by Ethel Smith

Created on: July 11, 2007   Last Updated: February 01, 2009

I am 55 years old and have resided in the city of Kingston-Upon-Hull, or as it is more commonly known Hull, all my life. Hull is situated on the north bank of the River Humber, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. Hull has had a chequered and interesting past, has been fraught with problems and is yet again battling to rebuild itself, both literally and economically.

A little History and Background.

At school in the fifties we were taught that Hull, at that time, was the third largest port in England. For a relatively small city that was some achievement. Much of the city's wealth had come from the fishing trade and fishermen and their families had a good, if not somewhat erratic, standard of living. Much of this fishing was conducted in the waters off Iceland and the subsequent "Icelandic Cod wars", with new fishing quotas introduced, pretty much killed the fishing industry in Hull. This not only affected the fisher families but also the factory and shop workers involved indirectly in this trade. Consequently Hull went through a bad period of unemployment in the 1970's and 80's.

Hull from the start.

From the 12th century there has been a settlement at the joining point of the River Hull and the River Humber. Hull was originally called Wyke but by the end of the 13th Century it had acquired the right to hold a market, and a fair, so becoming a free borough, the King's town upon Hull.

During the period between the 13th-16th Centuries Hull was second only, in England, as a port, to London. Hull became a cosmopolitan city with a busy maritime trade. One of Hull's early 'claims to fame' also was it's contribution to the spread of syphilis. This was largely due to the maritime trade and the ever increasing amount of sailors in port at any time. As I have already said Hull certainly has a chequered past.

Looking at Hull in the English Cromwellian revolution, or English Civil war, it had played leading role. When King Charles tried to enter Hull, through it's old city gates in 1642, Sir John Hotham the military governor of the day refused him entry. Charles was trying to access a stash of arms held in Hull for use in his conflict with the round-heads. Despite his further attempt, by returning with reinforcements and besieging Hull, he never gained access. Hull folk are just as stubborn today.

The 19th and 20th Century saw Hull with mixed fortunes. It's involvement in whaling and deep sea fishing initially brought prosperity, as did Hull's other maritime trades. However

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