Your Patch
Events promote area’s rich history
by thisisYourMail
8 months ago
in
Old Town
Last updated 8 months ago.
from the Hull Daily Mail/East Riding Mail Friday, July 3
Thousands of people are expected to head for Trinity Square at the weekend for a series of events exploring history in Hull. The University of Hull has organised the Who Do We Think We Are? event to help the region’s economic recovery.
Staff hope to give businesses in Hull’s Old Town a boost by promoting the event in the area. Dr Nick Evans, of the university’s history department, helped organise it. He believes the 20,000 people expected to visit the area will lend their support to the Mail’s Bounce Back campaign. Dr Evans said: “The partnership of the university, two local authorities and various community organisations aims to provide everyone with the opportunity to support the Mail’s Bounce Back programme.”
He said the event would bring people to the area, which is often overlooked by shoppers. He said: “For a long time, this important area of Hull has been neglected. “This event, which we organised with Hull Bid (Business Improvement District), is designed to support local businesses by bringing people into the area. “Traditionally, it is a place people pass through rather than stopping to see what’s on offer. “We want to change this and we know we have the backing of local shops and businesses.”
Saturday’s event will feature free events and activities that are open to all. The events, in Trinity Square, at the heart of Old Town, will start at about 10am. Some of the country’s leading history experts – who have worked on the BBC programme Who Do You Think You Are? – will be in Holy Trinity Church helping people explore their heritages. Visitors can also explore the history of the area from the church rooftop.
Outside, children and adults in period costume will bring the historic centre of Hull alive with dance, music and games. Tour guides will be on hand to explain the history of the city and the Hands On History museum will be hosting events throughout the day. Businesses in the area will also be joining in the fun.
Sharon Holmes-Lock, manager of Flavours in High Street, said: “The idea to dress up in period costume and serve traditional Victorian snacks is our way of showing support for the event. We want to show people what the Old Town has to offer and this is a great way to do it.”
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How we used to be
from the Hull Daily Mail/East Riding Mail Monday, July 6
With horses trotting along Hull’s cobbled streets among servants and seafarers, you could be forgiven for thinking you had stepped back into Victorian times. History was brought to life in the city’s Trinity Quarter – known as the historic heart of Hull – to allow people to discover what everyday life was like more than 100 years ago.
The event, called Who Do We Think We Are?, which was held in glorious sunshine at the weekend, also encouraged people to explore their own identities and family . Building on the success of the BBC TV show Who Do You Think You Are? the event was hosted by The University of Hull and Hull Museums.
Inside Holy Trinity Church, experts from the Society of Genealogists helped people trace their ancestors and find out more about their roots. Across the road at the Hands On History museum, people were able to handle the past through a series of engaging activities, including making Victorian toys and meeting characters from the past.
Susan Capes, of Hull Museums, who helped organise the event said: “The idea behind the event is not just to let people know what Hull was like in the past, but also to let people know that they might have migrant ancestors here. “In Victorian Hull, it would have been quite smelly, the roads would not have been as well surfaced as they are now and people would have been in physically demanding jobs.”
Marjorie Smith, of Cottingham, sought help from the census detectives to explore her past. She said: “It was such an excellent event. I was so surprised by everything that was on offer. “The event as a whole was great, with the horses and children dressed up.”
Dr Nick Evans, from the university’s Wilberforce Institute for the Study of Slavery and Emancipation, was the event co-ordinator and said he hoped it would also remind people about a “forgotten” part of the city. He said: “Hosting an event like this makes history come alive in a fun way, rather than a boring, academic way. “Were trying to remind people about Trinity Quarter and that there is more to Hull than just some of the shopping centres around.”
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