7. Becoming the King's Town

On the 31st January 1293 King Edward I bought the town of Wyke upon Hull from Meaux Abbey.  He had been shopping around for a new port in the north of the country and Hull seemed a good buy.  The monks were quite eager to sell as despite their success in exporting wool, they had not managed their profits well and the monastery was in debt.  Edward proudly proclaimed that he was the town’s new owner by changing its name to Kingston upon Hull.

The town the king bought was still admittedly rather on the small side, centred around just a few streets on the west bank of the river Hull.  It was home to about 60 households, so possibly just 300 permanent inhabitants.  Alongside them though were inns full of visiting merchants from Beverley, York and further afield.  Hull also had great potential.  Its location was perfect: easily accessible from the coast, yet sheltered from the full force of the sea, and offering access to inland towns via nearby rivers.

In 1299 the citizens of Hull, the burgesses, were granted a Royal Charter by King Edward I.  The warden running the town gained new powers including being able to catch and try thieves, who could now be held in the town’s own prison and punished using the town’s gallows.  The charter gave Hull permission to run a market twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays.  For the payment of a small fee, people could bring crops to sell whether they were a steward of a large estate or a peasant with small surplus.  Across England the number of markets doubled during the 13th century, allowing greater numbers of people to acquire food that they had not grown themselves.  40% of the grain grown was sold in markets rather then being eaten by those that had produced it.

Hull also held a fair once a year.  After the awarding of the Royal Charter, this ran for 30 days starting on St Augustine’s day, 26th May.  Sellers came from outside the local area and offered a wide range of wares for sale including household goods and livestock. When the feast day for St Augustine was abolished during the Reformation, Hull’s fair moved to the autumn.  Over the years its focus shifted from business to pleasure and it became established in early October. Today at Hull Fair the only ducks on offer are those that can be hooked with a wooden stick.

Picture: Beginning of the Royal Charter granted to Hull in 1299.  From: Boyle, J R (ed.) Charters and Letters Patent Granted to Kingston upon Hull.