Chapter 6 of 6 · 10895 words · ~54 min read

Chapter VIII

. we read how the fierce Northmen settled in our land, and on pages 59–61 it was shown how numerous are Danish place-names in the East Riding of Yorkshire. But it is not only in the place-names of the district that we find proofs of the presence of the Northmen. There are in common use among the inhabitants of the East Riding scores of words that are purely Danish words, handed down from father to son, almost or quite unchanged during more than a thousand years. Some are as follows:—

WORDS USED BY THE MODERN STANDARD WORDS USED IN EAST NORSEMEN 1000 YEARS ENGLISH. YORKSHIRE TO-DAY. AGO.[70]

AT that (conjunction) AT

BAND string, cord BAND

BARN child BA’AN or BARN

BELJA to cry, shout out BEEAL

BUINN ready BOON

DALIGR dismal, lonely DOWLY

DENGJA to strike DING, DENG

FLYTJA to change one’s abode FLIT

FRA from FRA

GARTHR yard GARTH

GATA road, way GATE

GAUKR cuckoo GOWK

GYMBR female lamb GIMMER

HLAUPA to leap LOWP

HNEFI fist NEEAF

KETLINGR kitten KITLIN

KJARR low-lying land CARR

KLEGGI horse-fly KLEG

LEIKA to play LAIK

MEGIN very MAIN

MOLDVARPA mole MOODIEWARP

MUNU must MUN

REYKR smoke REEK

SKAELA to overturn SKEL UP

SKJAPPA basket SKEP

SLAKKI hollow SLACK

SLEIPR slippery SLAAPE

STIGI ladder STEE

THETTR watertight THEET

THRONGR busy THRONG

Footnote 70:

In reading these, it should be remembered that the Norse J=_y_, AU=_ow_, EI or EY=_ai_, and V=_w_.

Other proofs of the great influence of the Old Norse tongue on the language of East Riding folk are seen in their liking for the sound of K where modern standard English demands that of CH. The words _benk_ (or _bink_), _birk_, _breeks_, _caff_, _kirk_, _kist_, _pickfork_, and _thack_, are commonly heard used in place of the Southern English forms bench, birch, breeches, chaff, church, chest, pitchfork, and thatch. So also _hask_ or _’ask_ is the East Riding pronunciation of harsh, and _brig_ is universally used for the different meanings of the word bridge.

* * * * *

In the Rev. M. C. F. Morris’s history of Nunburnholme the author gives an amusing example of the East Riding Folk-Speech. But it is really something more than this. For we can see from it very clearly how much truer English is spoken by the East Yorkshire farm-labourer than by the fine fellow who prides himself on his knowledge of the English language.

Let us take Mr. Morris’s story—the Fable of ‘The Bear and the Bees’—in two forms. Here is one of them:—

‘A bear happened to be stung by a bee, and the _pain_ was so _acute_ that in the madness of _revenge_ he ran into the _garden_ and overturned the hive. This _outrage_ _provoke_d their anger to a high _degree_, and brought the _fury_ of the whole swarm upon him. They _attack_ed him with such _violence_ that his life was in _danger_, and it was with the utmost _difficulty_ that he made his _escape_, wounded from head to tail.

‘In this _desperate_ _condition_, _lament_ing his mis_fortunes_ and licking his sores, he could not forbear _reflect_ing how much more _advisable_ it had been to have _acquiesce_d _patient_ly under one _injury_ than thus by an un_profitable_ _resentment_ to have _provoke_d a thousand.’

Now this version of the fable contains just over eighty different words; and, if we turn over the pages of a French dictionary, we shall find that twenty-one of the twenty-five words printed in italics were not originally English words at all, but are words introduced into our language from the French. Some of them ‘came over with the Conqueror’ undoubtedly. Others were introduced in more recent times. The remaining four words—_acute_, _desperate_, _reflect_ing, and _acquiesce_d—are purely Latin words.

Let us now take the East Yorkshireman’s account of what happened:—

‘Yah daay yan o’ them girt beears gat hissen sadly tenged wi’ a bee. He wer seea _despe’t_ly ho’tten was t’ beear at he wer wahld ommeeast. Noo, they’re a varry _lungeous_ thing is a beear, an’ seea ti mak ’em think on t’ next tahm, he maks nowt ti deea bud he off ti t’ _gardin_ an’ clicks t’ beeskep ower wi sikan a bat. Noo, by that, mun, ther was a bonny ti-deea; t’ bees was sairly putten aboot, an’ seea they all com at t’ beear, an’ leeted on him; an’ he wer that tenged all ower, whahl it leeaked agin they wer boun ti rahve him i’ bits; an’ he wer hard set ti ger awaay frev ’em wick.

‘Varry seean he was swidgin’ an’ warkin’ awhahl he could hardlins bahd; bud, hooivver, he set hissen doon upo’ t’ grund an’ started ti beeal, an’ he shakk’d his heead an’ scratted his lugs an’ sike leyke. Eftther he’d gotten sattled doon a bit, thinks he tiv hissen, ah mebbe mud as weel ae tae’n neea _noatis_ eftther t’ fo’st bee tenged ma, as ti a’e meead sikan a _durdam_ amang t’ others, awhahl they were fit ti modther ma; an’ it wer all ti neea use at t’ _finish_.’

All the long French words have disappeared, and in the whole account only five French words and one Latin word are used. The difference is striking, and the reason for the difference is not far to seek.

The language of the former version is that which has come down to us from the Court, and the Court language was for centuries Norman-French. The words used by the East Yorkshire farm-labourer are those of his humble forefathers who knew no _bewk-larning_, and who learned their English tongue by word of mouth, picking up here and there only an occasional French word.

In other words, the language of the farm-labourer is almost exactly the same as that used by his ancestors four or five centuries ago. In fact, as Mr. Morris puts it, ‘if old Tommy Smith who died in 1500, aged 80, and old Willie Ward who died in 1900, aged 80, could come to life again and hold converse with one another, they would understand each other perfectly.’

XXIX. HOW THE EAST RIDING GOVERNS ITSELF.

Every ten years a census is taken of the people inhabiting the British Isles. The latest counting of the people took place in 1911, when it was found that there were living in the East Riding of Yorkshire 432,804 persons. This large number of people is made up of men, women, and children who live in groups or communities very greatly varying in size. The number of persons living in the great city of Hull was 278,024; the number living in the little village of Wilsthorpe was only one.

[Illustration:

ANCIENT ARMS OF BEVERLEY. ]

But whether the inhabitants of the East Riding are living together in large communities or in small ones, they live at peace with one another; and any disorderly person who disturbs the peace of the community is quickly brought to book. Now, seeing that man is by nature somewhat inclined to be a quarrelsome animal, how is this very desirable state of affairs brought about?

The answer to this is that all the men, women, and children of the East Riding are living under certain wise laws by which their lives are governed. Probably they do not often recognise the fact that their lives are being governed or ruled. If they did, they would almost certainly begin to kick against the rules and say that it is an Englishman’s privilege to do just as he likes.

But that is just the secret of the quiet, peaceful lives led by the great majority of English people. They submit to be governed without their knowing it; and they do not realise that they are being governed because, very largely, they govern themselves.

