Mason Street Meeting House
In 1851, the Meeting accepted an offer from the Wesleyan Methodists to sell them a schoolhouse and adjoining premises in Mason Street, and plans were drawn up to convert it into a Meeting House. The contract dated October 30th 1851, stated that the work was to be completed by February 29th 1852 at a cost of £460. In the event, the total cost of the property and the alterations came to over £1,958. The architect, David Thorp, who was a member of the Meeting, and who incidentally at the time was the Surveyor to the Hull Corporation, gave his services free. The building contained a large and small Meeting Room and the seating of the two was 754. The plans for this work are in the Meetings Archives in the Brynmor Jones Library of the University of Hull. In addition to its use as a Meeting House, it was also used for other purposes, notably the Adult School Movement.
Some time later, it seems that there was a need for small premises, for in 1879 James Reckitt, also a member of the Meeting, offered to give 250 yards of land adjoining the original building and furnish it as a Meeting House, on the condition that the Meeting would provide the funds for its construction. The plans, which were drawn up are dated October 1879 and are in the Hull City Council Archives.
Eventually this building became too large for the Meeting's needs, and in 1919 premises in Percy Street were acquired. The Meeting House in Percy Street was the fifth one to be used by Friends and consisted of two properties, originally No.s 4 and 5. Familiar names among the original 10 Trustees of the property are James Reckitt and William Dent Priestman. The Mason Street Meeting House was sold in June 1919, and the Institute next door was sold in July 1920.
In March 2007, Percy Street Meeting House was sold and the Meeting moved to the former Probation Service Office in Bean Street, Anlaby Road. With much improved facilities including off street parking, we hope this move will breathe new life into the Meeting.
Burial Ground
The Meeting is also responsible for the maintenance of a burial ground in Hull General Cemetery, Spring Bank. Opened in 1855, it contains the graves of 400 Friends including a number of notable Quaker families: Reckitt, Priestman, Thorp and Stickney to name but a few. Click here to see a satellite image.
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