Construction Workers Unearth 300-Year-Old Cannon in Hull

In February, construction workers in Kingston upon Hull stumbled upon a remarkable piece of history—a cannon believed to date back to either the late 17th or early 18th century.

The artifact, which weighs over a tonne and was covered in dirt and corrosion, caught the attention of archaeologists from Humberfield Archeology. Hull City Council shared some insights about the find, noting that initial assessments suggest the cannon was decommissioned, with its nozzle capped off on purpose. There’s a belief it might have been repurposed as a bollard for mooring.

The term “bollard” refers to the sturdy posts used for mooring vessels, and the historical context around these cannons is quite fascinating. After the British victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, the British started repurposing French ships, but the cannons were too big for their own use on ships. Instead, they found a creative way to display their triumph—transforming these cannons into bollards across London’s East End. This practice became so popular that, even after depleting the original cannons, replicas were created and continue to adorn the streets of London today.

While excavating for a new water storage tank, construction worker John Jacobs made the astonishing discovery. He remarked, “I’ve never dug up anything like this. Normally, you find small bottles and bits of junk, but nothing this significant.”

Hull, located about 320 miles north of London, was once the largest city in Britain. Workers were actually involved in a restoration project at a park named Queen’s Gardens when the cannon was unearthed.

Peter Connelly, the archaeology manager at Humber Field Archeology, described the find as “definitely very rare,” hinting at the idea that the cannon might have been conveniently discarded in a significant hole during ground restoration.