Thousands of maritime artefacts return to city

More than 45,000 objects showcasing Hull's 800-year maritime history have been brought back to the city and moved to a new storage centre while a museum is being refurbished.

The artefacts include historical documents, navigational instruments, model ships and maritime paintings.

They were taken away for storage when refurbishment work on Hull Maritime Museum began in 2021 but have now returned to the city in 25 lorry loads.

Robin Diaper, the museum's curator of maritime and social history, said some of the artefacts will be displayed in the museum when it reopens in 2026.

He 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."

It has not been revealed where the storage centre is located, but the moving of the artefacts has been planned and executed over the past year by museum staff.

Mr Diaper said decisions on where to place the items in storage had been made in a way which would provide the most appropriate care for each artefact and "enable maximum access in the future".

Work on the museum, in Queen Victoria Square, began in 2021 as part of a £27.5m revamp of the city's maritime heritage.

It was originally scheduled to reopen in 2025, but Hull City Council said that had been delayed until spring 2026 after it was found some areas of the building required further attention.

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