Stories

Ben, a local student, spent the week with the Hull Maritime team and here is a glimpse of his week.

William Daniel Penny (1834 – 1924)The life of a local marine artist

Sandy Aitchison served at Wick Radio for many years during the second cod war. In the 1960's, it was the coast...

Have you ever wondered how sailors throughout history found their way safely across the sea before the invention...

An historic cast iron cannon was discovered during the latter stages of the restoration. The find was made on...

Hull Maritime volunteer Julie Corbett was inspired by Anne Stathie’s recent blogs to share a family connection...

Thanks to Mike Matthews for this story about his father and early career, a journey of the sea, wartime danger,...

2025 has been another great year of engaging people with the Hull Maritime project and our city’s proud maritime...

To celebrate National Illustration Day (28 November 2025), Emma from Hull Maritime had a chat with Joseph Cox -...

Malcolm Cooper’s life is a rich tapestry woven through Hull’s maritime heritage, engineering innovation, and...

August 2025 Hull Maritime volunteer Julie Corbett provides an update on the latest developments to the Spurn...

In her third and final blog article, Anne Strathie – author of A History of Polar Exploration in 50 Objects: From...

Noah Ieronimo, a student at Hessle High School, got to explore the ongoing refurbishment of Hull Maritime Museum...

In this second of her three blog articles, Anne Strathie – author of A History of Polar Exploration in 50 Objects:...

As part of the Hull Maritime Museum transformation, three sets of artists have been commissioned to create work...

Groundwork Hull has been working closely with communities in East Hull to capture and share cherished memories of...

Hull Maritime volunteer, Julie Corbett shares her experience of visiting the Maritime Museum. 

Anne Strathie’s fourth book on polar subjects, A History of Polar Exploration in 50 Objects: From Cook’s...

Maritime volunteer, Julie Corbett reflects on the National Fishing Remembrance Day

As part of the Hull Maritime Museum transformation, three sets of artists have been commissioned to create...

Marking Earth Day 2025 on 22 April with this year's theme is Our Power, Our Planet, Owen Plummer, Associate...

In this blog Maritime volunteer, Julie Corbett talks about the connections between Philip Larkin's poem...

Maritime Volunteer Mike Bartle recently visited Iceland to mark the anniversary of the loss of his ancestor at sea.

Hull Maritime volunteer, Julie Corbett was given the opportunity to meet a group of young people undertaking the...

Here's Hull Maritime volunteer, Julie Corbett who visited the Museum of Coastal Heritage and Geology.

Hull Maritime volunteer, Julie Corbett talks to former trawlermen who worked on the Arctic Corsair. Here they...

Hull Maritime volunteer, Julie Corbett talks to former trawlermen who worked on the Arctic Corsair. Here they...

December 2024  As the museum’s transformation is nearing completion and the next phase gets underway, here’s...

The story of a lost medieval town has been reaching a wider audience with the exhibition Ravenser Odd: The Sunken...

Over the past few months Hull Maritime has been working closely with the East Area Neighbourhood team and...

To celebrate National Illustration Day on 29 November 2024, Emma from Hull Maritime had a chat with Gareth...

In 2024, Hull Maritime awarded 10 small grants to community groups and organisations in Hull and, for the first...

Eden from Rewilding Youth reflects on their community grant project and how they have been engaging young people...

Director of Dance in Company, Holly Gibbs, describes her Hull Maritime Community Grant Project taking seated dance...

One of our community grant projects has now come to end, here is Tony Galbraith, Project Treasurer from the...

Three classical musicians (Lisa J Coates (mezzo soprano), Graziana Presicce (piano) and Dawn Walters (composer))...

Our community grant projects are all underway and doing some fantastic work exploring different parts of our...

Hull Truck Theatre and Hull Maritime have worked in partnership to deliver a community production which retells...

According to the Met Office, England saw a record amount of rainfall in the 18 months to March, with about...

Here at the Hull Maritime office we recently have had the pleasure of hosting a work placement student from The...

Maritime volunteer, Julie Corbett interviewed John Wilkinson who talks about his career as a marine engineer. 

In this blog, maritime volunteer Julie Corbett delves into the history of St Andrew's Dock.

Curatorial staff have been preparing for the return of the reserve maritime collections to a new store in the city...

Ann Jepson was one of the volunteers who recently visited Hull Minster for a behind the scenes tour and this is...