The laws by which the lives of the inhabitants of the East Riding are ruled are made at Westminster by the British Parliament. This consists of two ‘Houses’—the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

Among the 670 men who make up what is called the House of Commons there are six who are chosen by the people of the East Riding to represent them in Parliament. The city of Hull supplies three of these; and the remaining portion of the East Riding supplies the other three. For voting purposes, when the elections of these _Members of Parliament_ are held, Hull is split up into three Divisions—East Hull, West Hull, and Central Hull; and the rest of the East Riding is similarly split up into the Buckrose Division, the Holderness Division, and the Howdenshire Division.[71]

Footnote 71:

Hedon sent two members to Parliament from the time of Edward I. until 1832, when it was disfranchised as one of the ‘rotten boroughs.’ Beverley also was represented by two members till 1870.

In what is known as the House of Lords the East Riding is represented—though not through the process of election—by the Earl of Londesborough, Baron Middleton of Settrington House, Baron Leconfield, Baron Deramore of Heslington Hall, and Baron Nunburnholme of Ferriby Hall.

* * * * *

But the British Parliament only says what the laws of the whole country shall be. To see that these laws are rightly administered, there are in London what are called ‘Government Departments,’ such as the Board of Trade and the Board of Agriculture. A great deal of the work of these Departments, however, cannot be conveniently carried on from London, and the country is therefore split up into _Shires_, or _Counties_, to each of which is given the work of seeing that certain of the laws made by Parliament are properly kept.

The East Riding of Yorkshire is one of these counties, and in addition to seeing that the laws of the country are properly kept, it has the duty of making less important laws which concern only its own inhabitants. The latter are known as _by-laws_, or, as the word is often written, _bye-laws_.

[Illustration:

MODERN ARMS OF BRIDLINGTON. ]

Again, just as Britain is split up into different counties, each of which makes for itself the by-laws which it considers best, so the East Riding is split up into different portions, each of which makes its own by-laws.

This sort of arrangement is by no means a modern invention. A thousand years ago each ‘town,’ or group of farm dwellings, in the East Riding had its meeting to arrange the rules by which it should be governed. So also each ‘wapentake,’ or wider district, had its meeting, which was attended by representatives from the different ‘towns’ composing it. Lastly the whole ‘shire,’ the East Riding itself, had its meeting, attended by representatives from the different wapentakes.

Now we will see how this very ancient system is followed out to-day; but first we must put on one side the city of Hull, and the towns of Beverley, Bridlington, and Hedon.

Taking the rest of the East Riding, what was the _tūn mōt_ of the Angles is our PARISH COUNCIL. There are in the East Riding 131 Parish Councils, each of which is attended by chosen representatives of the village or township, and each of which looks after its own good management of affairs.

Similarly the _waepentac_ or _hundred mōt_ of the Angles is our URBAN or RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL. In the East Riding there are eight groups of townships to which the name ‘Urban District’ is given; these have for their respective centres Cottingham, Driffield, Filey, Hessle, Hornsea, Pocklington, Norton, and Withernsea. There are also twelve groups of townships which we know as ‘Rural Districts.’

[Illustration:

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS IN THE EAST RIDING ]

As you will see from the map on this page, the difference between an Urban and a Rural District is that in the latter the people are spread over a much wider area than in the former. The Urban Districts are, in other words, the more thickly populated parts of the country.

Similarly, too, the _scīr mōt_ of the Angles is the COUNTY COUNCIL of our day. This exercises authority over both the smaller Councils.

* * * * *

The EAST RIDING COUNTY COUNCIL is made up of representatives from different districts throughout the County, and consists of:—

/* Members elected for Beverley 4 Members elected for Bridlington 3 Members elected for the rest of the East Riding 45 — Total of Elected Members 52 County Aldermen 17 — Total of Members 69 */

For purposes of local government the city of Hull is entirely, and the towns of Beverley, Bridlington, and Hedon are partly, outside the East Riding. Hull ranks as a COUNTY BOROUGH, its full title being the ‘City and County of Kingston-upon-Hull,’ and it is governed by a Corporation, consisting of a Mayor, sixteen Aldermen, forty-eight Councillors, a Recorder, and a Sheriff.

Beverley, Bridlington, and Hedon rank as MUNICIPAL BOROUGHS. That is equal to saying that at some time or other each has received from the reigning Sovereign a charter granting it the right to rule its own affairs. Each Municipal Borough has a Mayor for its chief townsman.

In addition to their Mayors, Beverley and Bridlington have each six Aldermen and eighteen Councillors, while Hedon is governed by its Mayor, three Aldermen, and nine Councillors. For the election of Councillors Bridlington is divided into three wards—Bridlington Ward, Quay Ward, and Hilderthorpe Ward—and Beverley into two. The latter are named respectively Minster Ward and St. Mary’s Ward.

* * * * *

The work to be got through by a County Council or a Town Council is so large in amount that the members would not be able to carry out their duties satisfactorily if they did not arrange themselves in groups or _Committees_, each of which can undertake one kind of work. Often these Committees are again arranged in _Sub-Committees_.

[Illustration:

THE HEDON MACE—THE OLDEST CIVIC MACE IN ENGLAND.[72] ]

Footnote 72:

This mace dates from the reign of Henry VI. In the enlarged portion are shown the _lions_ of England quartered with the _fleur-de-lis_ of France.

Thus the sixty-nine members of the East Riding County Council arrange themselves in the following nine groups, each of which has its Chairman and Deputy Chairman:—

1. Finance Committee. 2. Highways and Bridges Committee. 3. Asylum Committee. 4. Cattle Plague Committee. 5. General Purposes Committee. 6. Public Health Committee. 7. Small Holdings Committee. 8. Education Committee. 9. Old-Age Pensions Committee.

Each Committee conducts the affairs entrusted to it, and makes reports to the whole Council at stated intervals.

The _Finance Committee_ examines and recommends for payment all bills and accounts; it also has the management and control of all County Council buildings.

The _Cattle Plague Committee_ deals with the outbreak of contagious diseases on farms—such as swine fever, foot and mouth disease, sheep scab, and the most dreaded anthrax. It has to see that the various Acts of Parliament concerning these are fully carried out. Hence it may have to order the immediate slaughter of all the cattle or sheep on a farm, or perhaps to order that no animals are moved from one farm to any other. Should there be during a hot summer a plague of destructive insects, it issues instructions to farmers how to fight the plague, and moreover it can compel farmers to carry out these instructions.

The work of the _General Purposes Committee_ is very varied. It is concerned with the protection of wild birds during the nesting-season, the testing of the weights and measures used in some seven thousand shops, the inspection of places where ‘Living Pictures’ are shown, the granting of licenses for these, and the choice of places at which men and women shall record their votes at the time of an election.

Under the notice of the _Public Health Committee_ come all proposals for the planning of new town-districts and all those dealing with sanitation; under the _Small Holdings Committee_ come all requests for allotments. The applicant for an old-age pension must prove to the _Old-Age Pensions Committee_ that he or she is seventy years old, and has not a greater income than £31 10s. a year. The control and repair of roads and bridges, and the management of the County Asylum at Walkington, are in the hands of the _Highways and Bridges Committee_ and the _Asylums Committee_.

* * * * *

But of greatest influence over the lives of schoolboys and schoolgirls is the work of the _Education Committee_. The work is felt to be so important that the Committee is divided into Sub-Committees. These are called respectively:—

The Higher Education Sub-Committee. The School Management Sub-Committee. The School Attendance Sub-Committee. The School Buildings and Sites Sub-Committee. The Finance Sub-Committee.

