Restoration of Hull landmark begins to ‘breathe new life’ into key city centre site

Regeneration specialist Wykeland Group has begun a £2m restoration project to revive Hull’s historic Castle Street Chambers building and former Earl De Grey pub.

Castle Street Chambers, which is adjacent to the Connexin Live arena in Hull city centre, was built in 1900 as offices for Hull steamship owners and brokers Messrs G R Sanderson. The Grade II-listed building has been unoccupied since the 1970s and has fallen into dereliction, supported by protective scaffolding for more than 20 years.

A similar fate befell one of Hull’s oldest pubs, the neighbouring Earl De Grey, which dates back to the 1840s and was once a popular haunt for seafarers from around the world who docked in the city.

In 2020, the Grade II-listed Earl De Grey’s historic frontage was painstakingly removed brick by brick, before being placed into storage, prior to the start of the ongoing £350m A63 Castle Street improvement scheme to relieve congestion on the main route through Hull.

Now, a significant restoration project on Castle Street Chambers is underway which, once completed, will incorporate the reconstructed Earl De Grey.

Hull based Wykeland Group is delivering the project, which will create more than 6,000 sq ft (557 sqm) of prime commercial space. Wykeland has liaised closely with National Highways, Historic England and Hull City Council to bring the restoration project forward.

Wykeland Development Director Jonathan Stubbs commented: “Castle Buildings is one of the most complex and challenging restoration projects we’ve undertaken.

“Having been unused for decades, the building is understandably in a very poor condition. Since acquiring the site in recent years, we have worked hard to bring forward this project which is now coming to fruition

“That has included taking down the Earl De Grey before the A63 works, while retaining its listed frontage in order that it can be reinstated as part of this exciting development. In all of our restoration projects, protecting and enhancing heritage is at the forefront of our approach. That is certainly the case with Castle Street Chambers and the Earl De Grey.”

The first phase of the restoration will see the scaffolding removed from Castle Street Chambers, revealing the derelict building behind it. Piling work will then commence at the site of the new Earl De Grey, before Castle Street Chambers is re-scaffolded for roof and window repair work, as well as general improvement to the brickwork.

A small single-storey extension will be built on the side of the building, before the frontage of the Earl De Grey is brought back to the site and reassembled, facing the Connexin Live arena. The full restoration project is expected to take around a year, with completion due in early 2025.

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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