Henry VIII castle attraction takes step forward

Hull City Council remains "fully committed" to plans for a long-delayed visitor attraction on the site of a Tudor castle, its leader has said.

The South Blockhouse was built on the orders of Henry VIII between 1541 and 1543 to protect the port, but was demolished in the 19th Century.

Survey work has now started on the site of the proposed attraction, which was originally due to be completed in 2025 but suffered from a funding shortfall.

Council leader Mike Ross said: "The council remains fully committed to delivering this project and ensuring this remarkable, and largely untold, chapter of the city's history can be shared with future generations."

Initial investigation work is under way to determine drainage needs, the council said, and it is hoped construction might start in 2027.

Ross added: "We hope to be on site next year once the design revisions have been finalised and confirmed."

The South Blockhouse overlooked the mouth of the River Hull and had a stone tower and platforms for cannons.

It formed part of a string of defences around Hull's main harbour, which were later incorporated into a fortress known as the Citadel.

The remains, including walls, earthworks and a cannon, were uncovered by archaeologists during a series of excavations beginning in 1997.

Under the plans for the attraction, which were approved in 2025, three large mesh structures would be constructed to give a ghostly translucent impression of the blockhouse.

Problems with the project emerged in February 2025 when £1m-worth of funding fell through.

At the time, National Highways, which had been expected to provide the money, said that while it supported the initial stages of the project, it had been "unable to progress with further funding".

The shortfall raised doubts about the viability of the attraction, but in January this year the council said it would invest £1.16m to get it back on track.

Asked about the next steps in the project, Ross said: "The South Blockhouse is a nationally significant monument and an important part of Hull's rich maritime heritage.

"As with any complex heritage project involving an ancient scheduled monument, it is essential that we get the details right.

"Site investigation works are currently being progressed to confirm drainage requirements, while project designs continue to be refined to ensure the scheme remains deliverable, sustainable and offers the best value for public investment."

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