Lost Streets of Hull - Part one

Introduction

Over the centuries streets in Hull and come and gone. Some retain their original names whilst others have seen their names changed. Some are within living memory, whilst others may have disappeared long ago. Some of these street you may never heard of or knew never existed and unknowingly travel along, whilst others have been superseded by a new street or layout altogether. Some of these streets may have reverted to carparks or green spaces, with others are now occupied by buildings. In this first of a two-part blog, we look at some of Hull's lost streets.

Aldgate

Though technically not lost as such (just renamed) was Aldgate. The reason for mentioning Aldgate is it is possibly Hull’s oldest street. 'Aldgate' is Saxon in origin and means Old-gate. It could be that Aldgate pre-dates the Norman Conquest of 1066. Aldgate, now Whitefriargate was an ancient thoroughfare meaning 'public gate' or 'open to all'.

It is probable that Aldgate was in use at least a century before Hull. There was a ferry crossing at Drypool in the 13th century before Hull was acquired by Edward I. This crossing may have disembarked on the west side of the river Hull by what was Aldgate, (today Scale Lane). Aldgate ran the route of what we know today as Scale Lane, Silver Street and Whitefriargate, linking up with Carr Lane. From here travellers could continue west. Aldgate would perhaps have been used as a route to Wyke, the settlement around 1 km west of Hull’s old town. Aldgate named changed to Whitefriargate when the White Friars settled here.

Bowling Green Court

Taking its name from the bowling green situated there in 1791, Bowling Green Court was at the end of Waltham Street. The sites history is believed to go back centuries - if believed 1,500 years! It is said that a 6th century hall once stood on its site, which would put this at the time of the early Angles and Saxons. By the mid-1820s the land was sold to the adjoining Waltham Street chapel and with it the name ceased.

The site of the Bowling Green Court was within the area marked ' site of hall or manor house... c.6th cent. [L SP/101]

Carlisle Street

Many of use still walk along what was once known as Carlisle Street. It was once a section of what we know today as Prospect Street from its junction with West Street, just by the former Woolworth’s store and ran to the intersection with Jameson Street. It was once originally part of the Beverley Road and named after the Lord Lieutenant of East Yorkshire, Frederic Earl of Carlisle. 

Carlisle Street [Goodwill and Lawson's plan of Hull, 1834]

Champagne Street

Despite thinking the obvious connection, Champagne Street didn’t take it name from the production of sparkling wines. It takes its name from Peter de Campania, a Royal Commissioner in Hull in 1293. Today the route of Champagne Street appears to be that of Dagger Lane today. Dagger Lane became the place in which daggers or knives were made, hence its name change from Champagne Street.

Collier Street

Yes. Collier Street is no more. For many of us it was at Collier Street that we hopped off the bus at the old bus station. However, Collier Street was no more with the building of St. Stephen’s shopping centre. The route of Collier Street now forms Margaret Moxon Way which is sandwiched between the shopping centre and the Paragon Interchange. Collier Street was once home to some of the worst housing conditions in Hull during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The image below is that of James Place, a court that ran off Collier Street. The walls were washed in white lime to give it a lighter feel as such courts tended to have little in the way of natural light. It was named after Joseph Collier who purchased a portion of the street in 1828.

James Place, Collier Street. Note the walls lime washed to give it a lighter feel [L THP/721]

Fetter Lane

Fetter Lane linked Market Place with High Street. Fetter Lane refers to a type of shackle for the feet. It may have taken its name from the House of Correction located there. It is said prisoners were held in ‘fetters’ outside. Today the Magistrate Courts by the A63 and Market Place occupy the site that was once Fetter Lane.

Great Passage Street

Great Passage Street was probably ancient highway tracing its origins back to the 12th century, if not earlier. It was close to Great Passage Street that the ancient hamlet of Myton was located. In the 17th and 18th centuries it was merely a track to various properties that had been built there. By the beginning of the 19th century, it was once again an important road. In the second half of the 20th century, it made way for the A63, more precisely the Myongate roundabout, which has now been replaced by the new A63 improvement scheme, due to open in Spring 2025.

