Mike Covell’s Blogg

The Hull Daily Mail featured the following article on Tuesday March 23rd 2010,

Hull History Centre looks set to beat its target of attracting 30,000 visitors in its first year.

A total of 10,000 people have visited the Worship Street centre in the past six weeks.

The number of schoolchildren using the centre is also beating all expectations.

Managers had hoped 1,500 pupils would visit in the first year.

But already 800 have trawled through the archives.

The 10,000th visitor was Keith Lyon, of Bilton Grange, east Hull, who attended a lunchtime club talk on Jack The Ripper and his connection with Hull.

Mr Lyon said: “I saw the history centre being built and was very keen to get inside and start using it.

“I’m very keen on local history and I’ve been really impressed with what’s on offer here. I’m going to be a regular visitor.”

Martin Taylor, city archivist for Hull City Council, said: “I’d like to pay tribute to the staff here who have dealt with the influx of visitors with professionalism, enthusiasm and good humour.

“Family history is proving the most popular subject for research, but there have been a pleasing number of academic researchers from Britain and overseas.”

His colleague Judy Burg, University of Hull archivist, said: “During the few weeks we have been open I have been struck by the enthusiasm of our visitors.

“Those who are familiar with historical research have appreciated the improved facilities, but it is especially rewarding to see so many coming to the building to investigate archives and local history for the first time.”

The Heritage Lottery Fund awarded a grant of £7.7m enabling the centre to be built.

Hull is the first city in the UK to bring together its city and university archives, local studies resources and specialist staff into one building.

The article appears online here: http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/news/10-000-people-visit-Hull-History-Centre/article-1932521-detail/article.html

 Having the 10,000 visitor at my lecture was something that was discussed, but no one knew whether the target was hit, so it’s nice to see that the 10,000 visitor was recognised, and awarded a commemorative paperweight from Councillor John Robinson.

Here is to the next 10,000!