Hull City Council has been awarded £15m of National Lottery money to help secure Hull’s future as a major UK tourist destination.  Building on its success as UK City of Culture 2017, this historic maritime city will reclaim and share every element of its past by developing three important sites: the Maritime Museum; the Dock Office Chambers and the North End Shipyard; and two historic vessels, the Arctic Corsair and Spurn Lightship.

Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive of the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), said: “This is the perfect moment for Hull to benefit from a £15m investment from the National Lottery.  Its profile has already been substantially raised by the ongoing UK City of Culture activities and this new funding will now enable an in-depth exploration of its maritime heritage. With a greater understanding of the wider Hull story we hope local people will feel proud of their great city’s past and optimistic about its resurgence moving forwards.”  

This place-making project, which firmly places Hull’s maritime heritage at its centre, will be developed and delivered over the next seven years; it is part of a wider plan to regenerate the city.  It will look back to Hull’s history as a trading and fishing port and then take the story onwards to the present and beyond. 

Following on from its ongoing £100m investment in the city’s cultural and visitor infrastructure, Hull City Council will provide a further £12.5m towards the project from its capital programme.

John Glen, Minister for Arts, Heritage and Tourism, said: “This £15m investment will help Hull build an enduring legacy from its fantastic year as UK City of Culture, as I was able to observe first hand on my visit to the city last week. Thanks to National Lottery players, the project will ensure that Hull's unique seafaring history will not only be protected, but used to help fulfil its goal to become one of the top tourist destinations in the country.”

Councillor Stephen Brady, Leader of Hull City Council, said: “Today’s announcement is a huge vote of confidence in our city and another major step towards achieving one of the key ambitions of our City Plan to make Hull a world-class visitor destination.  My heartfelt thanks go to National Lottery players – it couldn’t have happened without them.”

The project will create at least 20 new jobs, increased visitor numbers and a volunteer programme to raise awareness and pride in Hull’s maritime history.

The project has five core elements:

• Hull Maritime Museum will be reconfigured and visitors given access to one of the building domes which has spectacular views over the city and Humber. There will be a 50% increase of the number of items on public view.
• The Dock Office Chambers will be converted into a state-of-the-art home for the maritime collection.
• The Arctic Corsair and Spurn Lightship will undergo full conservation before being relocated. The former will be permanently berthed in a dry dock at the North End Shipyard and the latter returned to Hull Marina. Both will have on-board exhibitions and updated displays.
• A visitor orientation centre will be built at the North End Shipyard on Dock Office Row.

Councillor Brady added: “This is a major investment which will conserve and showcase Hull’s maritime heritage and allow the city to develop its already strong cultural and tourism offer, ensuring that visitors continue to flock to Hull well beyond our time as UK City of Culture.

“Just as important, this investment will allow the city to celebrate and reflect on its past, present and future as Yorkshire’s Maritime City. Drawing on the unique spirit of local people, it is another example of how Hull is flourishing and prospering through the regeneration and development of its proud heritage.”

Further information

• Katie Owen, HLF Press Office, on tel: 020 7591 6036 or via mobile: 07973 613820
• Kiran Ghuman, Hull City Corporate Marketing and Media Team, on tel: 01482 615156 or via mobile: 07809 102014