Great Passage Street followed the line of the hamlet of Myton from what was then Lyle Street (now Mytongate) [L.9.8 Blashill's Evidences relating to East Hull]

Hull Street

Hull Street was once the economic hub of the Town. Hull Street is now better known today as High Street. Hull Street or High Street appears to be built on land reclaimed from the much wider river. So had you been around before the 1250s this part of Hull was more than likely formed the very edge of the riverbank meaning everything to its east, including Hull's Museum Quarter was in fact river!

Love Lane

Perhaps it acquired its name from young lovers frequenting its stretch - it seems plausible. Love Lane was in the vicinity Kingston Street and ran north to south. Originally it was a lane leading to property in the neighbourhood which then contained a few scattered villas. A part of the old Love Lane now forms part of Cogan Street. 

Love Lane from Thomas Anderson's plan of Hull, 1814

Lyle Street

Lyle Street appears to have been a short-lived name in the history of Hull. Lyle Street is better known today as Mytongate. Lyle Street was named after a Royal Commissioner, Roger de Insula in 1293. Also spelt Lisle, it is the Anglicised name of Roger de Insula. Whilst many of us have been sat in traffic on Mytongate, Mytongate acquired the non-official name of La Belle Tour (a fine walk) when the town beyond its Medieval walls was open space.

Thanks for reading and keep a look out for part-two.

Neil Chadwick

Librarian/Archivist 

The Ye Olde White Harte and myth of the Plotting Parlour

The Ye Olde White Harte holds a special place in the fabric of Hull. Situated between Silver Street and Bowlalley Lane, and linked by a passage between the two, the unsuspecting visitor may easily walk past and not give it a second glance. For those who have frequented its premises it is a step back in time to when Hull remained confined to its medieval walls. At the time when no docks existed, ships would have fought for mooring space in the river Hull along the length of High Street waiting to load and unload their goods and cargos. The towns inhabitants of around 6,000 would have lived within the town walls. Beyond the walled town was open country. Many of those born in Hull would have lived, worked, and died in the town, perhaps never venturing far from its walls. For those that did leave, most were employed at sea, sailing to the Baltic, Northern Europe and beyond!

Whilst being well-known as favourite among Hull’s watering holes, a must if participating in Hull's famous ale trail, the Ye Olde White Harte has become known to many known as the place where in 1642, Sir John Hotham, the then governor of Hull was said to have hatched a plot in the ‘Plotting Parlour’ denying King Charles I entry into Hull. Charles returned to York before moving to Nottingham when on 22 August 1642 he raised his standard, sparking the English Civil War. And the rest they say is history!

Stop there. Whilst Sir John Hotham did indeed refuse Charles entry into Hull, the decision wasn’t taken in the Ye Olde White Harte. The Plotting Parlour in the Ye Olde White Harte has got somewhat confused with the actual plot hatched there some forty-six years later.

The Plotting Parlour in the Ye Olde White Harte takes its name from an event in 1688. In that year, on 3 December the Mayor, Aldermen along with leading figures of the town gathered at the then deputy governors house, now the Ye Olde White Harte. They hatched a plan to overthrow Hull’s Catholic governor. It is this plot that the Plotting Parlour takes its name from, not that of Sir John Hotham’s refusal to admit Charles I into Hull.

Despite this, some continue to believe, and indeed strongly argue that the Plotting Parlour is indeed where Sir John Hotham decided to refuse Charles I entry into Hull in 1642.

So, owing to this confusion, we’d thought we’d take a few minutes to put the record straight. Please note if you are one of those who strongly believes the Ye Olde White Harte is indeed the place where the plot was hatched to refuse King Charles I entry into Hull, you may want to look away now…

The myth

The myth about the Ye Old White Harte being the residence of Sir John Hotham appears to have originated in the 19th century. Despite many of its original features, the building underwent significant alterations in 1881. Features like its stained-glass windows, which include the depiction of Sir John only adds to the myth.

Ye Olde White Harte

Evidence reveals (Historic England) the building was not erected until after the Civil War. It was built by William Catlyn, for Alderman William Foxley, a wealthy grocer in 1660. Caytln was a bricklayer in Hull and responsible for several buildings in the town, including Wilberforce House and probably Crowle House. Catlyn himself is recorded in some of the documents here at the History Centre.

