Archaeologists unearth old battery at River Hull

The remains of an old artillery fort once used to defend the entrance to the River Hull have been discovered in the city centre. The brick walls of the South Battery were uncovered next to the old central dry dock in Humber Street by archaeologists from the council's Planning Services.

Constructed in 1627 on a reclaimed triangle of land known as the Foreland, nothing had been seen of the Battery since its demolition around 1855. It formed a major part of Hull's defences after replacing an earlier earthwork built during Henry VIII's time. Findings to date include a considerable quantity of pottery, including parts of chafing dishes from Bordeaux, which had compartments for charcoal and were used for keeping food warm on the table. Bone and other artefacts have also been uncovered. Remains of three of the Battery's gun positions have been found with the original cobble floors still in place underneath a subsequent brick floor.

Dave Evans, manager for the Humber Archaeology Partnership, said the finding was an important discovery for the city. "It is of major regional, and even national importance for our understanding of the development of artillery fortifications," he explained.