs to the South Blockhouse carried out.
1681-90 - Construction of Hull Citadel.
1806 - South Blockhouse internally remodelled to become a naval storehouse.
The future of the South Blockhouse - telling the untold story
A new heritage visitor attraction will conserve and protect the South Blockhouse scheduled ancient monument site for the future.
The plans will see the site completely transformed, with hard and soft landscaping framing the footprint of the South Blockhouse and majestic, ghostly structures rising from the ground to give a sense of the structure and scale of the original building.
The regeneration of the site will bring long-hidden stories to life.
Planning approval granted
On Wednesday 5 March 2025, Hull City Council's Planning Committee unanimously voted to grant permission for the plans.
Although National Highways have confirmed they are no longer funding the project, Hull City Council remains committed to delivering the project and will continue to explore all funding opportunities to ensure the project moves forward, including through on-going conversations with National Highways.
Our focus remains on protecting and preserving this important site for future generations and promoting it as a cultural and educational resource.
Telling the story of South Blockhouse
In February 2024, Hull City Council was awarded £250,000 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to significantly expand community engagement around the South Blockhouse, a nationally important scheduled ancient monument.
This funding created exciting new opportunities for people to discover the rich heritage of the South Blockhouse site and ensure that local communities had a strong voice in shaping how its story is told.
The enhanced community engagement programme built on the work already delivered reaching a wide range of groups including economically disadvantaged people; children and young people; women and families; diverse ethnic communities in Hull; SEND (people with special educational needs and disability); and socially isolated individuals.
Humber Field Archaeology
Humber Field Archaeology (HFA) are a professional services and public engagement archaeology team within Hull City Council. They have been involved in the archaeology of the South Blockhouse since 1997. They delivered the 2022 public engagement dig which witnessed over 120 people getting involved in revealing the hidden history of the site. More about HFA and the archaeology of the South Blockhouse can be found here:
Humber Field Archaeology website
Humber Field Archaeology 2019 South Blockhouse trial excavations report
Humber Field Archaeology appeared on the Hull History Nerd video 'Hull Castle and The Citadel' to discuss the 2022 archaeological digs. Watch here.
Goodwin Development Trust have been working collaboratively with Humber Field Archaeology on a digital project exploring the South Blockhouse. Working with Youth Arts Takeover young people in Hull they have produced a series of Audio Vignettes and created a new game in the 'Timefort' series inspired by the South Blockhouse.
TimeFort: Blockhouse (a retro style computer role playing game, 2025) Play here.
South Blockhouse - Vignettes from History (2025) Read more.
TimeFort: Aeternia (a print and play rpg, 2023) Read more.
South Blockhouse - Characters from History (2022). Read more.
The Scroll magazine (2022). Read the magazine.
Grant schemes
In 2024-5 small grants were awarded to six secondary schools across Hull as part of the Young Maritime Creatives project. An additional four grants were given out through the South Blockhouse Creative Communities scheme. These grants gave local people the opportunity to engage with the history of the South Blockhouse and Hull's wider maritime story in creative ways.
Young Maritime Creatives - read more.
South Blockhouse Creative Communities. Read more.
The CloverLore creative communities project created a zine which can be downloaded for free, along with the project archive here.
Cannon, Crown and Clover exhibition
Cannon, Crown and Clover, an exhibition curated by Square Peg Hull, marked the culmination of a years worth of creative works produced as part of Hull Maritime's work expanding engagement around the South Blockhouse.
A wide range of people across different secondary school and community projects took part and were given the opportunity to develop invaluable new skills whilst creating innovative and thought provoking works of art creatively exploring this significant yet often overlooked aspect of Hull’s maritime heritage. The exhibition was a vibrant showcase of these projects and was on display at the Pier Street exhibition space in August 2025.
View the gallery here.
Engagement at events
The Hull Maritime and Humber Field Archaeology (HFA) teams have been out and about at various events around the city, talking to people about the South Blockhouse. From Colliderfest to summer holiday playdays, we've been engaging people with the South Blockhouse and its part in our city's maritime story using activity books, object handling and VR.
Hull Maritime and HFA also teamed up with Goodwin Development Trust to run a special Tudors, Towers and Trenches event in October 2025. The event at the Hull and East Riding Museum of Archaeology was themed around Tudor Hull, Henry VIII’s defences and the South Blockhouse legacy. Visitors had the chance to explore finds from Humber Field Archaeology's 2022 archaeological digs and step into the past with a Virtual Reality South Blockhouse. Themed games and crafts with Goodwin Development Trust as well as colouring in and object handling with Hull Maritime and Hull Museums were also enjoyed by members of the public.
Theatrical performances - When Cannons Were Roaring
Hull Maritime and The Northern Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) joined forces in Spring 2025 to bring the rich and fascinating history of the South Blockhouse to life through a series of immersive theatre performances, called When Cannons Were Roaring: The Story of Hull’s South Blockhouse.
The project which weaved drama, music and dance together into a compelling narrative exploring key moments in the history of the South Blockhouse, featured performances from NAPA’s diverse groups, including the VIPs (Visually Impaired Performers), the over-55s group, and other students from the academy.
Read more.
Maritime Tales comic
Volume 4 of Gareth Sleightholme's Maritime Tales comics focuses on Hull's fortifications, including the South Blockhouse. Find out more here.
Copies of the comic are available for free at the Hull History Centre and The Pod (Hull Interchange) while stocks last. The comic, along with the full Maritime Tales collection, can also be borrowed online through BorrowBox with a Hull library card. For information on how to join Hull Libraries for free, visit: Hull Libraries – Hull Libraries. To access BorrowBox and start reading, go to: Hull Libraries - BorrowBox.