The Ye Olde White Harte today

Hollar’s plan of Hull, c.1640

A clue to whether the Ye Olde White Harte was around at the time of the English Civil War is perhaps revealed in Hollar’s plan of Hull of c.1640. Looking in the vicinity in which the Ye Olde White Harte is located (image below), there is a gap or space where the Ye Olde White Harte sits today. Firstly, this isn’t unusual. Gaps or spaces were common at this time in Hull. Despite being confined within its medieval walls, the town had open spaces, particularly close to its walls. There were even gardens! We must of course recognise not every building in Hollar’s plan is accurate and therefore allow for some form of artistic licence on his behalf.

Hollar's plan of Hull, c.1640 showing a section of Whitefriargate before it became known as Silver Street. The Ye Old White Harte is now located between here and what was Denton Lane, now Bowlalley Lane.
[Ref: L MAPS/4/12]

That said, Hollar appears to have had a knack to illustrate places from a viewpoint, impossible before flight. He must also have had some intimate knowledge of the town. Hollar depicts, for example, the busy river with most buildings lining Hight Street which for centuries was Hull’s commercial and economic hub. It was in the River Hull or 'Haven' that ships loaded and unload their goods and cargos whilst merchant houses and warehouses would have lined the river front and High Street. And Hollar knew this.

The Castle and Blockhouses on the eastern side of the river are shown in detail, whilst prominent landmarks such as Holy Trinity, the Suffolk Palace, the Guildhall all feature, though this is perhaps to be expected being the town’s most prominent buildings at the time. Lister House, the forerunner to Wilberforce House can also be identified. This begs the question, with Sir John Hotham being governor of Hull around 1640, had the ‘Governors House’ at the time been that of the Ye Olde White Harte, would Hollar have included this? It was after all it was one of the larger and impressive residences in the town back then.

The location of the old ferry crossing across the river just south of the original North Bridge is shown, whilst the cut on the eastern side of the river Hull, which is still there today, is also visible. Yet the same cut isn’t shown on Speed’s map of 1610. Nor is it shown on the Cotton plan of Hull of c.1530. Hollar must therefore have had some knowledge of the town. Whether he visited in person, we do not know.

Hollar had every reason to create accurate as possible maps and plans. The demand for detailed and accurate maps and plans was ever increasing. To military commanders their value would have been a huge benefit, especially during the English Civil War, particularly whilst employing sieges against a town, including that of Hull. Could the Earl of Newcastle, for example, have held in his possession a copy of Hollar’s plan whilst laying siege to Hull? There is no doubt the value of Hollar’s work is certainly in the detail. Hollar added a scale which is measured in feet further emphasising the need for accuracy.

‘Plot’ and refusal to admit Charles I into Hull

In terms of where the decision was made back in 1642 to refuse Charles I entry into Hull, such a decision would have likely have been made in the Guildhall. Not the Guildhall we see today, but the building that once stood at what is now the junction of Lowgate and Mytongate, close to the King William statue. Since at least 1333 the mayor, alderman and burgesses of the town met at the Guildhall. It was here that decisions were made concerning the governing of the town. Prisoners were tried and imprisoned here. High Street may have been the economic hub of Hull, but it was the Guildhall that was the political centre the town.

The Guildhall, or Old Jail, guardhouse, c.1780 was located at what is now the junction of Lowgate and Mytongate, the building originally dated from around 1333. Despite undergoing alterations over the centuries, it was here for centuries that Mayor, Aldermen met to discuss town business. It was more than likely here that Sir John Hotham along with the Mayor, Aldermen and senior figures of the town made the decision not to admit Charles I into Hull.
[Ref: Lp.365/1]

Was Sir John’s decision not to admit Charles a plot as such? Sir John was appointed governor by parliament and to act on behalf of and under parliament’s instruction. The decision to refuse Charles I entry into Hull was that of Parliament. Sir John was instructed not to admit any forces into the town without orders from Parliament. Sir John, the Mayor, the Aldermen together  with Parliament knew Charles wasn’t coming to Hull to sightsee, nor was he nipping in for a quick cuppa and a catch-up with friends. He coming to Hull to for one reason and one reason only. That was to secure the towns arsenal, which outside of London was the largest in the country. And being a trading port with connections to northern Europe and beyond, Hull provided Charles with a secure port to land supplies and men should war be declared against Parliament. 

