Autumn 1460 found England in limbo. After winning the Battle of Northampton, the
Yorkists now held King Henry VI prisoner, however nobles in Parliament wouldn’t
agree to Richard, Duke of York, replacing him as king. They preferred the compromise of Edward,
Richard’s son, succeeding after Henry died. The Duke of York though wanted to
wear the crown himself and wasn’t prepared to give up the fight now. As both sides prepared for yet more violence,
across the country people looked on wondering if they would get caught up in
the conflict. With no one else to turn
to, it was every town for itself.
In Hull one of the first security measures to be put in
place was to close all entrances into the town aside from Beverley Gate, so
that visitors could be more easily monitored.
To guard against attack from the river, gates or bars were placed at the
end of staithes. At the top of Bishop’s
Lane, where the ground had been too soft to build the town wall, barrels of
stones were used to block up the gap in the defences.
Hull’s aldermen were given additional powers to try and prevent people causing trouble. Their permission had to be sought if a stranger wished to stay in town more then one night. If the aldermen suspected you were hiding an unauthorised stranger, they had the authority to search your house. And they would only give permission for your guest to stay, if you promised you would be responsible for their behaviour.
Defending Hull was a team effort. At any one time, a quarter of the town’s men were on guard duty either along the walls or patrolling the streets. Archers were stationed at the end of each staith. Men were called upon to take their turn digging ditches in front of the barbicans at Hessle, Myton, and North Gates. If you failed to turn up to do your bit, you were fined. Plus no doubt your neighbours would make it very clear what they thought of you putting everybody’s lives at risk.
Hull’s aldermen were given additional powers to try and prevent people causing trouble. Their permission had to be sought if a stranger wished to stay in town more then one night. If the aldermen suspected you were hiding an unauthorised stranger, they had the authority to search your house. And they would only give permission for your guest to stay, if you promised you would be responsible for their behaviour.
Defending Hull was a team effort. At any one time, a quarter of the town’s men were on guard duty either along the walls or patrolling the streets. Archers were stationed at the end of each staith. Men were called upon to take their turn digging ditches in front of the barbicans at Hessle, Myton, and North Gates. If you failed to turn up to do your bit, you were fined. Plus no doubt your neighbours would make it very clear what they thought of you putting everybody’s lives at risk.
The fact Hull was a port made it vulnerable. No ship was allowed to dock until the
aldermen had interrogated the captain, purser and master as to their motives
for coming to Hull and a limit was introduced
on the number of sailors that could be on shore at any one time. To guard the quayside, a ship belonging to
Claus Orton was requisitioned, equipped with guns and anchored by the jetty. More than 100 people also dipped their hands
into their pockets to buy an iron chain to string across the mouth of the river
Hull.
On this high state of alert the people of Hull tried to continue
with their everyday lives despite knowing that at any moment they may be called
on go and fight to protect their homes and families. They waited for the nobles to stop squabbling
and decide who should be king, however as Christmas 1460 approached the issue
was still not resolved.
Photos: Top, remains of Beverley Gate, Hull; Bottom, surviving example
of defensive gate with barbican, Walmgate, York.