[Illustration:

CREST OF THE EAST RIDING COUNTY COUNCIL. ]

Each of these Sub-Committees has its particular work, the nature of which can be recognised from its name. The Sub-Committee which exercises, perhaps, the greatest amount of influence is that whose name stands first in the list. It is the _Higher Education Sub-Committee_, which provides funds for the carrying on of the Bridlington, Pocklington, and Beverley Grammar Schools; which founded the Bridlington and Beverley High Schools for Girls; which provides the villages of the East Riding with lectures on Dairy Farming, Poultry Keeping, Gardening, and Beekeeping; which organises classes for Cookery, Laundry-Work, Dressmaking, Carpentry, Wood-Carving, and Domestic Economy; which grants Scholarships to deserving boys and girls who wish to continue their education at a Secondary or a Technical School.

A very special kind of work carried on by the East Riding County Council is that known as the _Registration of Deeds_. As a result of this work the Council possesses a record of all sales of land in the East Riding since the year 1706. There are only two counties in Britain that keep such records, Yorkshire being one and Middlesex the other.

For carrying on its numerous branches of work the County Council needs large supplies of money. In the year 1901–2 its total receipts were £61,760; in the year 1910–11 they had grown to £190,927. These figures show how the work of the Council increased during the nine intervening years.

About one-fifth of this large sum of money is provided by the Government, the rest of it by the inhabitants of the Riding. The latter is made up of rates, rents, licenses for traction engines and motor cars, fees for pedlars’ and chimney sweeps’ certificates, fines imposed by magistrates, and so on.

Of course very accurate accounts have to be kept of all items of Income and Expenditure. In the accounts for 1910–11 there are such items as the following:—

_Income Account_:— £ s. d. Charge for Loan of Hose Pipe 0 15 0 Sale of Old Hurdles, etc. 0 8 3 Cash found on Drowned Person 0 16 6 _Expenditure Account_:— Caution Posts—Painting and Repairing 18 9 6 Skerne—Tree-Topping 2 9 0 Taking Samples of Bread and Expenses 0 0 1

All moneys received and all moneys paid away must be accounted for, and the accounts for 1910–11 show that for the whole year the _Receipts_ amounted to £190,927, while the _Payments_ amounted to £191,161. You may, perhaps, think that you see in these figures something like a mathematical impossibility; but that is only because you have not reached the higher stages of commercial arithmetic.

* * * * *

The meetings of the County Council and those of its different Committees and Sub-Committees are held at the COUNTY HALL, Beverley.[73] That is the reason Beverley, though only a small town, is called the ‘Capital of the East Riding.’

Footnote 73:

The meetings of the Hull City Council, and the Beverley, Bridlington and Hedon Town Councils are held in their respective _Town Halls_.

[Illustration: THE COUNCIL CHAMBER AT THE COUNTY HALL, BEVERLEY.]

The full meetings of the Council take place in the _Council Chamber_ four times each year—in the months of January, May, July, and October. Each meeting is presided over by the Chairman, or in his absence, by the Deputy-Chairman; and the conduct of the meeting is in accordance with a set of rules known as the _Standing Orders of the East Riding County Council_. To each resolution brought forward and put to the vote the members give their assent, or refuse it, by the words _Aye_ and _No_.

Both the County Council and the Town Councils have a body of officers to see that their wishes are properly carried out. They comprise a _Clerk_, _Treasurer_, _Accountant_, _Surveyor_, _Medical Officer of Health_, _Inspector of Weights and Measures_, _Analyst_, and so on, down perhaps, to the _Gardener_. In the case of the County Council the adjective _County_ is prefixed to the name of the office; in the case of a city or town, the word _Borough_. The chief officer in each is known as the _Clerk of the Council_ and the _Town Clerk_.

The Urban and Rural District Councils, and also the Parish Councils, have each a smaller body of officers whose duties resemble those of the officers mentioned above.

XXX. EAST RIDING SCHOOLS.

To have behind it a history that goes back certainly for eight hundred years, and in all probability for a thousand, is something of which a school may be proud. Such is the rightful boast of the BEVERLEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

[Illustration:

ARMS OF BEVERLEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL. ]

As far back as the year 1100 there is mention of the schoolmaster in the Minster records. But the earliest known mention of the school is contained in a letter written in 1276 by Walter Giffard, Archbishop of York, to his bailiff at Beverley. In this letter the bailiff is directed to

maintain John Aucher and his two companions attending school at Beverley from Michaelmas last, with 2s. a week, and their small necessaries in fitting style; and pay 36s. for three gowns for their use.

But centuries before this the Beverley Grammar School must have been in existence. For it was part and parcel of the Collegiate Church of Saint John of Beverley, and one of the first duties of a collegiate church was to establish and maintain a school for the education of youth. Therefore, just as the Minster of St. Peter at York maintained a school—and a very famous one too—as early as the year 730, so the Minster of St. John of Beverley will undoubtedly have maintained a school for many years before the Norman Conquest. Its foundation is, in fact, believed to date from the eighth century.

[Illustration:

ARMS OF HOWDEN GRAMMAR SCHOOL. (_Originally the Arms of Bishop Skirlaw_) ]

Beverley Grammar School is, far and away, the oldest school in the East Riding. But not long after, if not before, the date of the first written evidence of it, there was in existence another East Riding School—the HOWDEN GRAMMAR SCHOOL. Its origin was similar to that of the Beverley school, for in 1265 the parish church of Howden was turned into a collegiate church, and the rector was replaced by a body of canons, whose duty it became to establish a school. This duty they fulfilled, and the Howden Grammar School thus came into being some time before 1312.

[Illustration: ARMS OF BRIDLINGTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL.]

The beginnings of BRIDLINGTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL are shrouded in mystery. It was originally a school attached to the Bridlington Priory, and its earliest mention occurs in a document promising that a royal grant formerly paid to the ‘Prior and Convent of St. Marie, Byrdlington,’ should be continued, whereas other similar grants were then being withdrawn. This was in the year 1450.

The fact that this document was issued by King Henry VI. gives the Bridlington Grammar School some claim to the title of ‘A Once Royal School.’ The royal grant was made—using the King’s words—‘for the great affection and singular devotion that we have to the glorious confessor, Saint John of Bridlington’; and by it the Prior and Canons of Bridlington were bound

as in finding of XII. Quarasters, and a maister to teach them both gramer and song.

* * * * *

The HULL GRAMMAR SCHOOL is a notable example of a chantry school. It owes its existence to the piety of John Alcock, Bishop of Rochester, who in 1482 founded ‘The Chauntrie of Bisshoppe Alcocke in the parish churche of the Trinities in Hull.’

[Illustration:

ARMS OF THE HULL GRAMMAR SCHOOL. ]

This means, in other words, that the founder purchased lands and gave them to the Church, on the understanding that the rent of these lands was for ever to be used for the stipend of a priest who should each day

at th’aulter of Our Ladie and St. John the Evangelist ... pray for the soules of King Edward IV., the founder, and all christien sowles.

But Bishop Alcock’s chantry priest was to do more than this. For the license granted by the King states that he

is bounde to kepe a fre scole of grammer within the saide towne of Hull, and teche all scolers within the saide towne of Hull, and teche all scholers thither resorting, without taking any stipend or wages for the same, and should have for his own stipende £10, and shoulde paie yerelie to the clarke to teche children to sing 40s., and to 10 of the best scolers in the scole every of them 6s. 8d. by yere.

The Grammar Schools of Hull and Pocklington resemble each other in that each was founded by a distinguished churchman and associated with a parish church. As John Alcock, Bishop of Worcester, founded the one, so John Dowman, Canon of St. Paul’s and Archdeacon of Suffolk, founded the other.