Sir John had personal reason not to admit Charles. Beef and existed between the two going back to 1640 when Sir John was removed from his first post as Governor of Hull by Charles following repeated conflicts with Charles over ship money. Charles also threatened Sir John with hanging if he continued to oppose Second Bishops War with Scotland in late 1640. Mindful of this, Sir John knew the personal risk of admitting Charles into Hull, which could have easily ended with his execution. The feud between Sir John and Charles wasn’t exactly secret and this would have been known to Hull’s Mayor and Aldermen. This, along with Sir John’s orders from Parliament would have hardly been a secret as such. 

Knowing bad blood existed between the two, and the fact that Parliament appointed Sir John as governor with instruction not to surrender the town or its armoury without direct instruction from Parliament, the decision to refuse Charles entry may well have weighed somewhat on the minds of Hull’s townsfolk. Being declared at traitor by the King wasn't something to be taken lightly. But the idea of a ‘plot’ or ‘plotting’ indicates some sort of secrecy. Sir John’s feelings towards Charles must have been one of the factors which influenced Parliament to appoint Sir John as Hull’s Governor in the first place. This, and the fact Sir John was governor previously made Sir John the obvious choice. Parliament must have therefore been confident in Sir John securing the town for them. Had the town not been secured for Parliament then the outcome of the Civil War may have been very different!

Some may argue Sir John was somewhat undecided on this loyalty. He was after all ready to switch sides to the King in 1643 because of Sir John’s deteriorating relationship with Parliament due to Parliament’s reluctance to provide money to garrison Hull. However, there was little to suggest Sir John was sat on the fence in 1642.

In 1688 however things were different. The towns Catholic Governor was planning to arrest Hull's Protestant officers and soldiers. In order to the turn the tables against Hull's Catholic Governor a plot was hatched. This plot was devised in the Deputy Governors house (now the Ye Olde White Harte) by Hull's leading Protestant figures. But in order for it to succeed it had to be done in secrecy, whereas 46 years earlier, Sir John's intentions not to admit were arguably less of a secret hence the idea of a plot against Charles being less likely. 

Conclusion      

The building we now know as the Ye Olde White Harte wasn’t built until after the Civil War. This should be enough to disprove the Ye Old White Harte as being the place where Sir John Hotham plotted to refuse Charles I entry into Hull. Everything therefore points to the ‘Plotting Parlour’ taking its name from plot conceived in 1688 to overthrow Hull’s Catholic governor. 

We must also question whether a plot was even devised in the first place knowing Sir John’s clear instructions from Parliament and the bad blood that existed between him and Charles. The town of Hull may have initially had some reluctance to accept Sir John as the Governor for second time in 1642 but yielded to Parliament wishes. Perhaps Hull’s townsfolk were hoping a last-minute intervention would reconcile Charles and Parliament. However, by this time Charles had relocated to Oxford, and with each passing day any reconciliation receded. Hull’s mayor and Aldermen must have realised the implications, and quite possibly what was to come.

Unlike Sir John who had clear orders, those conspiring to overthrow the Catholic governor in 1688 had every reason to act in secret. The Catholic governor was planning to arrest Protestant officers and soldiers of Hull’s garrison. And it was in the Plotting Parlour that the plan was hatched to turn the tables on Hull’s Catholic Governor and arrest him first. Secrecy was therefore the upmost for this to succeed. This, along with the fact the Ye Olde White Harte wasn’t built until 1660 but also being the deputy governors house in 1688 is more than enough to confirm that the Plotting Parlour relates to the plot 1688, rather than the alleged plot to refuse Charles I entry into Hull in 1642.

Neil Chadwick 

Librarian/Archivist  

 

 

All Change: The University's records move house

The challenge…

The sheer scale of the material created by the University of Hull since 1927 is immense. Imagine moving house and having to take nearly 100 years worth of belongings with you. Now multiply this by numerous departments, faculties and professional services teams... that’s a lot of stuff!

As well as neatly boxed up material, we had accessions that hadn’t been re-packaged:

Records of the University's Anglican Chaplaincy stored in wine boxes

We had loose volumes that still needed bespoke boxes making for them:

Unboxed scrapbooks

And, we had outsized material that required us to resize the shelves to accommodate it in a new location:

Mixed sized material requiring shelf resizing before it could be rehomed

On top of all of this, we discovered that single collections were often split physically across multiple locations.