Volunteers who have dedicated their time to The Guildhall Time Ball were given behind the scenes access to Hull...

Here's a blog from Julie Corbett.  This is not a blog about a hot wash to get your whites bright or those...

Bev Ayre is Senior Producer at Walk the Plank, the producers of Tower of Light that will illuminate Hull Marina on...

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the loss of the Gaul, one of the too many trawlers Hull had lost in its...

Ian Martin is one of the many volunteers who delivers the maritime guided walks in Hull city centre. Ian arranged...

On 15 January, the Hull Maritime Community Grant Scheme, in which we will award small pots of up to £1,000 to...

On 15 January, the Hull Maritime Community Grant Scheme, in which we will award small pots of up to £1,000 to...

On January 15, the Hull Maritime Community Grant Scheme, in which we will award small pots of up to £1,000 to...

Here, Kate Genever talks about how tattoos sparked conversations and stories about Hull's maritime past.

In this blog post, we share our five top tips for applying to the Community Grant Scheme. To find out more about...

As 2023 draws to a close, here’s a look back. 2023 has been an action-packed year for Hull Maritime, engaging...

Emma, our Community Engagement Officer visited the Setting Dyke Community Greenspace to see how local residents...

Historian Dr Charlotte Tomlinson looks back on the history of Queens Gardens and its maritime links.

My name is Ian Martin and I am one of Hulls Maritime History Tour Guides and an ex Merchant Seamen.

My name is Ian Martin and I am one of Hull Maritime Tour Guides.

My name is Ian Martin and I am one of Hull Maritime Tour Guides.

As planting the new, semi-mature trees within Queens Gardens gets underway, here Liam Haggarty from Southern Green...

Community Engagement Officer, Emma Smith reflects back at this year's taster workshops.

My name is Ian Martin and I am one of Hull Maritime Tour Guides.

As one of Hull Maritime History Tour Guides, Ian Martin adapts his tours to the people he is taking on the tour.

Liam Haggerty, Director of Southern Green Landscape Architects has been working with Hull Maritime on the...

Here's the latest update on work to improve Queens Gardens

Former Able Seaman, Ian Martin tells his story of working at sea and how the Spurn Lightship was a welcome sight...

In 2023, Hull Maritime awarded 13 community grants to groups and individuals in Hull for activities with maritime...

Lydia was part of Hull Maritime's creative digital skills project and as a result found out about the trainee...

Hull Maritime volunteer, Julie Corbett visited the Maritime Museum to see first-hand the progress being made on...

We are Mambo Jambo; we’re professional musicians, and we live in Hull but we play concerts and deliver workshops...

Here's a blog from Julie Corbett, a volunteer on the Tidal Barrier in Hull city centre.

Here's a blog from Julie Corbett, a volunteer who attended the Merchant Navy Day on 3 September 2023.

Hull Maritime's Community Engagement Officer, Emma visits the ‘Seeds of Change’ exhibition at Prospect Gallery and...

Here's a Maritime volunteer, Julie Corbett on the history of the River Hull.

Here's a Maritime volunteer, Julie Corbett on the history of the River Hull.

Our Documentation Assistant, Jason Lok tells us more about scrimshaw and one particular piece from the Maritime...

Hello, my name is Emma Smith and I’m the new Community Engagement Officer for Hull Maritime, the major...

Documentation Assistant, Jason Lok talks about the piece of scrimshaw with an inscription of 'Volunteer of Whitby'.

In this second blog, Documentation Assistant - Jason delves into the story of a particular piece of scrimshaw.

Here's Documentation Assistant, Jason Lok with an introduction to scrimshaw.

Nathan Bray completed the 'Maritime Futures' training programme in February. The course is an accredited training...

Written by Nadine Storrer, a participant in the 'Riverspeaking' project, funded by a Hull Maritime community...

Written by Jerry Thompson

Written by Nicola L Meekin (Participant) After participating in Tamar & Jo’s community Dance Project ‘Hit Parade’...

FISH! is a new exhibition on display at Hull Independent Photography Gallery, Prospect Centre, Hull. Here is Nigel...

Here's Jason Lok, Hull Maritime's Documentation Assistant looking back at when the Guildhall Time Ball dropped for...

People’s histories can become lost, and one aim of the maritime project is to retell some of these stories.

Hull Maritime volunteer, Julie Corbett talks about the importance of accessibility and the Arctic Corsair.

Hello everyone! My name is Jason Lok and I am the new Documentation Assistant for the Hull Maritime project.

