Hull and East Riding Museum

The Hull and East Riding Museum tells the story of Hull and East Yorkshire from the beginning of geological time all the way up to Hull in the Civil War. Like Hull’s other museums it has received substantial investment over recent years in maintaining the quality and relevance of the exhibitions and there is a good combination of activities for children and adults.

The museum is arranged chronologically and begins by looking at the remains and reconstructions of the aquatic creatures which would have swum around East Yorkshire millions of years ago. Visitors will find it hard to miss the enormous woolly mammoth guarding the entrance. Also on display from this period are man made stone tools, many of which come from the collection of 19th century local antiquarian John Mortimer, whose private collection of prehistoric artefacts rivalled those of the greatest Victorian archaeologists.

From around the same time as the Roos Carr figures are two internationally important examples of the area’s maritime past. The Ferriby Boats were a series of oak planked boats dug from the mud flats of the Humber in the mid 20th century. However, it wasn’t until the end of the century that carbon dating showed the true age and importance of these finds as they were shown to be nearly 4,000 years old. This made them amongst the oldest known vessels of their kind in Europe. Their advanced technical design involved stitching the planks together with yew withies, a technique only known in Ancient Egypt at the same time.

At only 2,300 years old, the Hasholme Boat is slightly younger than the Ferriby Boats, and its simple hewn out construction is technically more basic. However, it is still an impressive structure in its entirety which can be seen in the artificial lab it is being treated in to ensure its long term survival. The Iron Age is also represented by fine displays of metal artefacts including the impressive North Grimston Sword. Discovered in the grave of a Celtic warrior, it features a human face on its handle and is similar to those found in Ireland and Northern France. Children can get into the feel of the age by climbing aboard a chariot and walking through a reconstructed village scene, complete with cooking smells!

The Roman galleries were refurbished as recently as 2002 and have been designed to resemble the centre of the prominent Roman settlement of Peturia. This is modern day Brough, a town lying on the north bank of the River Humber, 10 miles west of Hull. During the Roman Empire it lay directly on the route from the important Roman towns of Lincoln and York.  The 4th century Roman mosaics are laid out as floors, much as they would have been in their original villas in the area. They are widely considered to be one of the most extensive collections of Roman Mosaics in Britain, including one showing the only known display of a chariot race in Roman Britain.

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