Basically, we had been putting things wherever there was space at the time it came to us. Although understandable, this was not an ideal situation to be in. Having things all over the place was going to make processing tasks such as re-boxing, weeding out duplicates, and box listing more complicated and time consuming. The logical step was to review the physical space, unite split collections, try to get everything into one area of the strong rooms, and generally create some kind of order from the chaos. 

Planning is key…

Remember our collections management spreadsheet? The work that went into this now started to pay off. We used the information we had collated to identify and locate split collections, work out how much space was needed for each collection to be relocated together, and make a list of everything that needed to be re-boxed. Next, we mapped this to the physical space we had to play with.

Getting moving…

And so, to the actual move. This was not a simple case of transferring boxes from one location to a lovely clear run of empty shelves – if only it was so easy! 

Our strongrooms are pretty full and so to move anything is a bit like a logic puzzle. A page of our working out might demonstrate the complexity of this task better than a description:

Location notes - a bit messy but we've shown our workings!

To get things into order we had to first move other things out, clear a run of shelf space, move the collections into place, and then move the boxes that had been clears to make this space elsewhere. In some cases, we had to pile whole collections on the floor until we could relocate them several steps of the move later.

Box move in progress - note the discarded cardigan, it was warm work!

This work was exhausting but worthwhile. Whilst lugging everything around, we discovered a number of duplicate record series, namely some bound volumes of minutes and student newspapers. These were taking up valuable space so we took the decision to weed them out, given that we already had complete sets in better condition. Yey! to a bit of space saving.

Duplicate records weeded out, along with folders and boxes for our repacking activities

We also took the opportunity to make some bespoke boxes for some of the outsized material we discovered. Chief amongst this stuff was a series of press cutting volumes. Boxing them up protected them and made them easier to handle, it also gave our wonderful City Archives colleague Pete and excuse to mess about with the box making machine in our conservation studio!

Pete making boxes for some volumes of press cuttings

Over the course of three weeks, we moved roughly 14 racks worth of boxes.

Example of one rack, we move 14 of these!

So, with everything intellectually and physically in place, we are now in a much better position to start on the cataloguing work. But first, a rest!

Claire Weatherall, Archivist (Hull University Archives)

Digitising the University of Hull’s history: A journey through time at Hull University Archives.

In this blog post, I will take you on a journey through my transformative internship experience at Hull University Archives. Stepping into the hallowed halls of the archives, I was transported back in time, surrounded by unique records, rare books and the scent of old paper. During my internship, I had the unique opportunity to contribute to the preservation of my alma mater's history by digitizing historical records dating back to the university's inception in 1927. Through this process, I gained a deeper appreciation for the importance of preserving historical records for future generations. The task at hand was both fascinating and daunting to digitize historical records catalogues spanning nearly a century.  I invite you to join me on this captivating adventure through the annals of the University of Hull’s history as we explore the impact of digitizing historical record catalogues and the role they play in preserving the legacy of this esteemed institution.

Programme recording first graduations at University College Hull, held 11 Feb 1950 

The Digitisation Process

During the digitisation process, I was responsible for creating high-resolution images of a series of 61 programs. To achieve this, I meticulously scanned each page of the catalogues and transformed them into high-quality image files, this step required precision ensuring that no details were left behind. The next step was to convert these images into both PDF and JPEG formats, making them easily accessible for research, inquiries, and outreach purposes. All the individual PDFs were then merged into a single access PDF, enabling future researchers to navigate the entire journey of the university with ease. However, the work did not stop there. Using Excel, I organised a repository of information by meticulously entering data related to scanned issues into spreadsheets. Each entry documented the who, what, when, and where of every program. This information will be used to enhance online catalogue descriptions so that researchers can more easily discover these records. The meticulous digitisation process was not just about converting physical records into digital files but about preserving the history and making it accessible to a broader audience. The stories hidden within those aged pages will continue to inspire and educate generations to come.

