Archaeologists have been working in the large tents at the Trinity Burial Ground since the autumn.

Public invited to take a trip into Hull’s captivating history

Hullensians, archaeologists and history enthusiasts are invited to meet the people behind the city’s biggest ever archaeological dig.

The experienced team of archaeologists working at the Trinity Burial Ground, as part of Highways England’s A63 Castle Street improvement scheme, are holding a free virtual event where the fascinating history of Hull’s population will be revealed.

Since last autumn, the 70-strong team have been carefully excavating the area where the improvements are to be carried out. On Wednesday 26 May the team will be on hand to share their findings and answer any questions.

Highways England assistant project manager Fran Oliver said: “The quest to piece together the history of Hull has been incredible so far, revealing intriguing clues from the past.

“Our archaeologists have already found a wealth of information about the lives of society at a time when the population was rapidly expanding, as commercial and industry activity intensified in the 18th and 19th century.

“We’d love for the public to join us on our journey. Come and pop in for the virtual meeting and visit our dedicated archaeology webpage as we continue to preserve this extremely important area of Hull.”

Highways England is working closely with Oxford Archaeology, Humber Field Archaeology, Hull City Council, Historic England, Humber Archaeology Partnership and Hull Minster to carry out this work along with our contractors for the A63 Castle Street improvement scheme, Balfour Beatty.

The £355 million Castle Street scheme will usher in an exciting new era for the city, creating a much better connection between the city centre and the retail and docks area. It’s a key part of Transport for the North’s strategic transport plan, and will see the creation of a new junction by lowering the level of the A63 at the Mytongate junction.

The excavation, where two large tents currently reside over the 19th century cemetery, will run until summer 2021 to ensure archaeologists can carry out their work with the utmost sensitivity and care.

To join the webinar at 5pm on Wednesday 26 May, which is run via Microsoft Teams, please visit https://highwaysengland.co.uk/our-work/a63-castle-street-archaeology/weekly-insight/ where log-in details are available. This dedicated page provides regular insights from the team through blogs and videos.

two people wearing masks stand in a pop-up Coronavirus testing booth. It is inside a rail interchange