A topping out ceremony marked a key milestone at the Hull History Centre on Monday April 6 at 11am.

Lord Mayor of Kingston Upon Hull and Admiral of the Humber, Councillor Elaine Garland, tightened the last bolt to complete the roof structure and commemorate the ‘topping out' of the highest element of the new building.

As part of the ceremony, a plaque was unveiled at the construction site in Mason Street in the city centre.

As well as representatives from the council and project partners the University of Hull and building contractor ISG, the event has attracted distinguished guests from the Heritage Lottery Fund, which has contributed over £7.5 million to the project. There was a partial tour of the site, highlighting areas of the new building that will house resources that the public can use to research local and family history, as well as rare treasures from locally and nationally important collections.

Representation from the Heritage Lottery Fund came from trustee Dr Tristram Hunt, a historian, author and journalist, who specialises in Victorian urban history and is a lecturer in history at Queen Mary, University of London. The Head of Heritage Lottery Fund, Yorkshire and the Humber, Dr Fiona Spiers, also attended.

Martin Taylor, Hull City Council history services manager said: "We are really pleased that many of the people who have been instrumental in getting this project off the ground will be coming together to celebrate this milestone. For some it will be the first time they have seen the site in Hull."

Judy Burg, University of Hull Archivist commented: "It has been exciting seeing the building taking shape over the past year and it is wonderful to have reached this milestone with the main structure complete.

"We can now really begin to visualise all the new services and activities that will be possible once the History Centre is open."

Lord Mayor Councillor Elaine Garland: "It is really exciting to reach this important stage in the construction process for a building that will be of interest and use to the public in Kingston upon Hull, and which will contain some of our most important records and artefacts that support our rich heritage."