Me scanning one of the congregation programmes

Overview of the records

The records I was asked to work on are historical congregation programs created to record the conferment of degrees since 1949, chronicling various events and activities associated with the university. These records contain a wealth of information, including comprehensive event details, such as dates, times, and locations of graduations, as well as the order of proceedings and ceremonial aspects of events. They also contain the names of graduates, their degrees, and degree classifications, as well as notable achievements of honorary degree recipients, students, and faculty members. While the older programmes do not have photographs, there is a separate collection of photographs of graduates, faculty, and ceremonies, offering a visual record of the university's history. The newer catalogues contain the same basic information but offer wider coverage, including statements from the Chancellor, the university's coat of arms, and biographies and photographs of honorary graduates.

The records offer a wealth of information and insights waiting to be uncovered. Researchers can use these programs to track the university's evolution over time and examine changes in ceremony formats, academic trends, and notable events. For individuals researching their family history, these programs can provide information about relatives who graduated from the university, including their names and graduation dates. Additionally, the programs can serve as educational resources and be integrated into educational materials to provide students with a tangible connection to historical events and figures.

Example of a programme, showing my own graduation in July 2023!

Overview of the ceremonies

Various locations have been utilised for the ceremonies over the years, with Hull City Hall being the most commonly used venue. This is due to its capacity and historical significance, making it perfect for larger ceremonies. On the other hand, Middleton Hall is reserved for smaller ceremonies or those that are closely associated with the university community. Additionally, some ceremonies are held at Assembly Hall the University and Lincoln Cathedral.

Photographs showing the first graduation ceremony, held 11 Feb 1950

The ceremonies at the University of Hull are very structured and typically begin with a procession of university officials, faculty members, and sometimes special guests. This procession marks the formal beginning of the event. After that, the Welcome Address is usually delivered, which sets the tone for the ceremony and expresses gratitude to attendees. Graduates are then presented with their degree certificates, symbolizing their academic achievements. Degree certificates are typically presented by university officials, such as the Vice-Chancellor, Dean of the Faculty, or other university dignitaries. In some cases, special guests or honorary degree recipients may also have the honor of presenting certificates. The ceremonies may also feature keynote speeches from notable individuals, which can provide inspiration and insight for graduates and attendees. Music often accompanies ceremonies, adding to the ambiance and creating memorable moments. The ceremony concludes with a recessional, where participants exit in a formal procession, marking the end of the event.

Page showing the order of proceedings at the first ever graduation ceremony held as the University of Hull, 1955

Discovered

Chancellors of Universities often serve as ceremonial heads and are typically prominent figures in academia, politics, or the community. It's interesting to note that chancellors can change over time, and their terms are usually limited. At the University of Hull, the lineage of chancellors starts with Lord Middleton in 1955, who marked the inception of a tradition that continues to this day. This was followed by Lord Cohen of Birkenhead in 1970, whose unique perspective coincided with a period of growth and change for the university. Lord Wilberforce assumed the position of Chancellor in 1978, and his service aligns with an era of innovation and development. Lord Armstrong's presence and contributions in 1994 left an enduring impact on the institution. Baroness Bottomley became the first female Chancellor in 2005, adding a new dimension to the university's history with her leadership and dedication. Baroness Bottomley was a trailblaser, she was a member of parliament in the House of Commons then became a member of House of Lords. Alan Johnson, the current chancellor, reflects the university's commitment to excellence and its link to the community, having previously served as a member of parliament for Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle. The line of chancellors at the University of Hull is truly impressive, representing a rich tapestry of academic leadership, community involvement, and visionary thinking. Each chancellor has left a lasting impact on the institution, contributing to its growth and shaping its journey through time. When we explore the historical programs and records of the university, we can see the lasting impact of each chancellor's contribution. They have conducted ceremonies, conferred degrees, and added their unique touch to the academic and cultural traditions of the University of Hull. Their contributions are truly remarkable and continue to be celebrated, serving as a testament to the enduring connection between the past and the present at this venerable institution.

Programme recording the installation of Lord Middleton as the first Chancellor of the University of Hull, 1955

The programme showcases the various honorary graduands and provides relevant information about them. By highlighting the achievements of these individuals, the university acknowledges and celebrates their exceptional contributions to different fields. It is a tradition that has been carried forward for years, making it an integral part of the university. The stories of these honorary graduands serve as a reminder of the power of human ingenuity and the pursuit of knowledge. I found the profiles of Katherine Bellingham and Dr Colin Michael Foale CBE particularly interesting from the earlier programmes. These two were conferred with honorary Doctor of Science degrees and they serve as an ongoing source of inspiration for students and the broader academic community. They have achieved remarkable success and recognition in their respective fields, making them exceptional role models for future generations. Their stories inspire others to explore the possibilities of science and space exploration, and encourage them to pursue their dreams with dedication and passion.

