The Kraken: ‘Tread carefully and hold onto your hats’

A supposedly mythical sea creature known as The Kraken has surfaced in Hull, causing alarm and delight in equal measure. Simon Bristow investigates

The tentacles didn’t seem to mind the squally showers rolling along the pavement below; rather they seemed to embrace them.

A man, head down against the driving wind, did not notice one nearly touch him as it dipped swiftly down from a window in the Maritime Museum; propelled, no doubt, by a sudden gust.

Or was it?

This scene was witnessed by passengers on a nearby bus, which had stopped briefly on the other side of the road. They, by contrast, seemed warm and secure as they stared out of the windows, and not a little relieved when the diesel engine roared back to life and carried them away.

Now wary of the giant’s reach, and shuddering at the thought of its awful touch, I decided to leave the area and head across to Monument Bridge.

But this offered little sanctuary, as there, on a cobbled area overlooking Princes Dock, was ghastly evidence that the creature had been there before, choosing this spot to lay three giant eggs.

Each was as big as a man, all iridescent purple and aquamarine, and they seemed ready to hatch.

I glanced across at the shopping centre, seeking reassurance in its bustle and modern facade, but there too were yet more giant tentacles, bursting from the windows and hanging poised above the water.

The view along Whitefriargate offered no relief either, for emanating from the upper floor of what was once a department store were more of these huge and brightly-coloured sea limbs, looming ominously over the shoppers and pedestrians below.

Was there no hiding place?

I headed back to where my surreal adventure began, the Maritime Museum, where a guide nervously handed me a leaflet and said there was actually a trail linking all sightings of The Kraken since they first appeared in the city this week.

There was even a map showing the locations where the sea monster had surfaced, including Trinity Market and Spurn Lightship on the marina.

And then when I returned home last night, I saw pictures on social media showing it had even got inside Hepworth’s Arcade.

Authorities are investigating.

But it is said The Kraken, which was supposed to remain safely in Norse mythology, had been disturbed during the removal of thousands of treasures from rooms in the museum basement.

This has been impossible to verify as no one has yet summoned the courage to go back in.

Tread carefully, all ye who pass here, and hold onto your hats.

• The spectacle of The Kraken is the first of a series of major events in the build up to the delivery of the Hull: Yorkshire’s Maritime City project.

  The bespoke installation, by Designs in Air, is their largest city-wide tentacle installation to date, and follows their delivery of art sculptures all over the world, with past installations in Lisbon, China, Berlin, Australia, and Hong Kong.

  They have also featured at major events and exhibitions, including the 2012 London Olympics, the Eden project, Glastonbury Festival, and for Cirque du Soleil.

  Funded by Hull City Council and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the project and related events, including living statues, theatre performances, and live music, run until Thursday, August 26.

  A map of the trail, which starts at the Maritime Museum, is available at Kraken HQ in Queen Victoria Square, the tourist information pod in Paragon Interchange, the Museums Quarter, and is available to download from maritimehull.co.uk.

  Maritime-themed events will also take place within the Museums Quarter on High Street between 11am and 3pm today, and at the same time on August 12 and 21.