by Ethel Smith

Created on: November 23, 2007   Last Updated: August 08, 2009

The Location

I can remember Ferens Art Gallery as a schoolchild in the late 1950's and have visited it from time to time since. The Gallery, and its surroundings, have undergone a fair few changes, during this time, but the frontage remains the same.

It is situated next to the Monument Buildings, Victoria Square, Kingston-Upon-Hull. Hull is on the north bank of the River Humber, in the East Riding of the County of Yorkshire, England.

At one time Victoria Square was a very busy square in the heart of the town and at the hub of everything. In the early 1900's there was an actual monument bridge here which had Princes dock on one side and Queens dock on the other. Near the bridge stood a large statue of William Wilberforce. He was a famous local politician who helped pass the UK abolition of slavery laws of the 1800's. His old residence is a Museum in the High Street in Hull's old town and is well worth a visit.

A recent change has been the pedestrianization of this square. As a child it was a nightmare trying to cross these roads. At the centre of Victoria Square is a fine statue of Queen Victoria, unfortunately she is seated in the middle of an area that is over some public conveniences .In the past the roads went completely round this centre(as if it was a roundabout). The only road now is in front of the Ferens.

The square goes round to the Hull City Hall(a fine old building which housed the local art gallery pre the Ferens being built), shops,what was a lovely old bank, The Town Docks Museum(another fine old building, once the Dock offices but now a renowned Maritime museum), the Princes Quay shopping development(built over the old Princes Dock, the water still being there)and back to Monument Buildings, which are adjacent to the gallery. The pathways are in the usual brick which developers always seem to use everywhere in the UK these days.

Across from the art gallery is a monstrous giant TV screen which belts out all day and is inappropriate . As you can tell it is not a favourite of mine.

As some of these old buildings are so beautiful it's easy to pass by the Ferens, but you will miss a treat if you do. If you visit in the summer the setting, apart from the giant screen, is very pleasant, with the Queens Gardens behind the Town Dock Museum having consistently good floral displays, fountains, grassy areas, ponds and fish. It hosts outdoor music events in the summer also. These gardens which were also a dock were filled in when they became obsolete. Hull's fishing

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• Next Page >>