s Table by Gordon Russell, Hull, c.1950-1959 - Hull Museums Collections

Table by Gordon Russell, Hull, c.1950-1959

This is one of a series of tables made for Hull’s Guildhall in the 1950s. It was part of a refurbishment that followed war damage to the building. Hull suffered massively from enemy bombing during the Second World War. The Guildhall was lucky not to receive a direct hit. However, on 7th/8th May 1941 bombs did fall nearby and blew many of the building’s windows in. These included those in the Lord Mayor’s Parlour and windows in the Banqueting Hall. Gordon Russell Ltd of Broadway were furniture makers following a long tradition of furniture making in Hull. Hull had great status as a regional centre for furniture making in the 18th-19th centuries. This was founded on the city’s role as a timber port. Imports of wood from northern Europe and the Baltic have been part of Hull’s commerce for centuries. By the 1600s, Hull was second only to London as a timber port. Hull’s docks and trade links meant that by 1800 it had become the regional centre for furniture making. The busy docks were also the main reason that Hull was targeted by bombers during the Second World War. Many lives were lost and many of Hull’s old buildings destroyed. On the night of 7th/8th May 1941 the Guildhall suffered serious blast damage and many windows were blown in. Large stained glass windows in the Banqueting Hall were destroyed and had to be restored in 1957-58. Further refurbishment of the Guildhall was undertaken in the 1950s, including the Lord Mayor’s Parlour. Timber from Hull’s docks would have been used in this refurbishment. Hull continues to be a major importer of timber today. However, it is now mostly pine wood that is imported and the furniture making industry has declined.