Hedon
| Hedon | |
| Yorkshire East Riding | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | TA190285 |
| Location: | 53°44’22"N, 0°11’41"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 7,100 (2011) |
| Post town: | Hull |
| Postcode: | HU12 |
| Dialling code: | 01482 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | East Riding of Yorkshire |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Beverley and Holderness |
Hedon is a small town on Holderness in the East Riding of Yorkshire, approximately five miles east of Kingston upon Hull city centre. It lies to the north of the A1033 road at the crossroads of the B1240 and B1362 roads. The town is particularly noted for its grand parish church, St Augustine's, known as the 'King of Holderness',[1] which is a Grade I listed building.[2]
According to the 2011 census, Hedon parish had a population of 7,100.
St Augustine's Church
The parish church is St Augustine's, a grand, Mediæval Gothic church somewhat out of proportion to what has become a modest town, but reflecting its prosperity in the Middle Ages. St Augustine's is commonly known as "the King of Holderness".
The oldest part of the church dates from 1190. It is reckoned the most interesting specimen of early pointed architecture in Holderness. In plan, it consists of a nave and aisles, transepts and chancel, with a handsome and lofty tower at the intersection. The west front is plain, and has a pointed window of five lights. The north side of the nave is in divided in five by small buttresses, terminating beneath the parapet in angular caps. The transept, though much mutilated and defaced, is an interesting specimen of early architecture with heavy buttresses at the angles and centred by an elegant recessed doorway.
History
Hedon is not mentioned in the Domesday Book which leads to the belief that it is a new town created by the Normans as a port. Hedon was at its most prosperous in the 12th and 13th centuries and at one time was the 11th largest port in England. The decline of the port came with the development of the port of Kingston upon Hull and the building of larger ships which were unable to get down the small river to Hedon.
Hedon was given its first charter by Henry II in 1158 and was granted improved ones by King John in 1200 and Henry III in 1248 and 1272. Edward III granted the most important charter which gave the town the right to elect a mayor.
In 1415 Hedon was granted an important charter, which let the town have burgesses and other ministers and also gave the town a mace; this mace is now the oldest surviving mace in the country.[3]
The town was a parliamentary borough until it was disenfranchised under the Reform Act 1832.
To the west of the town, there used to be a racecourse which boasted the longest 'straight' in the country at the time. After popularity waned, it was developed into an aerodrome in 1910. This was closed in both World Wars but many famous pilots including Amy Johnson landed there. After the Second World War it was developed into a speedway track for a short time but is now grazed by cattle.
The Hull and Holderness Railway opened in 1854 which ran from Victoria Dock in Hull to Withernsea going through Hedon. The station was built to the north of the town and it proved a vital part of Hedon's transport system for a century. In 1965 Hedon lost its passenger service to the notorious Beeching Axe. The line from Hull as far as Hedon station remained open for goods traffic until 1968.
Hedon became the subject of national media attention in August 2000 when a freak mini-tornado in the Humber caused flash floods and even hailstones to drop on parts of the town.
Hedon was also affected by the widespread floods that occurred in the summer of 2007. The areas of Hedon affected included the Inmans Estate and most areas near the Burstwick drain. The nearby village of Burstwick was the worst affected place in the East Riding.
Miscellany
There have recently been plans to create a country park around the Hedon Haven to the south of the town.
The potter, Dorothy Marion Campbell was born here. Sir Alexander Campbell, PC, KCMG, QC (9 March 1822 – 24 May 1892) was also born here; he was a Canadian statesman and politician, and a father of Canadian Confederation.
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Hedon) |
- National Heritage List 1346568: Hedon - St Augustine's Church
References
- ↑ The Diocese of York. "Deanery of South Holderness". Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070928022733/http://www.dioceseofyork.org.uk/dean20.shtml. Retrieved 2 August 2007.
- ↑ National Heritage List 1346568: Church of St Augustine
- ↑ "Hedon Town Council - The Hedon Silver". http://www.hedon.gov.uk/Core/Hedon-Town-Council/Pages/The_Hedon_Silver_1.aspx. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
- Gazetteer – A–Z of Towns Villages and Hamlets. East Riding of Yorkshire Council. 2006. p. 6.