But whereas the Hull school was founded in connection with a chantry, the POCKLINGTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL was closely associated with a Religious Gild. Its foundation deeds—dated 1514—speak of it as the foundation of

the Master, Wardens and Brethren of the Brotherhood or Gild of the Name of Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Nicholas in the parish church of Pocklington.

[Illustration:

ARMS OF POCKLINGTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL. ]

The same deeds state that the founder, John Dowman, endowed the school with lands sufficient to pay £13 6s. 8d. a year to the Master and Wardens of the Gild for

finding with the same a fit man sufficiently learned in the science of grammar to teach and instruct all and singular scholars resorting to the town of Pocklington for the sake of education.

* * * * *

[Illustration:

AT SCHOOL IN THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY. (_From an old Manuscript_). ]

Each of the five East Riding Schools mentioned has been spoken of as a _Grammar School_. This name exactly describes their purpose; for they existed in order that boys might learn the mysteries of Latin Grammar. Together with the study of this went the reading of Latin authors, usually taken in the following order:—Aesop and Terence, Vergil, Cicero, Sallust and Cæsar, Horace and Ovid.

If you should find yourself wondering why this great attention to the study of Latin, there is a very simple explanation to be given. Latin was then the universal language of professional men. It was written, spoken, and read by all those of the educated classes. Priests, doctors, lawyers, merchants—all used it. The building-accounts for the Beverley North Bar are written in Latin, the Minster records are written in Latin, the Town records are written in Latin. A knowledge of Latin Cwas the gateway to a commercial as well as a professional career.

[Illustration:

PART OF THE SEAL OF A LINCOLNSHIRE GRAMMAR SCHOOL, A.D. 1552. ]

Until 1349 it was the custom for boys to translate their Latin authors into Norman-French, this being the ordinary language of ‘gentlefolk.’ But then the change of making English the medium of translation was introduced; and thirty-six years later an English chronicler lamented that, because of the change, ‘grammar-school children knew no more French than did their left heel.’

What a lively time the schoolboy had in those ‘good old days’! Hours of study, from early morning till bedtime; subjects taught, Latin grammar and Latin authors—these being plentifully varied with such pleasant interludes as that pictured in the seal of Louth Grammar School. Little wonder that Shakespeare, himself an ‘old boy’ of the Stratford-on-Avon Grammar School, had memories of

... the whining schoolboy, with his satchel And shining morning face, creeping like snail Unwillingly to school.

Little wonder, also, that in the churchwardens’ accounts for Howden there occur numerous payments for ‘glasse for repairing the schollehouse windows.’ Boys will, of course, be boys, as long as the world lasts, and even in the seventeenth century they had to work off their excess of high spirits somehow or other.

* * * * *

_Grammar Schools_ were not the only class of schools in existence during former days. There were two other kinds. _Song Schools_ were closely connected with the services in large churches. They ranked below the Grammar Schools, and their scholars were taught to read, write, and figure, as well as to sing the various portions of the church service. The Choir School attached to Holy Trinity Church, Hull, is a modern representative of the mediæval Song School.

Of less rank, again, were the _Reading Schools_. Populous towns might possess a school of each kind, as did Howden in 1401. But often the Song School and the Reading School were combined in one; and sometimes, as at Bridlington, the Grammar School was also a Song School.

But generally the vicar or the chantry priest was the master of the Grammar School, while the parish clerk was the master of the Song School. Any decrepit old man who had sufficient learning, but who had fallen on evil days, might be the master of the Reading School; where it would be his duty to teach the _petits_, or little ones, their ABC. Sometimes the _petits_ had their name changed into English, and were then known as the _Petties_, or as the _ABCies_. The latter of these two names was usually written in a very quaint form—_abseies_.

* * * * *

In the extracts from the foundation deeds of the Hull and Pocklington Grammar Schools given on pages 325 and 326 are two noticeable points. First, in both the master is to teach all boys who may come to the school, and in the one first quoted it is expressly stated that he is not to take ‘any stipend or wages for the same.’ The school was to be a _Free Grammar School_.

This does not mean that no charges at all were to be made. The teaching was free; but all boys were expected to pay for luxuries, such as fires, candles, writing and washing materials, cock-fights, and birchings. Cock-fights, especially on Shrove Tuesday, were a regular school institution, and Pocklington Grammar School still preserves its silver cock-fighting bell. Doubtless school cock-fights were well worth a special fee, but fancy having to pay a fee for the privilege of being birched—a sure case of insult added to injury!

[Illustration:

ANCIENT COCK-FIGHTING BELL OF POCKLINGTON SCHOOL, A.D. 1666. ]

Boarders, too, were not kept for nothing. Far from it. John Aucher and his two companions at Beverley Grammar School had their board paid for at the rate of 8d. each per week, and they were also provided with pocket-money for their ‘small necessaries.’

The foundation of a Free Grammar School was looked upon as a great benefit to the town in which it was established. This we see clearly in the complaint made in 1660 by the Vicar of Pocklington on behalf of the inhabitants of the town. The complaint stated that there were then

not above eight or nine little boys in the school, whereas formerly, by the pains and industry of some former masters, there had been six or seven score scholars in our school, of which three or four score of them hath been _tablers_, gentlemen’s sons, which was a great benefit to this our town.

Secondly, the salaries paid to the masters of the Hull and Pocklington Grammar Schools are interesting. The Pocklington master was to be paid £13 6s. 8d. a year, the Hull master £3 6s. 8d. less. But in a few years’ time the salary of the latter had risen to be almost as high as that of the more-favoured master at Pocklington.

In 1548, ‘John Olyver, Bachelor of Artes, incumbente, being of thaidge of 46 yeres, of honeste conversacione and lyvinge, and well lerned,’ was to receive a ‘yerely stipend of £13 2s. 3d.’ Shameful to say, this was not paid in full, the amount actually received by John Olyver being first £13 2s. 2¾d., and later £13 2s. 2½d. Then, the source of income becoming stopped, the poor master got nothing, until the Mayor and burgesses took up his cause and successfully sued the Court of Exchequer for the amount due yearly.

* * * * *

With the Reformation there came in 1548 what was called the CHANTRIES ACT. This, by confiscating their revenues, put an end to all such chantries as that founded by Bishop Alcock. It proved also a death-blow to all Song Schools and to many Grammar Schools. Their ancient endowments were seized by the Government, which engaged itself to replace the endowments of the Free Grammar Schools with fixed annual payments; but as it promptly forgot all about its engagements these did not prove of much value.

[Illustration: A BOYS’ PLAY-GROUND IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.]

Under these circumstances the inhabitants of Beverley made known their grievances to King Edward VI. Their town was, they said—

a market towne and the greatest within all Estryding of your Majesties countie of York, having a grete nombre of youthe within the same, and fife thowsaund persons and above, whereof some of them be apte and mete to be brought up in learning, whiche are not, for so much as there is neither gramer schole, or any other schole, as yet founded, wherewith they might be brought up in any vertuous studdie.

No satisfactory reply was forthcoming to the inhabitants’ petition that the King would, out of the confiscated revenues of the Minster of St. John, found ‘one Fre Gramer Scole’ in their town. So it was left to the Town Governors to take over the finances of the old school. The school which had its origin in the Minster was thus re-established by the Town—an historic event which is embodied in its modern coat-of-arms.

The town records contain mention of many interesting payments made on behalf of the school by the Town Governors. In 1567 there occur the following:—

Item gyven to the Schole maister his players 17s.

Item payd to the waits for playing when the 3s. 4d. Schole maister’s players played

In 1606 a new school was built in the Minster Garth, and during the following years there are several records of the purchase of books for the school:—

Item for a dictionary for the Schollers 3s. 4d.

