Water is key to the story of Hull's development. The Humber estuary links the rivers of Yorkshire and the East Midlands with the North Sea. In the Middle Ages, a settlement grew up where the River Hull joins the Humber. It developed under the auspices of Meaux Abbey as a port through which wool from the hinterland was exported to Northern Europe, and through which the raw materials of the Baltic region, principally timber, were imported into England. Sea-going ships were anchored in the mouth of the Hull, allowing the transfer of cargo to and from smaller vessels which could access the narrower waterways to Beverley and Nottingham, Knottingley, Selby and York.
Following a major flood in 1253, the River Hull moved from its original course to the west of the current Old Town into a pre-cut draining channel to the east. This change of course created the current course of the river Hull and what eventually became the Old Harbour.
The King's Town
In 1293, the port was bought by King Edward I for use as a supply base for his military campaigns in Scotland. In 1299, the king founded the borough of Kingston-upon-Hull on the site, and this name is still the formal title of the city.
A trading port
Hull continued to be an important port in the later Middle Ages. It exported lead and grain as well as wool. Imports included cloth from the Netherlands, iron-ore from Sweden, oil seed from the Baltic and timber from Riga and Norway. Timber and oil seed continue to be major imports through the port of Hull to the present day.
Some Hull merchants grew very rich. The De La Pole family became wealthy enough to join the ranks of the English aristocracy, and for one brief period in the 1400s they become heirs to the throne of England.
However, the monopoly imposed on trade with the Baltic by the powerful Hanseatic League in the15th century led to a decline in Hull’s prosperity, which some Hull mariners tried to alleviate by resorting to piracy.
Hull in the Civil War
Despite Hull’s decline in trade during the 15th and 16th centuries, its strategic importance meant that it received the military attentions of both sides in the British Civil Wars.
In April 1642 King Charles I attempted to take control of the arsenal at Hull but was turned away from the gates by the governor Sir John Hotham. It is possible that Charles expected to be denied access but provoked the confrontation for propaganda purposes. Hull supported the Parliamentarian (Roundhead) side in the conflict and was consequently besieged by the Royalists (Cavaliers) twice; once in July 1642 and again in September and October 1643.
The leading English republican, Sir Henry Vane, was MP for Hull at this time. Slightly later, both before and after the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660, Andrew Marvell, the Hull-born poet, represented the town.
Growth of the port
Agricultural and industrial developments in Yorkshire and the East Midlands during the 18th century led to the growth of Hull’s significance to trade, which in turn fuelled the development of Hull as a port. A dock was opened in 1778, which would become Queen's Dock, and others were constructed over the next 150 years to meet growing demands.
The population of the town also increased, and Hull outgrew its medieval core. This became known as the Old Town as spacious middle-class suburbs developed to the west and east of the town.
The port grew further during the 19th century as industries were established to take advantage of the raw materials being imported through the port. Industries such as corn milling and seed crushing grew up adding new impetus to the local economy.
Hull people
Two Hull-born people of international significance are:
William Wilberforce
One member of Hull’s increasingly prosperous merchant class who achieved national prominence was William Wilberforce (1759-1833). Born and educated in Hull, he was elected as MP for the town in 1780, before becoming MP for the County of York in 1784. His profound Christian faith motivated his political life and led to his becoming a leading opponent of slavery in parliament. His campaigning work contributed to the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire in 1807 and of slavery as an institution in 1833.
Ebenezer Cobb Morley
Born in Garden Square close to the site of the History Centre in 1831, Ebenezer Cobb Morley trained as a solicitor in Hull before relocated to London. A pioneer of football, he was instrumental in the establishment of the Football Association. He served as the FA's first Honorary Secretary between 1863-1866, before being appointed as the FA's second president between 1867-1874. He drafted the thirteen original laws of the FA in 1863 one of which stated that:
No player shall wear projecting nails, iron plates, or gutta percha (a form of natural rubber introduced to the west in 1843) on the soles or heels of his boots.
He scored the first goal in a representative match London v Sheffield on 31 March 1866, and in 1872 he became the first man to present the FA Cup.
Whaling and trawling
The late 18th century saw the rise of the whaling trade in Hull. By 1800 40% of the country’s whalers sailed from the town, and the trade brought increased prosperity to Hull until it began to decline through over-fishing in the mid 19th century.
By then, the fishing industry itself was beginning to take off in Hull. In the 1840s, the discovery of the fish-rich “silver pits” region of the North Sea led to fishermen from Devon and Kent migrating to the Humber region, at first seasonally and then permanently. The introduction in the late 19th century of new fishing methods, the “trawl”, and of steam powered trawlers meant that Hull's fishermen ventured as far as Iceland and the White Sea.
Improved communications
Trade and industry in Hull were boosted by the arrival of a rail link with Leeds in 1840. Other railways followed, including the Hull and Barnsley Railway and the associated Alexandra Dock which were opened in 1885 to break the perceived local monopoly of the North Eastern Railway.
Hull was at its most prosperous in the years before the First World War. This prosperity, and the civic pride which went with it, is demonstrated by major civic buildings, such as the Guildhall (built 1904-16). Hull was granted city status in 1897, and the first Lord Mayor was appointed in 1914.
University of Hull
The University College of Hull was founded in 1927 following major donations from civic leaders such as Thomas Ferens. In 1954 it was granted a royal charter and became the University of Hull. It now attracts over 18,000 students a year. Philip Larkin (1922-1985), one of the most important English poets of the 20th century, served as Librarian from 1955.
Industrial decline
The 1920s and 1930s saw major industrial decline, exacerbated by overproduction in the fishing industry. However this period also saw many improvements in housing and planning, with the construction of council housing estates on the outskirts of the city, and a major development to the road system with the construction of Ferensway.
Second World War
During the Second World War Hull’s position as a major port saw it devastated by air raids, particularly in March and May 1941. The city was the heaviest bombed outside London. Inspite of the existence of a detailed development plan, post-war reconstruction took many years.
The profile of trade in Hull changed after the War. The smaller, older docks were closed, but Queen Elizabeth Dock opened in 1969 to handle container traffic. The port continues to thrive with some of the largest super ferries in the world operating from Hull.
Decline of the fishing industry
The main loss to the City was the fishing industry, which collapsed in the 1970s after the “Cod Wars” with Iceland. However many of the old industries which originally developed in Hull to process imported raw materials are still here, including pharmaceutical firms Reckitt and Smith & Nephew, and millers Maizecor. The port is still, after over 700 years, a major importer of timber from Northern Europe.
Bridging the Humber
In 1959 approval was given to build a suspension bridge across the River Humber, although building did not start until 1973. The Humber Bridge, a now iconic landmark, was formally opened by H.M. Queen Elizabeth II in July 1981.
Into the 21st century
In June 2007 the city experienced devastating floods, but Hull’s inhabitants showed a characteristic resilience arguably last seen in 1941.
The first decade of the 21st century was a good one for the city's sports fans. Rugby league fans of both Hull FC and Kingston Rovers have become accustomed to top-flight action over the years. However, for local football fans, Hull City AFC’s rollercoaster adventure in the Premier League (the team’s first experience in the top tier of English football in 104 years) was a highlight. Ebenezer Cobb Morley would doubtless have been proud.
On the economic front, Green Port Hull has seen the city leading the way with sustainable energy development. Siemen’s investment in wind turbine production at the port provided a £160M boost to the local economy in 2016.
In 2017, Hull celebrated becoming UK City of Culture with a year packed full of cultural events. We witnessed many stunning spectacles and heard inspiring stories that demonstated the city's unique and proud heritage.