Hull's Famous sons and Daughters : William Wilberforce

Possible Hull's most famous past resident and rightfully so fondly remember by the people of Hull and all over 

( Lynne and Paul just came back from The Gambia where he was well known ) 

(Now the hands on History museum in Hull) It was the School where he went not for his entire childhood age 7 to 9 

Wilberforce aged 9 

(Hull poet Andrew marvell also went there ) +Hull Museums  (At the time Hull grammar School )

Pocklington School Where he went from 12 after been returned from London as his Grandparents were opposed to his Evangelist leanings and Hull Grammar school's headmaster was also an Evangelist 

 The house he lived in from Birth until his farther died and he was sent to live with his Uncle in London Aged 9 

24 August 1759 his date of Birth He was Christened in September at the Holy Trinity Church Hull which is close to where he went to school  

Holy Trinity 

 Wilberforce house is in the heart of Hull's old town near the River Hull the Wilberforce family were merchants and that was the area that the majority of Hull's merchants lived however the Wilberforce family did not build this house but brought it which was unusual as most Hull merchants built their own homes at the time like the grand Maistor house  ( the River Hull was Hull's original docks )  (Wilberforce House in Hull was opened as Britain's first slavery museum)  His Grandfather also called William Brought it from the Thornton Family in 1732 

The same merchant family he had worked for when he moved to Hull 

His Work 

''William was only 5’4” tall. Once, when he spoke in York Castle Yard, he was described as a shrimp as he stood up on a table to address a huge angry audience, but as he spoke, he quietened them and made them listen. It was said ‘he grew and grew until the shrimp became a whale!’'' Copied via +Hull Museums  

It took him 10 attempts to get his bill to abolish the transatlantic slave trade in Britain until it was passed in 1807 114 for and 15 against and this was not the end of the slave trade or his campaigning

"When I consider the magnitude of the subject which I am to bring before the House, a subject, in which the interests, not of this country, nor of Europe alone, but of the whole world, and of posterity, are involved: and when I think, at the same time, on the weakness of the advocate who has undertaken this great cause... it is impossible for me not to feel both terrified and concerned at my own inadequacy to such a task."

"The Transatlantic slave trade, I tell you, is an evil trade. I will not rest until I have effected its abolition."

Hull's hidden history part 2

As a city of 730 plus years of age Hull has a lot of history there are two problems a lot of it is either hidden or lost due to things like the Blitz (one example of lost history from the Blitz was the Hull municipal museum on Albion street )
See part one here 

The Next hidden thing :

Hull Medieval walls (with the two following exceptions all gone Beverley gate and a small section in East park)

You can still trace where the walls stood:
They ran from the River Hull to the Humber

• North walls behind Hull college still bears the walls name follow it  till it meets wilberforce drive now walk along the old docks (Queens Gardens, Prince's dock and Hull marina ) until you hit the Humber you have followed the path of the old walls (and talk time to admire wilberforce monument older than Nelson's column in London and said to be the inspiration Wilberforce monument once stood close to Beverley gate not that at that time it was dug out)
• The only physical remains of the walls is Beverley gate  near Prince's dock 
• The town's old city centre docks where the reason the walls where removed 
• It is worth noting that all the land at the Marina after the building the old ropery was in the medieval period in the Humber and was later reclaimed 
• so Techincal once you pass that point in the Medieval Hull you would have been swimming for example the land where the Cdi building is on was Hull Water gate 

Why Beverley Gate matters

Walk down Whitefriars gate in Hull you pass a hole in the ground with some bricks in it wait that there is a bit more to it then that that is Beverly gates remains. The only part of Hull's medieval town walls that remain unlike York we did away with ours as they got in the way of the Town docks as they got built.


Why does it matter ?
For one reason
It was where on of the major sparks of the English civil war happened when the King (Charles the First ) was shut out he wanted to inspect the royal armoury with in the city. This lead to the siege of Hull (one of the first battles of the civil war )
Which lead to:

• A king been executed 
• To let them expect a king a change in the treason law  
• The first and only time Englands been a republic 
• The only English dictator Oliver Cromwell ( Who banned christmas by the Way ) 

So I think it is safe to say Beverley gate (Hull )is one of the UK's most important historical locations 

Don't let it be buried

on this day

#onthisday
949 years ago in #Yorkshire at Stamford bridge a key battle took place when king Harold faced of and won against the viking invaders before having to march to hasting to the more know battle that he would lose

