Eclectic Music is based in Maister House on High Street, in the centre of Hull’s old town.
Maister House is a rare surviving reminder of the thriving international trade the city of Hull enjoyed in Georgian times. The building’s sober facade hides one of the most fascinating interiors in the city; and a story of wealth, tragedy and high art.
The wealth belonged to the Maister family. The Maisters were one of a number of merchant families who lived on Hull’s High Street and traded with ports around the North Sea and Baltic. The family originated in Kent and were first recorded in the parish register of Holy Trinity Church, Hull, in 1567.
During the following two centuries the Maisters enjoyed considerable success; family members held offices including Sheriff, Mayor and MP for Hull. It was during the time of one Henry Maister (1699-1744), who succeeded to the family business in 1716, that the great tragedy occurred.
On the night of 12-13 April 1743 the Maisters’ family home caught fire. Henry Maister escaped the blaze, but his wife, Mary, youngest child and two maidservants did not. According to one account, Mary had initially fled the house with her husband but then returned and attempted to save her baby; it is believed that she became trapped on an upper floor of the burning building when the old wooden staircase collapsed.
The construction of the present Maister House was commissioned the same year, and was well underway by the winter of 1744. The new building was provided with stone staircases and iron balustrades – Henry Maister seems to have been determined to prevent the terrible events of the previous year ever recurring.
Click here to read the full story: http://www.gsey.org.uk/place/483/maister-house-hull
The National Trust acquired Maister House in 1966 and undertook a programme of restoration under the direction of architect Francis Johnson (1911-95). The bay windows were removed and the glazing returned to its eighteenth century appearance. The present stone steps and railings at the front entrance were designed by Mr. Johnson in a Georgian style.
Further details of opening and visiting times including updates, news and articles about Maister House can be found on the National Trust website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/maister-house
Unfortunately Maister House does not currently have any form of disability access; this is something we are working on in conjunction with the National Trust and other interested bodies.
Various spaces within Maister House are available to rent – see here for more details and information.