I came across the inspiring story of Katherine Bellingham while reviewing our historical programs. Kate Bellingham is a trailblazer in the field of science with an impressive background and diverse accomplishments. Her life journey is a testament to the power of hard work, learning, and embracing different roles. Kate's career has been varied and multifaceted, including work as a computer programmer, broadcast engineer, IV and radio presenter, math teacher, and National Careers Coordinator for STEM. Currently, she serves as the Director of STEM Innovation for the Gazelle Colleges Group, where she contributes significantly to the promotion of STEM education. Kate is a prime example of lifelong learning, as evidenced by her pursuit of an MSc in Electronic Communication Systems and Grade 8 Singing qualification in 2012. Apart from her professional life, Kate is an active member of her local community, participating in amateur theatre, choirs, and opera groups. Her passion for the arts and commitment to contributing to local cultural endeavors is admirable. Kate Bellingham's story is a source of inspiration, showcasing the remarkable potential of individuals to excel in diverse fields, promote STEM education, engage with the community, and continue learning throughout life.

Extract from Summer 2014 programme showing a short biography of Kate Bellingham

Dr. Mike Foale is a British-American an astrophysicist and former NASA astronaut who has made significant contributions to space exploration and STEM education. He holds a Ph.D. in laboratory astrophysics from Queens College, Cambridge, and has an impressive space career, having been a veteran of six space shuttle missions and a Soyuz mission. Dr. Foale commanded the International Space Station (ISS) and holds the distinction of being the first Briton to perform a spacewalk. During this mission, he replaced vital components required to repair the Hubble Space Telescope. He also established a new cumulative time-in-space record for a UK citizen, spending 374 days, 11 hours, and 19 minutes in space. After retiring from NASA in 2013, Dr. Foale was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in recognition of his significant and enduring contributions to space exploration. Dr. Foale's commitment to supporting STEM education is evident through his engagement with young people, sharing his experiences as a scientist in space to inspire the next generation of scientists and astronauts. The journey of Dr. Mike Foale serves as a testament to human achievement and the limitless possibilities of space exploration. His exceptional contributions to space, along with his dedication to STEM education, make him an inspiring figure and a valuable role model for aspiring scientists and explorers.

Extract from Winter 2019 graduation programme showing a short biography of Mike Foale

According to our records, the first honorary graduands were in 1956 and included Brian Westerdale Downs, who made an honorary Doctor of Letters, Harold Ivens Loten, who was awarded a Doctorate of Law, and S. Meggitt, who was conferred with a Master of Arts.

Conclusion

Our exploration through the historical programs of the University of Hull has been an enthralling journey into a rich and storied past. We've celebrated excellence, innovation, and inspiration, from the celebrated Chancellors who have graced the university's ceremonies to the remarkable individuals recognized as honorary graduands. These pages connect us with a legacy that is ever-evolving yet firmly anchored in the enduring values of education and exploration, bridging time to remind us of the importance of learning from the past. As we reflect on the history and traditions captured in these programs, we celebrate the legacy of the University of Hull, an institution that continues to shape the minds of future leaders and explorers. These programs serve as a bridge between the past, present, and future, reminding us of the enduring values of education, exploration, and the pursuit of knowledge.

My internship at Hull University Archives was more than just a job. It was a journey of rediscovery that deepened my connection to the university and its rich history. My task was not only to digitize these historical programs but also to make their content more accessible and discoverable to researchers. I approached this task with enthusiasm, using a range of techniques and tools to ensure that each catalogue entry became a treasure trove of historical information. 

This internship taught me the importance of independent work and quick problem-solving, and it was a profound learning experience that honed my skills in the use of professional digitization equipment and software. At Hull History Centre, I discovered more than just an institution; I found a welcoming home and a family. The people here define the essence of this institution, with their warmth and kindness creating an environment where work flourishes. The staff here go above and beyond their administrative duties, their kindness knows no bounds, and their passion for preserving and sharing the past is infectious.

Montaha Abbas (Digitisation and Outreach Intern, 2023)