28th April 2025
More than 45,000 objects from the city’s maritime reserve collection have been relocated to a new storage centre.
The artefacts were in storage while the facility was being refurbished. Artefacts, each a physical reminder of Hull’s rich maritime past, started returning last year and since then 25 trucks have transported them back to the city.
The museum team cares for the reserve collection which represents every aspect of Hull’s 800 years of maritime history.
This store will transform the way the collection is cared for not only through more stable conditions, but also through conservation and research.
Robin Diaper, Curator of Maritime and Social History, said: “This new storage centre represents a significant investment in the preservation and care of our maritime heritage, ensuring their protection for generations to come.
“We are committed to maintaining the integrity of these artefacts and ensuring that they are available for future research and exhibitions. Our small team has worked tirelessly to make this vision a reality, and we are incredibly proud of the result."
The relocation process has been planned and executed over the past year, involving a collaborative effort from museum staff.
The collections were brought back in a specific order to enable the stores to be organised systematically. Once transported to the new facility, collections have been recorded on a database and carefully located on specialist racking.
Decisions on exactly where to locate specific collections within the store have been approached in a way which will provide the most appropriate care for each artefact and enable maximum access in the future. An ongoing process of documentation, condition checking and sorting is still to be done, which will ensure the best care and access.
The Maritime Museum's reserve collection includes a diverse array of artefacts, ranging from historical documents and navigational instruments to ship models and maritime paintings. These items provide a comprehensive insight into the rich maritime history of the region and beyond.
Previously stored within the Maritime Museum, this new storage facility dedicated to Hull Maritime Museum’s reserve collection will enable the museum itself to open a new floor to visitors, uncovering more of the Victorian architecture. Not only revealing more of the building it will also enable the museum to showcase 50 per cent more maritime treasures, many on display for the first time.
Once the Maritime Museum opens and as part of the ongoing commitment to accessibility and public engagement, select artefacts from the reserve collection will be periodically displayed in special exhibitions, allowing visitors to appreciate their historical significance and cultural value.
