Two years ago, Hull’s first community archaeological excavation took place at the site of a riverside fortress built on the orders of King Henry VIII. It saw volunteer members of the public working alongside professional archaeologists during every stage of the 11-week dig.
Recently a second community excavation has been completed on another nearby site, peeling back layers of history in the ancient parish of Drypool which was mentioned in the Domesday Book and actually pre-dates what became the town of Hull.
Hull’s volunteer archaeologists
Around 100 volunteers have been involved this time, much to the delight of Peter Connolly who manages Humber Field Archaeology. He said:
“We have been very clear in wanting the people of Hull to be involved in these excavations because, after all, it’s their city and their history we are talking about. On this particular site we have been extremely fortunate to be able to create a snapshot of what life was like here through the centuries, from the early Medieval period right up to the late 19th century,
“We are literally uncovering the story of Drypool and what could be better than getting local people to help tell that story?”
At a site previously occupied by a large flour mill complex, finds have ranged from an almost intact late 18th-century street made of granite setts to evidence of a Medieval ditch, as well as a further section of King Henry’s military defences.
The volunteering bug took off in Hull in 2017 during its year as the UK City of Culture when hundreds of people gave up their spare time, donned sky-blue jackets and became unpaid guides, ambassadors, event stewards and flag-bearers for the place they call home.
That momentum has carried on ever since. Today the volunteer programme run by the region’s tourism partnership has around 2,500 people on its books. If there’s an arts, culture or heritage event happening in Hull or the neighbouring East Riding, a couple of volunteers are more than likely to be in attendance.
This goodwill and public spiritedness have helped offset some of the challenges created by years of central government austerity funding cuts experienced by local councils.
Hull Maritime project
Volunteering has also been central to the £30mn Hull Maritime project which is due to end next year after launching in 2018.
Jointly funded by the Heritage Lottery and the city council, it has included the refurbishment of Hull’s Maritime Museum, restoration work on two historic vessels now operating as tourist attractions and the creation of a new visitor centre at a former dry dock.
The project’s volunteer programme has been running throughout, from members of the public delivering guided tours to conserving historic artefacts. With the main attractions due to re-open next year, volunteer shifts are already being advertised.
Everyone’s history
Back at the Drypool dig, Connelly says volunteering is now a part of Hull’s DNA and admits his team – a self-financing section of the city council – would have struggled to uncover as much as it has without the help of many extra pairs of hands.
“We had to close the application process to volunteer here at the end of the first day because we were already over-subscribed. After the response we had to the first community excavation it probably wasn’t a surprise but it just shows the interest out there.
“This is not just history for us archaeologists, it’s everyone’s history.”
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