Hull Old Town — Decipher Wilberforce's Secret

Your journey begins at the Wilberforce House Museum, a prosperous merchant's house built around 1660, where William Wilberforce was born in 1759. He resided here until 1780, before becoming the spearhead of the abolitionist movement. Designated a Grade I listed building in 1953 and managed by Hull City Museums since 1930, this residence became the Hull History Museum in 1957. Its exhibitions on the transatlantic slave trade confront you with the realities of the era, laying the first stones of your investigation into Hull's and Yorkshire's past.

Continuing your path, you reach Hull Minster, formerly Holy Trinity Church, the largest parish church in the UK after Liverpool Cathedral. Built primarily between 1280 and 1420, it was elevated to Minster status in 2017. Its impressive dimensions, with an 82m long nave and 36m wide, and its 37m high west tower dating from 1516, restored after the 1941 Blitz bombings, attest to Hull's rich history. Inside, 14th-century stained glass and oak stalls carved around 1440 whisper stories, guiding you to a crucial new clue.

Your investigation then leads you to High Street, a historic medieval thoroughfare and center of Hull Old Town since the 12th century. This former main artery leading to the port was the site of 16th-century Elizabethan houses and was partly paved as early as 1760. It was here, in 1628, that Charles I's Royal Proclamation imposed taxes on ships, a significant event for the city's port economy. Grade II listed buildings, including the Georgian House dating from 1780, punctuate this street, hiding fragments of Wilberforce's code. 'Lampas Vitae', Hull's motto, illuminates your progress.

Further on, the William Wilberforce Monument, a 6m high equestrian statue unveiled in 1834 by London sculptor Robert Perring, stands proudly in All Saints' Churchyard. Erected to commemorate the abolition of slavery in 1833, the granite base of this monument, restored in 2015, lists key dates in Wilberforce's abolitionist career. These inscriptions are the key to understanding the stages of his struggle and deciphering a message that brings you closer to the truth. This site is an essential landmark on the Abolition Heritage Trail.

Your quest concludes not far from Hull's Trinity House, founded in 1369 by Edward III for Humber pilots, whose current building dates from 1753-1755. This institution, which still manages Humber navigation with its historic 1768 lantern, houses a collection of 90 maritime paintings. Works by Peter Monamy and other 17th-19th century masters tell Hull's maritime history. The remains of 18th-century stone quays, visible along Hull Marina, the former Old Harbour basin dug in 1778 and a center for Arctic whaling, offer you the final piece of the puzzle. This circuit will have led you to explore Yorkshire's heritage, offering a unique interactive visit of Hull, its monuments, and its history.