BANNER-Rail

Current and upcoming events

Exhibition: Sister Agnes Walsh: Hull-born Hero of the Holocaust

9-20 September, in the library area, during History Centre opening hours

Free, all welcome

The story of Sister Agnes Walsh (1896-1993), a nun in the Daughters of Charity who was instrumental in saving the lives of a Jewish family in France in 1944 and has been honoured as Righteous Among the Nations. Curated by her great-nephew Ian Judson.


 

Heritage Open Days: Behind the Scenes Tours

16, 17, and 18 September, 11am-12pm

Free, booking required

As part of the national Heritage Open Days, Hull History Centre will be offering a behind the scenes tour on 16, 17, and 18 September. Visitors will have the chance to see the strongrooms and conservation areas, and a selection of exciting documents and photographs from the archives.

Tours are FREE and will take around 1 hour.

Places are limited so please book in advance. To book your place you can email us, call us on 01482 317500, or speak to a member of staff at the enquiry desk during our opening hours.

There will also be a range of local history books and maps for sale in the library.


 

Heritage Open Days: Local Studies Book & Map Sale

16, 17, 18 September, 9.30am-4.30pm

20 September, 9.30am-12.20pm

As part of the national Heritage Open Days, we will be holding a sale of books and maps relating to Hull and the East Riding.

Come and bag yourself a bargain!


 

Exhibition: Tracks Through Time: The Story of Hull’s Railways

23 September-11 December 2025, during our opening hours

Original material on display in the library, 23 September-30 October 2025

Free, all welcome

Join us to celebrate 200 years of rail travel with an exhibition exploring different aspects of the railways in Hull!

The History Centre’s collections contain a wealth of information on the railway’s construction and expansion in the city, from the opening of the first line in 1840, to the privatisation of the industry in the 1990s. Discover the development of the rail network in the local area, with special reference to the docks, and explore key historical events and themes including transmigration, the First and Second World Wars, stations and locomotives, and the men and women who built and worked on the tracks.

Alongside the exhibition, original archive material will be on display in the library until 30 October, including photographs, pamphlets, guides and timetables. Rare surviving objects from the Hull & Barnsley Railway will also be available to view, as will models of some of the rolling stock and wagons courtesy of the Hull & Barnsley Railway Stock Fund.

A selection of rail-themed prints from our archive collections will also be available to purchase. Come and choose your favourite!


 

Family Lego Club

4 October, 10am-12pm

Free, all welcome. Children must be accompanied by an appropriate adult.

Come and build with Lego blocks. All materials provided. What will you build... perhaps your favourite castle, or maybe your favourite old building in Hull?


 

History Centre Behind the Scenes Tours: October

4 October, 11am-12pm

18 October, 11am-12pm

Free, booking required

Join us for a fascinating journey through the strongrooms and conservation areas of the History Centre, with a chance to look at some exciting historic documents along the way…

The tour will take 1 hour.

Places are limited so please book in advance. To book your place you can email us, call us on 01482 317500, or speak to a member of staff at the enquiry desk during our opening hours.


 

Lunchtime Talk: Martin Barker, Hull & Barnsley Railway Stock Fund

7 October, 12.30pm

Free, all welcome

Join us for a special railway-themed edition of our Lunchtime Talks! Learn about one of Hull's long-lost railways with Martin Barker of the Hull & Barnsley Railway Stock Fund. Explore the history of the line with images from different aspects of the railway's history, including the rolling stock. 


 

Lunchtime talk: The Humber Outport: Lloyd’s Register in the port of Hull since c.1760

Dr Sam Wright

14 October, 12.30pm

Free, all welcome


 

Family Lego Club

1 November, 10am-12pm

Free, all welcome. Children must be accompanied by an appropriate adult.

Come and build with Lego blocks. All materials provided. What will you build... perhaps your favourite castle, or maybe your favourite old building in Hull?


 

Lunchtime talk: The Hull to Grimsby Hovercraft Service

Paul Drury-Bradey

11 November, 12.30pm

Free, all welcome

Travel back to 1969 to find out why a high-tech crossing that joined Hull to Grimsby only lasted a year. This talk will explore the origins of the two companies running the services and why it inevitably fell into decline after such a short period of time.