Hull History

A port was established where the River Hull flows into the Humber in the 12th century by the monks from nearby Meaux Abbey, who wanted to trade the wool they produced on the continent. From these humble origins the port of Hull was to develop into the country’s third largest docks.

By the end of the 13th century King Edward I was looking for a northern base and acquired the port from the Cistercian monks, earning it the title King’s town upon Hull. By the 18th century the port was too small for the traffic it was handling and a massive row of new docks were established, while the old docks were filled for the establishment of the Queen’s Gardens.

The town boasts a number of famous sons and daughters, William Wilberforce the abolitionist was born in the town in 1759 and you can visit his birthplace museum in the High Street. The metaphysical poet Andrew Marvell spent much of his childhood in the town and served as M.P. for Hull for nearly 20 years in the 17th century and the town has links with two other famous poets, Stevie Smith and Philip Larkin.