The Hull Blitz

During World War Two, Hull experienced the worst bomb damage of anywhere outside London. For security reasons, journalists were only allowed to refer to bombing in a ‘north east costal town’ so the rest of the country remained unaware that ninety-five percent of Hull’s homes were destroyed or damaged by bombs. This learning journey uses archival and local studies documents to help teachers and pupils uncover the effects of the Blitz on the people of Hull, both through the eyes of children who stayed and those who were evacuated.

This resource has been designed to allow KS2 and KS3 teachers and pupils a unique insight into life in a bombed out city. It makes use of examples from the vast local studies and archive WW2 collections of the Hull History Centre including photographs, official (and, in some cases at the time, secret) documentation and children’s accounts of their experiences. It is designed to support current curriculum developments in thematic and skills-based learning and will help students empathise with the civilian experience during WW2.

This learning journey started life as a CD resource called NECTA (North East Coastal Town out of the Ashes) produced in 2005/6 by Hull City Archives with funding from MLA and working with the Taboo Youth Initiative for excluded pupils. The CD is still available on request from the Hull History Centre. The project was a great success for both staff and the young people involved. We welcome approaches from partner organisations for similar projects.

Teachers may wish to include in their study a visit to the Hull History Centre for an ‘ ARP Apprentices’ session which looks at the bombing of Hull through being tested in ARP warden tasks based around our vast WW2 collections, as well as role-play through writing and performing a voice-over to accompany original newsreel film footage. Hull Museums also offer led sessions such as Evacuation, On the Ration and Home Front. The learning journey serves as a useful activity to prepare for a visit to any of these sessions.

Curriculum Links:

Key Stage 2 History, Unit 18: ‘Here in the Past’  

‘What was it like for children in the Second World War’

Key Stage 2 Citizenship, Unit 11: ‘In the Media’

Key Stage 3 History, Unit 1: ‘What’s it all about?’

‘Hot War, Cold War’

Key Stage 3 Citizenship, Unit 9: ‘The significance of the Media’

Key Stage 4 ‘Local History: History Around Us’