A new exhibition exploring the rich history and cultural contributions of the Polish community in East Yorkshire is shining a light on stories that span centuries.
East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s Champney Treasure House Museum in Beverley will host the ‘Cześć, to my!’ (Hi, it’s us!) exhibition which traces the connections between Poland and East Yorkshire from medieval trade links to the present day.
The exhibition reveals how Beverley and Poland once traded goods by sea and explores the Polish settlers in the 19th century who established businesses in Hull.
The exhibition also highlights the vital role played by Polish airmen stationed at RAF Leconfield and Hutton Cranswick during the Second World War, where they contributed significantly to the Battle of Britain.
Today, Polish heritage remains an important part of local life with a Polish Consulate based in Beverley and two successful Polish Saturday language schools operating in Hull.
‘Cześć, to my!’ was researched and produced collaboratively by Irena Sendlers Polish School in Hull, members of the Polish community, local historians, and East Riding Museums.
The project first began as an exhibition at Streetlife Museum in Hull in 2025. The Beverley presentation expands on the original exhibition by exploring Polish links across the wider East Riding and showcasing fascinating material preserved within the East Riding Archives.
The exhibition celebrates community, heritage and shared history, offering visitors an opportunity to discover the enduring connections between Poland and East Yorkshire.
The exhibition opens on Saturday and runs until Saturday, 3 October.
Councillor Nick Coultish, cabinet member for culture, leisure and tourism at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said:
"This wonderful exhibition traces the connections between Poland and East Yorkshire from the Medieval trading era through to the vibrant Polish community that continues to thrive in the region today.
"We look forward to working collaboratively with members of the Polish community to bring this exhibition to life.’’
Joanna Radecka from Irena Sendlers Polish School, added:
"As a representative of the local Polish community, I am honoured and grateful to see our rich history and contributions celebrated. This display offers everyone the chance to explore the strong Polish-British connections in Yorkshire and to appreciate our flourishing community today.
"Co-curating this exhibition with the amazing team at East Riding Museums has been a great pleasure and a deeply rewarding experience.’’
For more information and the latest opening times, visit the East Riding Museums page.
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