Item for another booke bought at Crossfaier, 6s. 6d. and for bringinge one fro Cambridge

Item for a booke and for chaines for two 18s. 10d. other bookes in the schole

The Beverley Grammar School still possesses its ancient library of books; among which are an edition of _Vergil_ printed in black letter at Florence, one of _Terence_ printed at Paris in 1552, one of _Cicero_ printed at Basle in 1553, and a very early edition of Foxe’s _Book of Martyrs_, containing gruesome illustrations of practical methods of torture. But there is now no need for chains to preserve these books from being surreptitiously ‘borrowed.’

* * * * *

The Grammar School at Hull also had its revenues confiscated, but these were afterwards in part restored. In the reign of Queen Elizabeth the school was rebuilt, mainly at the expense of Alderman Gee, who contributed for the purpose the sum of eighty pounds and twenty thousand bricks. In his will, Alderman Gee put a further bequest thus:—

I give and bequeath to the schoole of Hull which I builded through God’s goodnes, two houses in the Butchery.... I give these houses for ever for and towards the said Schoolmaster’s fee for his good teachinge and bringinge upp youth.

Pocklington Grammar School was saved through the efforts of Thomas Dowman, the nephew of its founder, who obtained a private Act of Parliament to continue the existence of the school.

What happened to Bridlington Grammar School is uncertain. But we know that in 1636 an inhabitant of Bridlington, by name William Hustler, gave ‘forty pounds yearly out of his estates for the maintenance of a schoolmaster and usher in a school-house, by him to be founded and erected.’ This endowment still forms a part of the revenues of the school.

Howden Grammar School also managed to survive, and lives to-day in the side chapel of the parish church that has been its home for several centuries.

Other smaller Grammar Schools, founded by private individuals, formerly existed in the East Riding. Marmaduke Langdale founded one at SANCTON in 1610, Lord D’Arcy founded another at KILHAM in 1633, and John Blanchard in 1712 left funds for the salary of a grammar school master at BARMBY-ON-THE-MARSH.

* * * * *

We have now reached the beginning of the eighteenth century, and there has so far been no mention made of Girls’ Schools. The reason is not far to seek. There were no schools for girls in the far-off days when the Grammar Schools of Beverley, Howden, Bridlington and Hull came into being.

[Illustration: THE OLD GRAMMAR SCHOOL, HULL. BUILT 1583.]

Girls were then not considered to need any more education than that which they could get at home. To know how to cook a meal, to make wool into cloth, and to make cloth into clothes—what more was it possible for girls to learn? These very useful lessons they could learn at home. A few specially favoured girls of high birth were probably brought up and taught book-learning in some of the nunneries of the East Riding; but of this there are no records.

The first endowed school for girls as well as boys was founded in 1655, and from this date onward numerous girls’ schools came into existence. Some of these were styled _Boarding Academies for Young Ladies_; others of a humbler nature were known as _Charity Schools_.

One of the latter was that founded by Alderman Cogan at Hull in 1753. This provided clothing and instruction for twenty poor girls, each of whom could remain at the school for three years. The number of girls was afterwards increased to sixty. They wore white straw bonnets, brown merino frocks, and blue cloth cloaks, all trimmed with orange. The COGAN CHARITY SCHOOL still flourishes, but the old-time charity costume is no longer worn.

Several old charity schools formerly existed in the towns of the East Riding. Bridlington had a SPINNING SCHOOL in which twelve poor girls were taught ‘carding, spinning, and knitting.’ Beverley had its BLUE-COAT SCHOOL for boys, a school afterwards amalgamated with the Grammar School; and three other Spinning Schools were in existence in Hull at the close of the eighteenth century.

[Illustration:

_Photo by_] [_Turner & Drinkwater_

The High School for Girls, Bridlington. (_Founded 1905_).

]

Of the same class is the MARINE or NAVIGATION SCHOOL belonging to the Hull Trinity House. This, founded in 1786, now provides board, clothing, and education for about 150 boys, who are intended for a sea-faring life. So valuable is the education they receive in all that belongs to a sailor’s life, that each of the ‘white-ducked’ boys is said to ‘carry a captain’s certificate in his pocket’ when he leaves the school.

[Illustration: SEAL OF THE GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL, HULL.]

A school of a very special kind was that conducted on board the H.M. TRAINING SHIP ‘SOUTHAMPTON.’ The _Southampton_, an old ‘three-decker,’ after serving as a battleship in the early years of last century, was sent to the Humber to become a floating _Industrial School_. For forty-three years it fulfilled its duty, during which time some 2,600 boys were educated on it for a life at sea.[74]

Footnote 74:

A photograph of the _Southampton_ is given on page 299.

* * * * *

In towns private schools of all classes were increasing rapidly when the nineteenth century opened. _A Directory of Hull_ for the year 1831 shows that there were then in the town seven Ladies’ Boarding Academies, four Gentlemen’s Boarding Academies, twelve Classical and Commercial Academies, and no fewer than seventy-four Day Schools.

The following is the advertisement issued by the Principal of a _Commercial and Mathematical Academy_ in the year 1787. In it the mysterious letters appended to the Principal’s name may be taken to stand for ‘Writing Master.’

HULL, JULY 11th, 1787.

_At the Commercial and Mathematical Academy._

On the SOUTH-SIDE of the DOCK,

Facing the NEW-BRIDGE;

GENTLEMENS’ CHILDREN are instructed in the first principles of English, so as to be enabled to read and write their native Language with elegance and propriety; the English Grammar agreeable to the strictest rules of Syntax, resolving a sentence into its different parts of speech. The free and natural method of Writing, and striking by command of hand; Arithmetic, Merchants’ Accounts, or the Italian Method of Book-Keeping; Mensuration; Gauging; Surveying of Land; Plain and Spherical Trigonometry; Euclids Elements; Navigation; Algebra, and the Use of the Globes.

By _J. WATSON_, W. M.

YOUNG GENTLEMEN are Boarded and taught Geography, by familiar lectures, founded on rational principles and demonstration, and such as are of age and capacity taught to read Milton and Young, with proper emphasis and cadence.

N.B. A separate Apartment for YOUNG LADIES.

* * * * *

Meanwhile many of the old Grammar Schools in England had fallen on very evil days. In 1840 some of those to which the term ‘decayed’ could be most fitly applied were converted into _Elementary Schools_. Twenty-four years later a Schools’ Enquiry Commission was appointed by the Government to enquire into the condition of the Grammar Schools throughout the country. The following are details from the report of the Commissioners.

At Beverley in 1865 there were only fifteen boys, and the school premises were ‘dirty and the furniture out of repair.’ At Hull no classics were taught; only two boys out of sixty-seven were learning French, and two German; Algebra and Euclid were ‘not attempted.’ At Sancton the children paid nothing, and ‘received instruction which was worth nothing.’ At Barmby-on-the-Marsh the vicar was receiving £97 from the Grammar School endowment, and out of it paying £2 to the village school.

Bridlington Grammar School was, we know, held in 1866 in a room near the Corn Exchange in the ‘Old Town’; and some eight or ten scholars were in attendance. It was then temporarily closed, and its funds were carefully nursed by Mr. Thomas Harland, who meanwhile succeeded in interesting others in its refoundation.

As the result of Mr. Harland’s labours, various funds were amalgamated, including those of the Spinning School previously mentioned; and eventually a site for the school was obtained, and new buildings were erected. These were opened in 1899 by Lord Herries, the Lord Lieutenant of the East Riding, and have since been twice enlarged.

