Iron Age boat back on display at museum after spruce-up

The Hasholme Boat, around 2,300 years old, was excavated in 1984 after being found in a former inlet of the Humber estuary, near Holme-on-Spalding Moor.

After two years at the National Maritime Museum, it went on show in Hull in 1986 in a purpose-built tank at the museum, where it was sprayed with the same sort of chemical used to preserve the Mary Rose.

However, after 19 years of the treatment, experts realised the preservative might be doing more harm than good, and last December they turned off the ageing spray system and called in a wood conservation expert from York.

It was agreed to dismantle the spray system, clean the tank, and leave the vessel to dry out naturally.

Hazardous waste experts donned protective gear to remove the chemical liquid and give the tank a clean bill of health.

After mould removal, the next move is to install a chilling system to prevent the boat drying out too quickly and reduce the risk of the wood warping and splitting.

"Now the tank is clean it is much more accessible to view and hopefully the public will see the boat in its newly conserved state," said collections curator Caroline Rhodes.