Did you know, that after the folk of Hull had salted their meat, the Town’s Gates were closed for the winter months, and would not re-open until the approach of spring!
Trade during this period was granted, but only via the River Hull!
Source: A History of Hull’s Railways, G.G. MacTurk, Revised by Ken Hoole, Nidd Narrow Gauge Railways Ltd, 1879 – 1970
Did you know, in 1870 there was only one way to travel to and from Hull? This was via coach and horses, setting off from The Land of Green Ginger, as the old Post Office was situated along there, within the confines of an old public house called "The Reindeer".
Source: A History of Hull’s Railways, G.G. MacTurk, Revised by Ken Hoole, Nidd Narrow Gauge Railways Ltd, 1879 – 1970
Did you know, that in 1293, only 60 houses exsisted, by 1377, Poll Tax registers note that only 693 families lived in the town of Hull!
Source: The Book of Hull, John Markham, Barracuda Books Limited, 1989
Did you know, that in 1893, there were 117 fully licensed public houses in the Old Town alone!
Source: Images of Victorian Hull, Hutton Press, 1989
Did you know, Posterngate got it’s name due to the fact that it led to a small gated entrance in the Town’s Walls!
Source: Images of Victorian Hull, Hutton Press, 1989
Did you know, Hull was under attack by a lost Zepplin on 6th June 1915. The Zepplin was intended for London, but heavy winds forced it over Hull, where the commander of the vessle decided to drop his cargo on the port of Hull! Twenty four people perished and 40 properties were destroyed in the attack!
Source: A Century of Hull, David Gerrard, History Press, 2008
Did you know, that Hull once had a seer, who was so popular, people came from far and wide to hear his fortunes! He was nicknamed "The Planet Ruler" and lived in Hull during the 1870’s. By looking at your date of birth he could tell you your future, and for just Half a Crown!
Source: Folklore of East Yorkshire, John Nicholson, Hull Literary Club, 1890
Did you know, that the creator of the King Billy statue did not committ suicide! The myth goes that Peter Scheemaker took his life after discovering that he had not put stirrups on the statue.
The non inclusion of stirrups was intentional, as Scheemaker wanted to show King William as a Roman Emperor!
Perhaps many of those that perpetuated the myth got it mixed up with William Day Keyworth, who had created sculptures of Wilberforce, Marvell and De La Pole. He was found with a single gunshot wound to the head, at his property off Spring Bank.
Source: Personal Research
Did you know, that on December 4th 1688 The Protestants were alleged to have taken Hull’s Citadel off the Catholics. This was known as "Town Taking Day" and Hull’s school children enjoyed a day off school!
Source: The Book of Hull, John Markham, Barracuda Books Limited, 1989
Did you know, that in 1910 Hull had 2 certified Canine specialists? John Mears, Canine Specialist lived at 5 Spring Street- Watson and Sugden operated from 291 Hawthorn Ave!
It beats this listing for Beverley though, Edward Farnaby, Castrator! Hall Garth, Minster Yard North, Beverley.
Source: Kelly’s 1910 Trade Directory of Hull.
Did you know, that in 1796 several of the Hull newspapers carried advertisements for the Royal Navy. The recruitment drive offered new conscripts, clothes, beef, grog flip, and STRONG BEER!!!
Source: Own Research
Did you know, that during WW2 over Hull alone there where, 82 Air Raids, 1,200 People Killed, 3,000 Injured, 86,715 Houses Damaged, 5,945 Houses undamaged, 152,000 Homeless becuase of the enemy action, 815 Air Raid Alerts, 1,000 Hours spent under the alerts, 250 Domestic shelters destroyed, 120 Communal Shelters destroyed, 800 People rescued alive, and finally
0 Spirits Broken!
Did you know that in 1823 a shark was caught alive near Hull in the Humber? It was described as a female shark, eight feet in length and measuring 4 feet across. It had caught whilst in the act of trying to catch two children who were washing their feet in the Estuary! It was stuffed and kept, although it’s current location is unknown.
Source: Hull Packet and Original Weekly Commercial, Literary, and General Advertiser, October 6th 1823.
Home 