* * * * *

It has been shown how Hull and Pocklington owe their Grammar Schools to pious founders. That the days of pious founders are not wholly past and gone, we have proved to us in the existence of HYMERS COLLEGE at Hull.

‘Hymers’ owes itself to two brothers, John and Robert Hymers, each a native of the North Riding and an ‘old boy’ of Sedbergh School. [Illustration:

_Photo by_] [_Turner & Drinkwater_

Bridlington Grammar School.

]

[Illustration:

ARMS OF HYMERS COLLEGE. ]

The elder of these two brothers, who was born in 1803 at Ormesby in Cleveland, became a distinguished mathematical scholar, and a Fellow of St. John’s College, Cambridge. Somewhat late in life he was appointed rector of Brandesburton, where he spent his last thirty-five years. On his death in 1887 it was discovered that he had left almost his whole fortune for the foundation of a Grammar School. The wording of a portion of his will ran as follows:—

And, subject to the payment of my debts ... I give and bequeath all the residue of my real and personal estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever to the Mayor and Corporation of the port of Kingston-upon-Hull, in the county of York, wherewith to found and endow a Grammar School in their town on the model of the Grammar Schools at Birmingham and Dulwich, for the training of intelligence in whatever social rank of life it may be found amongst the vast and varied population of the town and port of Hull.

The amount of money thus bequeathed was roughly £200,000. But, unfortunately for the testator’s wishes, the will was declared to be null and void, because by the use of the words ‘found and endow’ it violated an ancient law. By the _Statute of Mortmain_, passed by Parliament in the year 1279, money might not be left to found and endow what was really a religious institution. Had the will said ‘to found _or_ endow,’ things would have been all right. But, as it was, the _Statute of Mortmain_, though passed six hundred years before, was then still the law of the land; and in the eyes of the law the testator’s wishes counted for nought. [Illustration:

_Photo by_] Hymers College. [_Turner & Drinkwater_

]

However, by the goodwill and generosity of the younger of the two brothers, a sum of £50,000 was devoted to the carrying out of Dr. John Hymers’ wishes. With this the estate known as the Botanic Gardens was purchased and the College buildings erected, a portion being set aside to provide the necessary endowment for carrying on the school. Within the last few years the Mayor and Corporation have provided funds for the addition of a wing devoted to the teaching of Science and Art.

* * * * *

[Illustration: A TYPICAL SCHOOL ON THE YORKSHIRE WOLDS—LUTTONS AMBO.]

Right through the nineteenth century efforts were being made to give a real education to the poorer classes. The great force at work during the early years of the century was the _National Society for Promoting the Education of the Poor_. This Society was established in 1809, and by 1831 had more than 1300 schools; all of which were not only built but also carried on by voluntary subscriptions. Ten years ago there were 173 NATIONAL SCHOOLS in the East Riding.

By the _Education Acts_ of 1870 and 1880 a system of elementary education was established, and in 1891 this education became free. [Illustration:

_Photo by_] [_Parrish & Berry_

A Modern City Council School, Southcoates Lane, Hull.

]

Since the last-mentioned year the strides made have been enormous. The education of the children of the East Riding has been taken in hand by the East Riding Council, the Hull City Council, and the Town Councils of Beverley and Bridlington. Old and useless schools have been replaced by new and up-to-date ones; new Elementary, Secondary and Technical Schools, and High Schools for Girls have been built and equipped; and a School of Art and a Navigation School for adults have been established. Most important of all, however, is the system of _Scholarships_ by which many boys and girls are now climbing from the village school to the ‘Varsity’ college.

XXXI. THE EAST RIDING ROLL OF HONOUR.

_A brief record of the most famous lives in local history. Each of the persons named was born in the East Riding, and living persons are excluded._

SAINT JOHN OF BEVERLEY. Born at Harpham, and died in A.D. 721. Became Bishop of Hexham and of York. Was canonised by the Church in 1037, and afterwards became one of the most famous saints of the north of England. _See pages 135–140._

ALURED, OR ALFRED, OF BEVERLEY. Born at Beverley in 1109. Became Treasurer of the Church of St. John of Beverley, and Abbot of the Cistercian Abbey of Rievaulx. Wrote a history in Latin, entitled _Annals of the Deeds of the Kings of Britain_, and a _Life of St. John of Beverley_.

ROGER OF HOWDEN. Born at Howden, and died in 1201. Became a Clerk, or Secretary, to Henry II., and later a King’s Justice for Yorkshire. Was the author of a Latin history of England from A.D. 732 to A.D. 1201.

_See pages 269–270._

WILLIAM OF NEWBURGH. Born at Bridlington in 1136. Was brought up at the Priory of Newburgh, and wrote in Latin a _History of English Affairs_, which takes rank as ‘the finest historical work left to us by an Englishman of the twelfth century.’ _See page 269._

PETER OF LANGTOFT. Born at Langtoft, and died in 1307. Was a Canon of Bridlington Priory, and author of a _Chronicle of England_, written in Anglo-Norman verse. _See page 269._

JOHN HOTHAM. Born at Scorborough, and died in 1336. Became Bishop of Ely, and twice Lord Chancellor of England.

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. Born at Thwing about 1324. Was successively Precentor, Almoner, Sub-Prior, and Prior of Bridlington Priory. Became so famed for his piety that after his death many miracles were believed to be wrought at his tomb.

SIR MICHAEL DE LA POLE, first EARL OF SUFFOLK. Born at Hull, and died in 1389. Became, successively, Mayor of Hull and Admiral of the King’s Fleets in the Northern Parts, a Knight of the Garter, Lord Chancellor of England, and the first Earl of Suffolk. His is the first example in British history of a prosperous merchant’s becoming a peer of the realm. _See page 116._

WALTER SKIRLAW, LL.D., Born at South Skirlaugh, and died in 1406. Became Bishop, successively, of Lichfield, Bath, and Durham. Built the tower and chapter house of Howden, and Skirlaugh Chapel—now the parish church. Also built several bridges in the north of England, and helped to build the central tower of York Minster.

JOHN ALCOCK, D.D. Born at Hull about 1428. Became Bishop, successively, of Rochester, Worcester, and Ely. Was a Privy Councillor and twice Lord Chancellor of England. Founded the Hull Grammar School and Jesus College, Cambridge. _See pages 270–271._

JOHN FISHER, D.D. Born at Beverley in 1459. Became Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, and Bishop of Rochester. Was famed for his ‘grete and singular virtue,’ and was beheaded on Tower Hill for refusing to acknowledge Henry VIII. as the ‘Supreme Head of the Church.’ Was largely instrumental in founding St. John’s College, Cambridge, and formed a library which was considered to be ‘the finest in Christendom.’ _See pages 270–272._

SIR JOHN PICKERING, Kt. Born at Flamborough in 1544. Was the son of very poor parents, yet became a Privy Councillor and Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal. Was twice chosen Speaker of the House of Commons, and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth.

SIR JOHN LISTER, KT. Born at Hull in 1585. Became twice Mayor of Hull, and was five times elected M.P. for his native city. Entertained King Charles I. on his visit to Hull in 1639. Founded in 1642 the ‘Lister Hospital’ for six poor men and six poor women.

LUKE FOX. Born at Hull in 1586. Was a Younger Brother of the Trinity House, and revived the attempt to discover the North-West Passage, whence he gained the nickname ‘North-West Fox.’ Explored in 1631 the Channel west of Baffin Land which now bears his name.