75 years on from the battle of Britain

Defending our skies 75 years ago from threats and still protecting them today 

+Royal Air Force Museum 

+Royal Air Force 

Did you know ?
That during ww2 the humble baked bean was deemed so important and a staple part of the british diet that they were not rationed

Should they fill Beverley gate in ? Hull

Answer in the comments

The Beverley gate in Hull is:

• One of the few medieval brick gates 
• The oldest example of medieval brick gates 
• A key point in the English civil war 

The current situation at the gate is no good for anyone as the site is not correctly utilized, If this was York the site would be a major tourist draw yet the council has let the site go down hill (funding or something not having a go at +Hull City Council just saying ) 

A better solution needs to be found Hull can not lose a key historical location of national importance ( +Visit Hull & East Yorkshire ) after all it was where The governor of Hull shut out the King Charles the 1st preventing him access to the large arsenal ( royal ) largest outside London I think. Leading to both the siege of Hull and the English civil war.  More of this needs making of the site and more in general Hull has such a rich history there is more to Hull the it Maritime history and Wilberforce as big a part of Hull history they are.

While I have always favoured the Glass idea I can see why the +Hull City Council think this want work fair enough but just filling the gate in is the correct answer. It like york saying it is going to knock the walls down, Hull has lost over the years it fort/Garrison ( @ Sammy point where +The Deep  stands now ) and all the walls the gate is all that remains of them. 

So What to do ?

A few options do exist as I see them ( plus other people  E.g  +Hull Daily Mail comments )

• Take each brick up and fill the hole in and rebuild the remains at street level 
• or in a Museum/ Which museum in Hull would be best 
• Leave it as it is ( not ideal )
• Glass roof  just don't let people walk on it 

  Just filling the Gate in is not a good Answer it will hide and destroy history

# On this day 04/06

# Also on this day in History
1940 – World War II: The Dunkirk evacuation ends – British forces complete evacuation of 338,000 troops from Dunkirk in France. To rally the morale of the country, Winston Churchill delivers his famous "We shall fight on the beaches" speech.

# On this day in history 
1944 – World War II: Rome falls to the Allies, the first Axis capital to fall

Historical East Yorkshire

The remains of Skipsea castle East Yorkshire

The remains of Swine castle Near Hull 

Skidby Windmill East Yorkshire 

Withernsea light house East Yorkshire built 1 mile inland 

Flamborough lighthouse East Yorkshire 

25 years ago today

It was 25 years ago today that the Berlin wall came down

Famous face quiz

So who are these people

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

Remember remember the 5th of November

Lets all enjoy a happy and safe bonfire night tomorrow.

But what are we remembering on the 5th of November?

The plot by Guy Fawkes and the rest plot to blow the king(James the first) and parliament up in. The year 1604. He was Executed on the 31st January 1605 (He jumped from the gallows and broke his neck to avoid the grisly death that awaited a traitor of been hung drawn and quartered)
and the first bonfire night was started later that year on the 5th of November under encouragement of the king. thats 409 years of bonfire nights. Talk about a old tradition.

Fireworks are great fun when used correctly but really dangerous when used wrong

And remember cats and dogs and the likes are often scared by loud bangs 

So don't forget about our furry friends 

And after bonfire night check your garden for the remains of fireworks and the likes. 

Hull the game changer of English History

Hull the city that changed English history time and time again 

Now I admit this may sound like a very bold claim but bear with me will I back it up.  

For a start two of England's most historical significant building are in Hull old town the Beverley Gate and The old White Hart. Both where critical in sparking of the English civil war that lead to the only time in English history where:

• We Executed a reigning monarch  Charles 1st
• And the only time in English history we where a parliamentary state (Not Democracy Cromwell turned into the only English Dictator)(In fact it  and he became so hated that we re installed the killed monarchs son Charles 2nd on the throne)

But How did we spark all this off it was simple Charles the 1st visited Hull to see his Royal garrison and armoury that was based in Hull. The city leader who where parliamentarians meet in the plotting room in the  Old White Hart and decided to shut the king out at Beverly gate. 

• Or as a side note our role in ending slavery
• Etc 

D Day we remember and honour

Today is the 6th of June 2014. As I am sure you know the 70th anniversary of operation overlord  (DDay) The beginning of the end of World War 2.

And we remember and honour all those brave men and women (British, commonwealth,Americans,French) who fraught and died and survived. Both on the beach of Normandy and on the ships and in the UK in planning and home defence and the likes. 

But lets not forget all those who where involved in the war in the far east against Japan an equal important part of the war or those who fought in the desert of Africa. And all the other theatres of war.