Whitefriargate is the heart of Hull’s Old Town, a corridor connecting the old and new, and recently the council have been working towards securing £22 million investment to regenerate this beloved high street. Here are some of the big plans that will get Whitefriargate back into business.
Remodeled Shops
One of the main focuses for remodelling will be the shops. The concept designs show the restoration of shop fronts, with unique architecture that will represent a wide range of outlets. These stylish exteriors reflect the historical context of Whitefriargate and will not only look glamorous, but also make it feel more like a part of Old Town.
Independent Shops
The new shops are being remodelled to try and attract more businesses after a very difficult few years. Hull City Council is supporting The Humber High Street Challenge Fund in order to give grants to businesses, property owners and investors to support them.
One of the properties that is getting new business is the previous HSBC bank on the junction of Parliament Street. The Grade II listed building is still undergoing refurbishment, and it is now home to Hotham’s Gin School, which has relocated from Hepworth’s Arcade.
Another new occupier is the Hull-based commercial developer, Wykeland Group, which has taken over the former Marks and Spencer store as well as the Durham Bed Centre, which is sure to bring a lot more business to Hull.
The History
The future starts with the past, and the regeneration of Whitefriargate starts with all its history. Whitefriargate has seen all sorts of historical events, such as refusing entry to Charles I as part of the Glorious Revolution in the 17th century, and also being home to William Wilberforce and his role in abolishing slavery.
To celebrate a part of this history, Whitefriargate will be the home of a new festival. Silver Festival will celebrate Hull’s silver trade and craftspeople and bring lots of light and fun to the High Street.
The Culture
The regeneration of Whitefriargate is meant to make it a cultural cornerstone of Hull. Hull City Council was awarded £100,000 grant from Historic England as part of the Whitefriargate High Streets Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ), which will create community-led culture activities for the next three years.
These events have already started, and have given a great insight as to what these events will look like. The Heritage Open Days on 10 – 19 September showed off the immersive soundwalk created for the street. Breet Velvit Ake (which is the Yorkshire way of saying ‘bright velvet wander’) shed light on Whitefriargate’s culture and history.
Then on National Poetry Day (7 October), Whitefriargate named its own poet-in-residence for 2021- the fantastic Hull poet, Vicky Foster. HSHAZ partnered up with Humber Mouth and Wrecking Ball Press to commission a poem that captures the history and the culture of the street. Vicky Foster also cited a slogan which appears on the Wrecking Ball Music and Books shop (which has just opened up in Whitefriargate). The slogan, “Spes Super Syedra” is Latin for ‘Hope Beyond the Stars’, which perfectly represents the aspirations for the future of Whitefriargate.
