Future of Tudor heritage attraction in doubt

A planned visitor attraction showcasing Hull's Tudor history has been put "at risk" because of a funding shortfall, an MP has said.

Construction work on the South Blockhouse was expected to begin in the summer. The project was due to receive £1m from National Highways, but the government agency disclosed the money had never been officially allocated, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

MP for Hull East, Karl Turner, and Mike Ross, the leader of Hull City Council, have both expressed their disappointment.

However, National Highways said that while it had previously supported the initial stages of the project, it had been "unable to progress with further funding".

Proposals for the attraction, near The Deep, included a reconstruction of parts of a castle built for Henry VIII near the mouth of the River Hull.

It would also feature wire and mesh structures to give visitors a sense of the scale of the 16th Century fortress without damaging the surviving ruins.

In a letter to National Highways, seen by the LDRS, Turner said the decision had put the project "at risk".

"The South Blockhouse is a site of immense cultural and historical importance. Its preservation and development as a visitor attraction would provide invaluable insights into our nation's maritime heritage and fortifications," he said.

In his letter, Turner claimed the money had already been allocated but National Highways said this was "inaccurate".

Ross described the decision as "extremely disappointing" and said the authority would continue to "explore all possible funding opportunities to ensure the project moves forward" including on-going talks with National Highways.

In a statement, Tim Gamon, regional delivery director at the agency, said: "While we had previously supported the initial stages of the South Blockhouse project, we were unable to progress with further funding.

"National Highways is committed to investing in improvements in Hull, such as the A63 Castle Street project which will reduce congestion, and several other projects have been funded in the city during the last few years," he said.

The South Blockhouse protected Hull's harbour and featured a stone tower and gun platforms for cannon.

It was part of a series of fortifications ordered by Henry VIII after he visited the port in 1541.

These defences were torn down in 1864, but the remains of the blockhouse, including walls, earthworks and a cannon, were uncovered by archaeologists in 2022.

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