June 2023 marks 30 years since Hull City Council and local fishing charity STAND joined forces to buy the Arctic...

18.05.23 As an artist who makes work about British Arctic Whaling, Hull Maritime Museum is an important source of...

10.05.23 With the launch of the Young Maritime Creatives secondary school scheme, Hull Maritime are excited to...

Thanks to Dean Maxwell for sending us his maritime story.

In this post, we chat to Dr Sophia Nicolov about the Charismatic Encounters project and why collaborating with...

In April, Hull Maritime launches a new series of pop-up exhibitions with A-Fishing for the Whale by artist...

Hull Maritime Museum is one of the stops on the maritime guided walks delivered by accredited White Badge tour...

Blaydes House is one of the stops on the maritime guided walks delivered by accredited White Badge tour guides.

The Wilberforce Statue is one of the stops on the maritime guided walks delivered by accredited White Badge tour...

The Deep is one of the stops on the maritime guided walks delivered by volunteers who are White Badge tour guides....

Hull Maritime volunteer, Julie Corbett delves into the history of Hull's town docks and is part of the Hull...

Stage@thedock is one of the stops on the maritime guided walks delivered by volunteers who are White Badge tour...

Hull Maritime volunteer, Janet Adamson has written a blog about Thomas Jacques Sommerscales after finding the Hull...

Here's why Don Knibb volunteers for Hull Maritime.

Hi, I’m Chris Willmoth and I recently joined the Hull Maritime team as the new Community and Schools Learning...

By Dr Jo Stanley, Honorary Research Fellow, Blaydes Maritime Centre, University of Hull

Hull Maritime volunteer and accredited tour guide, Janet Penny delves into the history of Beverley Gate.

Simpson (York) Limited continue to work on the refurbishment of Hull Maritime Museum and eleven months into the...

Hull Maritime volunteer and accredited tour guide, Don Knibb has some interesting nuggets of information on Solar...

An insight to what it was like working on board the Spurn Lightship.

Earlier this month two members of our team, Charlotte and Stathis, delivered a creative workshop to local young...

Thanks to Keith Howes for letting us tell the story of his grandfather, George Dennis Howes from Hull. He had...

Ian Martin, volunteers for Hull Maritime and was an Able Seaman on the Wilsons Ship, Rialto a 5,000-tonne ship....

Community Engagement Officer, Charlotte Tomlinson talks about Community Cafes and the power of bringing people...

Hull Maritime volunteer, Julie Corbett tells us more about the Railway Dock in Hull.

Ian Martin, volunteers for Hull Maritime and here he recalls his first trip at sea, after completing his Merchant...

Hull Maritime volunteer and accredited tour guide, Janet Penny delves into the history of Drypool Bridge.

In this series of stories, Hull Maritime volunteer, Ian Martin shares his experience at the Merchant Navy training...

In this series of stories, Hull Maritime volunteer, Ian Martin tells us about why he wanted to go to sea from an...

By Dr Sophia Nicolov as part of the Charismatic Encounters project at the University of Leeds.

Hull Maritime is supporting a project at the University of Leeds, bringing together partners to celebrate the...

Nova is working with two of the region’s brightest up and coming filmmakers in the latest stage of the digital and...

Janet Penny is a white badge accredited tour guide and delivers the maritime guided walks as part of Hull...

Nova’s creative workshops are back as Hull Maritime embarks on a weeklong celebration of Hull’s seafaring identity.

On November 14, the Hull Maritime Community Grant Scheme, in which we award small pots of up to £500 and £2000 to...

On November 14 the Hull Maritime Community Grant Scheme, in which we award small pots of up to £500 and £2000 to...

As part of Maritime Tales Week 2022, Hull Maritime have teamed up with the Whitefriargate High Street Heritage...

Here's Charlotte, our Community Engagement Officer with some top tips for applying for a community grant.

By Andy Train When I set out on my journey as a living statue performer I never dreamt I’d be part of a trio...

Volunteer Don Knibb writes about Ian Martin, a former merchant seaman and now a white badge tour guide delivering...

Here’s the latest update on the Hull Maritime Museum refurbishment.

This is the story of my grandad Bertie’s life at sea, by Linda Kelly.

Here's a blog from Julie, a volunteer for Hull Maritime.

