New mural at Pearson Primary School celebrates Beverley Road’s history
HERITAGE: Pupils from Pearson Primary School with the new mural created by local artist Alex Hunt
By Rick Lyon
A new mural celebrating Beverley Road’s history has been unveiled at Pearson Primary School.
The artwork will help pupils learn more about the heritage of the area and understand the links between Hull’s local, national and global history.
The mural was created by Hull artist Alex Hunt in collaboration with teachers and pupils at Pearson Primary, as part of the Beverley Road Townscape Heritage Scheme. It includes familiar Beverley Road landmarks such as Stepney Station and Pearson Park, both of which have received transformative restoration works in recent years.
Councillor Rob Pritchard, portfolio holder for culture and leisure, said: “By collaborating with Pearson Primary School and the artist, the council is enabling pupils to develop a greater understanding of their local community and key landmarks in a creative way.
“The new mural is a celebration of Beverley Road’s past and tells the story of the local area. The council hopes it will inspire pupils to delve deeper in the history of the local area and share their stories with family members and friends as well as having a sense of belonging and pride for where they live.”
Louise Clarkson, headteacher at Pearson Primary School, said: “Our school serves a vibrant, diverse and multicultural community and it’s a priority of ours to support the children and families in our care to establish a strong sense of place and belonging. Knowledge about the special heritage of Beverley Road supports this work and our fantastic new mural will be well used as a resource in our curriculum.
“We are grateful to Hull City Council’s heritage team for their support in providing our school with bespoke resources and opportunities that help our young people to develop their understanding of local history and to recognise themselves as part of the local story.”
The new mural is the centrepiece of a longer-term collaboration with Pearson Primary School, integrating Beverley Road history into the curriculum and helping pupils develop a greater sense of pride and belonging in their local area.
The Beverley Road Townscape Heritage Scheme, which is funded by Hull City Council and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, has been working to protect and celebrate the history of Beverley Road through a wide-ranging programme of work since 2015.