Kingston upon Hull

Kingston upon Hull is referred as a port city in the East Yorkshire, England with a population of around 260,200 according to mid-2016 est. It is commonly known as Hull, lies upon the northern bank where river Hull meets the Humber estuary. It is the unitary authority in the east Yorkshire located 154 miles north of London and 25 miles inland from the North Sea. The early settlement of the town can be found back to the 12^th century. The port of the town was first used by the monks of the Meaux Abbey for exporting the wool. They selected their ideal place for building the quay at the concurrence of the rivers Hull and Humber. Since there is no clear evidence regarding the exact year of the foundation of the town, but it was first referred in 1193. During the 12th century, the town remained as a market town, trading hub and industrial metropolis.

The town is also known for having municipally owned telephone system since 1902. The Member of Parliament of the town contributed towards the abolition of the slave trade in the country. The town also served the theatre of battle in English civil wars took place between the Royalists and Parliamentarians. The town was severally affected by the Second World War and experienced the phase of post-industrial decline, brought socio-economic problems, unemployment and social deprivation. The town has undergone new housing, commercial and administration projects post the Great recession period in the early 21^st century.

History

The early history of the town traced its roots back to the Neolithic period. The access to the flourishing hinterland and navigable rivers attracted the people of the surrounding areas for settlement. The name of the town is suggested to be originated from dwelling place or Vik meaning inlet. The River Hull was the ideal channel for exporting the wool from Meaux Abbey. The royal charter was granted to the town in 1293 by King Edward I and renamed the settlement as Kingston upon Hull. The port was developed into the leading port of the England and also served as a base during the First War of Scottish Independence. The wealth of the city grew with the import of timber and wine along with the export of wool and woollen cloth.

During the middle ages, the trading links of the town were extended all over the world and became the centre of the coastal trading network and booming inland. The town flourished during the 16^th and early 17^th century and major developmental projects came into existence. The town became strategically important due to the presence of large arms and ammunition firms in the English Civil War. Whaling (Hunting of whales) played a significant role in the growth of the economy until the mid-19^th century. The city status was granted to the town in 1897. With the decline of the hunting industry, the focus shifted to the deep sea trawling till the Cod Wars between the United Kingdom and Iceland.

Economy

The economy of the town was based on the seafaring and trading. Earlier, trade was initiated in the merchant’s houses such as Blaydes House and centred on the Hull River, later on, shifted to the Humber docks. In 1970, the fishing industry faced the recession, and the city remained only the busiest port managing 13 million tons of cargo per year. The city is home to the several chemical and healthcare industries including Smith and Nephew and Reckitt Benckiser. After the recession in fishing and heavy industries, the wealth of the town is primarily based on travel and tourism, education, entertainment and retail sector.

Landmarks

The famous places to visit in the city are Streetlife Museum of Transport, The Humber Bridge, Hull Marina, East Park, Ferens Art Gallery, Wilberforce House Museum, Hull Maritime Museum, Hull and East Riding Museum, Hull History Centre and much more exciting places.