THOMAS LAMPLUGH, D.D. Born at Octon, near Thwing, in 1615. Was a Fellow of Queen’s College, Oxford, and became successively Dean of Rochester, Bishop of Exeter, and Archbishop of York.

SIR PHILIP MONKTON, Kt. Born at Cavil, near Howden, about 1620. Was a devoted supporter of King Charles I., for whom he fought bravely at the battles of Atherton Moor, Naseby, and Rowton Heath. Was knighted for his bravery in 1644.

ANDREW MARVELL. Born at Winestead in 1621. Was an ‘old boy’ of the Hull Grammar School, became Assistant Latin Secretary to the Council of State, and was M.P. for Hull for nineteen years. Also gained considerable reputation as a poet, but is best remembered as ‘a pure-minded patriot in the most corrupt times.’ _See pages 272–275._

CHRISTOPHER NESSE. Born at North Cave in 1621. Was the son of a husbandman, but became a notable Non-conformist preacher, and suffered much persecution after the Restoration.

THOMAS WATSON, D.D. Born at North Ferriby in 1637. Was the son of a seaman, and an ‘old boy’ of the Hull Grammar School. Became a Fellow of St. John’s College, Cambridge, and afterwards Bishop of St. David’s. Was a liberal benefactor to his old school, and rebuilt the alms-houses known as ‘Watson’s Hospital.’

RICHARD BOYLE, K.G., third EARL OF BURLINGTON. Born at Londesborough in 1695. Was Lord Lieutenant of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and Lord High Treasurer of Ireland. Became famous as an amateur architect. Rebuilt Burlington House, London, and carried out large schemes of plantation at Londesborough Hall.

RICHARD OSBALDESTON, D.D. Born at Hunmanby, and died in 1764. Became successively Dean of York, Bishop of Carlisle, and Bishop of London.

JOHN GREEN, D.D. Born at Beverley in 1706. Was an “old boy” of Beverley Grammar School, and became Dean of Lincoln and later Bishop of Lincoln. In 1772 was the only Bishop in the House of Lords ‘to vote in favour of the Bill for the relief of Protestant Dissenters.’

WILLIAM MASON. Born at Hull in 1724. Was a son of the Vicar of Holy Trinity and became a Fellow of Pembroke College, Cambridge, and Chaplain to the King. Gained considerable renown as a poet, and would have been appointed Poet Laureate but for his political opinions.

SIR SAMUEL STANDIDGE, Kt. Born at Bridlington Quay in 1725. Took a leading part in establishing the Greenland Fishery Trade, and fitted out a ship for the discovery of the North Pole. Was knighted when Mayor of Hull in 1795, and was four times elected Warden of the Hull Trinity House.

SIR CHRISTOPHER SYKES, Bart. Born at Roos in 1749. Was distinguished as a mathematician, architect, banker, and M.P. for Beverley. Refused a baronetcy from Mr. Pitt, but asked that it should be given to his father, the rector of Roos.

ROBERT THEW. Born at Patrington in 1758. Was the son of an innkeeper, and became engraver to the Prince of Wales.

WILLIAM WILBERFORCE. Born at Hull in 1759. Became M.P. for his native town at the age of twenty-one, and was for twenty-eight years one of the two M.P.’s for Yorkshire. Devoted his whole life and all his wealth to obtaining the Abolition of Slavery in the British Colonies, the Act for which was passed a few days after his death in 1833. _See pages 275–279._

ADRIAN HARDY HAWORTH. Born at Hull in 1767. Became a renowned botanist and entomologist, and formed a collection of 40,000 insects, the most important of which are now in the British Museum.

SIR BENJAMIN F. OUTRAM, Kt., M.D. Born at Kilham about 1770. Entered the Medical Naval Service, and became Medical Inspector of Naval Hospitals. Was knighted in 1850.

SIR MARK MASTERMAN SYKES, Bart. Born at Sledmere in 1771. Was M.P. for the city of York for thirteen years. Raised in 1802 two squadrons of Yeomanry, known as the ‘East Yorkshire Wold Yeomanry.’ Was a great lover of books, and formed at Sledmere ‘one of the finest private libraries in England,’ which in 1824 was sold for £20,000.

SIR TATTON SYKES, Bart. Born at Sledmere in 1772. Devoted himself to sheep-farming and the breeding of race-horses, and, by the introduction of bone manure, wrought great improvements in the cultivation of the Wolds. Was a fearless sportsman, and a true specimen of ‘The Fine Old English Gentleman.’ _See pages 279–281._

THOMAS JACKSON. Born at Sancton in 1783. Was the son of a farm labourer, and became ‘in spite of the adverse circumstances of poverty and lack of education,’ a famous Wesleyan divine. Was twice elected President of the Wesleyan Conference.

WILLIAM SPENCE, F.R.S. Born at Bishop Burton in 1783. Was an ‘old boy’ of Beverley Grammar School, and became one of the founders of Blundell, Spence, & Co., Ltd., Hull. Was deeply interested in Entomology, and was one of the authors of Kirby and Spence’s _Introduction to Entomology_, the most popular natural history book of its day.

SIR JAMES ALDERSON, Kt., M.D., F.R.S. Born at Hull in 1795. Succeeded his father as physician of the Hull Royal Infirmary, and became President of the Royal College of Physicians. Was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1869.

FREDERICK HUNTINGDON, M.D. Born at Hull in 1796. Was surgeon of the Hull Royal Infirmary for thirty-four years, and is recorded on his monument in Christ Church, Hull, as ‘one of Nature’s gentlemen, whose life was passed in doing good.’

JAMES HALL. Born at Scorborough in 1801. Was a ‘model country squire ... and a devoted upholder of English field sports,’ and held the Mastership of the Holderness Hunt for thirty years.

SIR HENRY COOPER, Kt., M.D. Born at Hull in 1807. Was physician of the Hull Royal Infirmary for twenty-seven years, and as Mayor of Hull was knighted when Queen Victoria visited the town in 1854. Was the first Chairman of the Hull School Board, and has his memory perpetuated in the ‘Sir Henry Cooper Schools.’

THOMAS EARLE. Born at Hull in 1810. Was a gold medallist of the Royal Academy, and designed the statue of George the Fourth in Trafalgar Square, London, and that of Queen Victoria in Pearson Park, Hull, beside many others.

SIR JAMES HUDSON, K.C.B. Born at Bessingby in 1810. Entered the Government Service and held many important posts in the United States, South America and Italy. Was created a Knight Commander of the Bath in 1855.

HENRY DAWSON. Born at Hull in 1811. Was the son of poor parents, and became a self-taught artist. Struggled hard against adversity, and gained renown as a landscape painter only towards the end of his life.

HUGH EDWIN STRICKLAND. Born at Reighton in 1811. Was a notable student of natural history, and became Reader in Geology at the Oxford University. Was accidentally killed in a railway tunnel.

CHARLES HENRY BROMBY. Born at Hull in 1814. Was a son of the Vicar of Holy Trinity, and an ‘old boy’ of the Hull Grammar School. Became the first Bishop of Tasmania.

SIR JOSEPH HENRY GILBERT, LL.D. Born at Hull in 1817. Became a distinguished scientist, and was knighted by Queen Victoria for his discoveries in agricultural chemistry.

HUMPHRY SANDWITH, C.B., D.C.L. Born at Bridlington in 1822. Travelled widely, became Inspector-General of Hospitals in the Russo-Turkish War, and helped to defend the fortress of Kars. Was decorated by Queen Victoria as a Companion of the Order of the Bath.