05 October 2022 Here’s Stone Mason, Daniel Cooper. With 34 years of experience in this traditional craftmanship,...

04 October 2022 The three domes at Hull Maritime Museum are being given a new lease of life.

26 September 2022 Volunteer, Julie Corbett writes about their visit to Hull Maritime Museum.

26 September 2022 By Stathis Tsolis, Conservator. At the beginning of 2022, we introduced Conservation in...

13 September 2022 Hello, I’m Charlotte Tomlinson, and a couple of weeks ago I joined the Hull Maritime team in...

09 July 2022 Maritime volunteer, Julie Corbett visits the Pearson Park at the Animal Magic summer event.

25 September 2022 Ron Wilkinson is a former trawlerman, he worked on trawlers for many years working his way up...

22 August 2022 By Ron Wilkinson, Chair of STAND and former trawlerman

By Ron Wilkinson, Chair of STAND - St. Andrews Dock Heritage Park Action Group

Volunteer, Julie Corbett talks about the future of Hull Maritime Museum and North End Shipyard.

As part of the 'Diving Deeper' project funded by Designated Development Fund, Arts Council England, Hull Maritime...

As part of the 'Diving Deeper' project funded by Designated Development Fund, Arts Council England, Hull Maritime...

As part of the 'Diving Deeper' project funded by Designated Development Fund, Arts Council England, Hull Maritime...

15 August 2022 In this blog Hull Maritime white badge tour guide, Don Knibb writes about the Tidal Surge Barrier...

9 August 2022 In this blog, Hull Maritime white badge tour guide Janet Penny writes about the River Hull. The...

8 August 2022 Hull Maritime volunteer, Alison Keld visited the South Blockhouse site to be part of the team...

28 July 2022 Me and another student have been doing work experience at Hull maritime for the past week.

The granddaughter of Elsie Waterland (nee Holliday) who wrote this account of a journey she made on an Ellerman...

18 July 2022 Maritime Volunteer, Peter Burrows had a long career in the fishing industry and now shares his...

A blog by Maritime Volunteer Julie Corbett.

1 July 2022 Here’s the latest update on the Hull Maritime Museum refurbishment. June was another busy month at...

Alison Keld, a Hull Maritime volunteer visits The Guildhall and the Hull Tapestry that took volunteers 15 years to...

Steve Hardy volunteers for the Guildhall Time Ball project and was given the opportunity to visit Cutty Sark and...

Alison Keld, volunteers for the Guildhall Time Ball project and along with other volunteers she recently visited...

1 June 2022 Nigel Larkin, our natural history conservation specialist, has sent us an update on the ongoing whale...

30 May 2022 Heritage contractor, Simpson are now four months into a 20-month project. They have been tasked to...

Ann volunteers for the Guildhall Greenwich Time Ball project and recently visited Cutty Sark and Greenwich as part...

Julie Corbet, a volunteer for Hull Maritime interviewed Sally Taylor of the Fisherman’s Mission. She first met...

11 April 2022 This leaping Labrador carved out of wood was the figurehead of the famous paddle-steamer SS Sirius,...

A group of young painters in Hull have been honing their artistic skills to contribute work for a digital...

From spring 2022, we will be giving primary schools the chance to bring Hull’s maritime past to life through the...

Another group of young creatives will join forces with Nova this weekend as Hull: Yorkshire’s Maritime City’s...

16 December 2021 Maritime Media Volunteer, Julie Corbett delves deeper in to her fascination of whales.

December 2021, On 26 November, a group of volunteers were given the opportunity to visit the Hull Maritime...

December 2021 Volunteer, Mac Jordan visited the museum following the decamp of the collection and ahead of...

06.11.21 Maritime volunteer, Julie Corbett took part in one of the guided tours being offered within the city...

02.11.21 Volunteer, Julie Corbett visited Mark Copeland's 21 Remarkable People, during this year's Freedom...

28 October 2021, Julie Corbett volunteers for the project and here's her account of the Arctic Corsair move on 6...

Four young illustrators from across the city have spent the last few weekends collaborating as part of Nova’s...

Volunteer, Alison Keld tells us more about her visit to Alexandra Dock to see the Arctic Corsair leave Alexandra...

Julie Corbett, a volunteer for the Hull Maritime project was given the opportunity to see Dock Office Chambers for...

To celebrate the launch of our new On Board the Arctic Corsair Virtual Workshop, which is available to all...

6 September 2021 Charlie Trzeciak, our Community and Schools Learning Officer tells us more about an exciting new...

Monday 6 September 2021 By Maritime Media Volunteer, Julie Corbett.

