Forgotten mosaic uncovered in city pond clean-up

Blue mosaic tiles can clearly be seen beneath the pond water for the first time in decades

A striking mosaic tiled floor dating from the 1960s has been uncovered during a major clean-up of a pond as part of the redevelopment of Hull's Queen's Gardens.

The intricate deep blue tiling had been hidden from view for decades beneath murky water in the third and final pond to be refurbished.

When the pond was emptied, items including skateboards and bicycles were removed and the fish were safely put in holding tanks, before clean water was added and the fish were reintroduced.

Queen's Gardens is set to reopen next spring - months later than Hull City Council's original deadline of late 2025 and at a cost of more than £21m, up from an earlier estimate of £4.3m.

A 1960s mosaic was hidden below the murky water

Located on the eastern end near Hull College, the pond underwent a four-week refurbishment which led to the mosaic being revealed beneath the freshly cleaned water.

Other items found in the pond included scooters, bottles, glasses, fishing rods and even a pair of hair curling tongs, the council said.

The silt was removed, and overgrown plants and debris were cleared before the pond was fitted with upgraded filters, pumps and a new central fountain to improve the environment for fish, wildfowl, and other pond life.

In total, more than 600 tonnes of silt was removed from the three ponds in the gardens.

The sculpture next to the pond by artist Robert Adams was also restored

Councillor Mike Ross, leader of Hull City Council, said while people were eager to see the gardens fully reopen, work of this scale and quality took time.

"These improvements to the ponds are a vital part of making Queen's Gardens a vibrant and biodiverse space for everyone to enjoy," he said.

The Queen's Garden project is one piece of the council's wider Hull Maritime scheme to regenerate areas that were key parts of Hull's maritime history, which includes the refurbishment of the Maritime Museum and the North End Shipyard.

The wider Queens Gardens programme will include a memorial space for those who died during the Covid-19 pandemic.

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