A brief history of the Hull Lit & Phil
The Hull Literary and Philosophical Society was founded in 1822, one of the many self-educational organisations of the same name that were springing up all over the country to meet the needs of an emerging urban middle-class.
In 1854, after occupying various rented accommodation, the Society moved into its own home in the Royal Institution in Albion Street, 'one of the finest buildings in Hull'. Towards the last quarter of the 19th century it became very involved with further education for the general population. It built and financed a teaching laboratory; by acquiring neighbouring property it provided classrooms for technical subjects and art and design; it sponsored a branch of the Cambridge University Extension Society, and, at the beginning of the 20th century, its final project was the short-lived Hull and East Riding College of Music. Its museum became famous for its Saturday Afternoon Lectures to which many hundreds of people came each week.
As the state and the local authority gradually assumed responsibility for further education the Society concentrated on looking after its own members, at the same time providing meeting rooms for several special interest societies in Albion Street. When the Royal Institution was destroyed by enemy action in 1943 they, and it, all had to find other venues.
After a variety of temporary homes the Society now meets in the Royal Hotel, Ferensway, each Tuesday evening during the season which lasts from October to March with a break for Christmas. Unlike the majority of similar societies which, with a few notable exceptions, have either become defunct or dwindled down to a few members the Hull Literary and Philosophical Society continues to flourish, with two to three hundred of its members attending a variety of general interest lectures each week.
Mobile Exhibition
In July 2015 we commissioned a series of 'Hull Lit & Phil History' banners with the help of local design consultant Ian Goodison. The History Centre, on Freetown Way, Hull, kindly held an exhibition about the Society and displayed all six banners. With many illustrations, the banners reveal the remarkable story of our society from its foundation in November 1822 to the present day. Accompanying the banners was a display of early Minute Books and other historical documents belonging to the Society.
If you know of a suitable future location where the banners can be displayed, please speak to a member of the society.
The Hull Literary & Philosophical Society is registered as a Charity No 507226