Maritime media volunteer Alison researched our collections to write this blog marking 100 years since the loss of...

14 July 2021, Alison Keld volunteers for the project and she talks about a River Hull landmark.

9 July 2021, Volunteer, Ray Stephens had the opportunity to visit the museum during the object move and here's...

Nova’s digital and creative skills project in collaboration with Hull: Yorkshire’s Maritime City is underway and...

University of Hull History Network student, Ellie Hayes had the opportunity to visit the Hull Maritime Museum and...

Wednesday 23 June Maritime Media Volunteer, Emily Peach visited the Maritime Museum as the museum's vast...

Monday 21 June Janet Adamson, Maritime Media Volunteer explores how street names are chosen and here's what she...

Monday 21 June Maritime Media Volunteer, Ben Lanham visited the museum as objects were being recorded and packed...

Friday 4 June 2021 Julie Corbett, a Media Maritime Volunteer for the project visited the Hull Maritime Museum...

Thursday 3 June 2021Dane Mellows, second year student studying History at the University of Hull reflects on his...

Wednesday 2 June 2021 Holly Walton, our Community Engagement Officer visited St. John the Baptist Church on St....

Thursday 20 May By Maritime Media Volunteer, Don Knibb.

25 April 2021 Don Knibb, Maritime Media Volunteer tells us more about John Harrison - a carpenter and self-taught...

At the Hull Maritime Museum, a small team of colleagues are working hard to study, record, digitise, and, if...

19 April 2021, Celebrating 200 years of The Sailor’s Children’s Society by Maritime Media Volunteer - Alison Keld.

15 April 2021 On 15 April 1912, the RMS Titanic sank. Alison Keld, a Maritime Media Volunteer for the project...

Tuesday 13 April 2021 Maritime Media Volunteer, Ben Lanham delves into the history of The Guildhall and its many...

Thursday 8 April 2021 Maritime Media Volunteer, Janet Bark reflects on change, the past and present and how...

Friday 26 March 2021 Maritime Media Volunteer, Julie Corbett tells us more about the Guildhall and the...

Monday 29 March 2021 By Maritime Media Volunteer, Janet Adamson

Thursday 18 March 2021 In this blog Maritime Media volunteers write about the iconic Maritime Museum building and...

18 March 2021 Maritime Media Volunteer, Alison Keld tells us more about why Pearson Park has a maritime link.

8 March 2021 Olwen Evans-Knibb, is a Maritime Media Volunteer for the project and she tells us more about the...

4 March 2021 Welcome to a journey of exploration through Hull’s maritime heritage by Esraa Almokdad. Esraa...

2 March 2021 Back in October we asked our Maritime Media volunteers to take or select their own images of local...

2 March 2021 Maritime Media Volunteer Don Knibb looks back to 1425 when two major events took place in the same...

Monday 22 February 2021 Maritime Media Volunteer, Alison Keld tells us more about how parts of whales were used...

16 February 2021 Maritime Media Volunteer, Julie Corbett looks to the future of Queen's Gardens and reflects on...

This blog is by Maritime volunteer and University of Hull student, Jason Kin Lok.

Maritime Media Volunteer, Don Knibb captured the TrueLove flag being removed from the wall in the whaling gallery...

Wednesday 3 February 2021 Maritime Media Volunteer, Alison Keld spotted some striking riverside sculptures...

Wednesday 3 February 2021 Ray Stephens, a Maritime Media Volunteer for the project takes a deeper look at one...

Monday 1 February 2021 Julie Corbett, Maritime Media Volunteer reflects on the Triple Trawler Tragedy.

Wednesday 27 January 2021 Janet Adamson, a Maritime Media Volunteer for the project wanted to find out more about...

26 January 2021What do we know about Hull's role in the wine import trade? Maritime Media Volunteer, Don reveals...

Hi, I’m Andy Ede, and just a couple of weeks ago I started in the role of Project Assistant for the Hull:...

Maritime Media Volunteer, Ray Stephens visited the museum and talks about a particular painting that caught his...

Maritime Media Volunteer, Aaron Baldwin shares his account of the removal of maritime paintings from the Hull...

Last week, the Diana painting, by Richard Widdas was packed away and taken to a studio for conservation treatment.

Maritime Media Volunteer, Janet Bark had the opportunity to capture a number of maritime paintings being taken...