Nearly 500 years ago Hull was so important that King Henry VIII visited the place twice and commanded that new defences be built on the east bank of the River Hull.
At the King’s expense Hull Castle, two Blockhouses and a long defensive wall were built in the short time of two years.
Around 150 years ago the tales behind these Tudor defences began to fade away. Since 2017 the people of Hull have started to uncover these stories again and now it is your time to get involved.
For one weekend at the end of July, people from across the city will meet at the site of South Blockhouse to get creative and help tell the amazing story of Tudor – and later – Hull. At this event you will be able to:
- Talk to archaeologists to learn about the stories behind the South Blockhouse.
- Handle real artefacts from the site.
- Find out more about Hull’s maritime past.
- Find out what it was like to navigate the Humber Estuary during Tudor times.
- Make your own model sailing boat and test its seaworthiness in the drainpipe channel challenge.
- Set forth into the past by playing the time travel role playing game Timefort 1555.
- Have a taste of Tudor food.
- Make your own Scrap Store inspired Tudor clothing.
- Write a postcard story and tell your Tudor Tale.
Venue Details
SOUTH BLOCKHOUSE,
Tower Street,
Hull,
HU1 4BG
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. 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.