JOHN BACCHUS DYKES, Mus. Doc. Born at Hull in 1823. Was a grandson of the Vicar of St. John’s, and became Minor Canon and Precentor of Durham Cathedral. Composed more than two hundred hymn tunes, and was joint editor of _Hymns, Ancient and Modern_. After his death, a public subscription of £10,000 was raised in his honour to found musical scholarships.

CHARLES ALFRED LEE, M.D. Born at Hull in 1825. Took a large share in the support of the Hull Royal Infirmary and the Newland Orphan Homes, and, on his death in January 1912, bequeathed £150,000 for the foundation of ‘Rest Houses’ for the aged poor.

SIR WILLIAM CHRISTOPHER LENG. Born at Hull in 1825. Was an ‘old boy’ of the Hull Grammar School. Took up journalism after some years spent as a chemist, and became the editor of the _Sheffield Daily Telegraph_. Was knighted for his public services in 1887.

THE HON. SIR JOHN HALL, K.C.M.G. Born at Hull in 1824. Emigrated to New Zealand, entered Parliament, and became Premier in 1879. Was decorated by Queen Victoria as a Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George.

JOHN ROBERT MORTIMER. Born at Fimber in 1825. Devoted more than fifty years of a long life to the most thorough exploration of the earthworks and burial mounds around Driffield, and did more than anyone else to extend our knowledge of the early inhabitants of the East Yorkshire wolds.

CHARLES HENRY WILSON, first BARON NUNBURNHOLME. Born at Hull in 1833. Became, in 1867, senior partner in the shipping firm of Thomas Wilson, Sons & Co., and built up the largest privately-owned fleet of steamships in the world. Sat in Parliament as M.P. for his native town for thirty-two years, and was raised to the peerage in 1906. _See pages 280–283._

ARTHUR WILSON. Born at Hull in 1836. Became a partner in the firm of Thomas Wilson, Sons & Co. in 1867. Was a great sportsman, and was M.F.H. to the Holderness Hunt for twenty-five years. _See pages 280–283._

PRINTED AT BROWNS’ SAVILE PRESS, SAVILE STREET AND GEORGE STREET, HULL.

[Illustration:

THE EAST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE

_Copyright of_ A. BROWN & SONS, LTD., HULL AND LONDON. ]

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Transcription of Royal Mail Schedule on p. 241

* * * * *

HULL, JULY 1787.

HULL AND YORK _ROYAL MAIL-COACH_, WITH A GUARD, _WELL ARMED._

Sets out every Day about _Half-past Three_ in the Afternoon, from Mr. _BAKER’s_, the _Cross-Keys_, in the _Market-Place_, _HULL_, and arrives at Mr. _PULLEINE’s_, the Tavern in _YORK_, in SIX HOURS; returns from thence about _Half-past Twelve_ at Night, or immediately after the Receipt of the LONDON MAIL, and arrives at _HULL_ early in the Morning.

No more than _Four Inside_ and _Two Outside_ Passengers will be taken.

Fare, 10s. 6d. INSIDE; OUTSIDE 5s. 3d. Short Passengers Threepence-halfpenny _per_ Mile.

Parcels from 3d. to 6d. if above a Stone Weight One Halfpenny _per_ Pound.

For Places or Entry of Parcels, apply to _Henry Cawood_, at the Post-Office, _Hull_, Mr. _Pulleine_, _York_; Mr. _Bland_, _Beverley_, and to Mr. _Gill_, King’s Arms, _Market-Weighton_, from those Towns respectfully for _Hull_, _York_, _London_, _or_ _Edinburgh_.

Conveyance may be secured for Passengers and Parcels from _Hull_ to _London_ (Fare 3l. 13s. 6d.) by the MAIL COACH, the whole Way, except the Places be previously disposed of at _York_, in which Case Mr. _Pulleine_ engages to send the Passengers forward in a Post-Chaise at the same Expence and accompanying the MAIL COACH; the same from _Hull_ to _Edinburgh_, 3l. 13s. 6d. or any intermediate Places at Fares in the Proportion of Distance.

⁂ The Proprietors give Notice, that they will not be accountable for any Parcel exceeding the Value of Five Pounds.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Transcription of Document on p. 248

* * * * *

HULL AND SELBY, OR HULL AND LEEDS JUNCTION, RAILWAY.

OPENING OF THE LINE

=FOR PASSENGERS AND PARCELS ONLY,=

ON THURSDAY, JULY THE 2nd, 1840

The Public are respectfully informed that this RAILWAY will be OPENED THROUGHOUT from HULL to the JUNCTION with the LEEDS and SELBY RAILWAY, at Selby, on WEDNESDAY, the First Day of July next, and that PASSENGERS and PARCELS only will be conveyed on THURSDAY, July 2nd; thus presenting a direct Railway Conveyance from Hull to Selby, Leeds, and York without change of Carriage.

TRAINS WITH PASSENGERS WILL START FROM HULL AS UNDER

AT SEVEN O’CLOCK, A.M. AT THREE O’CLOCK, P.M. AT TEN O’CLOCK, A.M. AT SIX O’CLOCK, P.M.

ON SUNDAYS, AT SEVEN O’CLOCK, A.M., AND SIX O’CLOCK, P.M.

The Trains from LEEDS and YORK, for HULL, will depart from those Places at the same Hours; and Passengers and Parcels may be Booked through at the Leeds, York, and Hull Stations. Arrangements are also in progress for Booking Passengers to Sheffield, Derby, Birmingham, and London.

THE FARES TO BE CHARGED ARE AS UNDER:

_First Class._ _Second Class._ _Third Class._ Hull to Selby 4_s._ 6_d._ 4_s._ 0_d._ 2_s._ 6_d._ Hull to York 8_s._ 0_d._ 6_s._ 6_d._ 4_s._ 6_d._ Hull to Leeds 8_s._ 0_d._ 6_s._ 6_d._ 4_s._ 6_d._

No Fees are allowed to be taken by the Guards, Porters, or any other Servants of the Company.

The Trains, both up and down, will call at the Stations on the Line, viz.:—Hessle, Ferriby, Brough, Staddlethorpe, Eastrington, Howden, and Cliff.

Arrangements for carrying Goods, Cattle, Sheep, &c., will be completed in a short time, of which due Notice will be given.

By Order,

GEORGE LOCKING, Secretary.

_Railway Office, Hull, June 24th, 1840._

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Transcriber’s Note

The table of illustrations has the wrong page (p. 116) for the image on p. 117, and has been corrected.

Errors deemed most likely to be the printer’s have been corrected, and are noted here.

52.5 we have no means of knowing[.] Added.

100.12 the records remain[s] to our day. Removed.

115.28 to hold this office[.] Thus Added.

116.2 Edward III[.], so his son Added.

118.16 Shakspeare’s [P/p]lay Replaced.

134.2 themselves in populous towns[.] Added.

148.30 your dewte in ryngyng....[’] Added.

187.31 of the building[.] They were a wealthy Added.

215.32 [s]ustained during the war. Added.

227.24 Let the best fashioned and apparrell[ /e]d Replaced. Servants

231.21 This was between the years 1703 and 1753[.] Added.

245.11 horses could not[,] contend against the wind. Removed.

296.1 and Strong Beer.[’] Added.

324.20 teche all [scholers] thither _sic_

330.14 to the inhabitants[’] Added.

331.24 at Paris in 1552[./,] one of _Cicero_ printed Replaced.

332.33 Bridlington and Hull came into being[.] Added.

349.11 R[o/a]ised in 1802 two squadrons of Yeomanry Replaced.

350.22 Royal A[d/c]ademy Replaced.