Living with water and flood in medieval and early modern Hull

Mcdonagh, Briony; Worthen, Hannah; Mottram, Stewart; Buxton-Hill, Stormm

Abstract

This paper explores Hull's histories of living with water and flood in the period between the foundation of the town in the 1260s and c. 1700, examining how the inhabitants, Corporation and Commissioners of Sewers managed and governed water in order to survive and thrive in a risky yet resilient estuarine environment. It does that as part of a bigger project utilising 'learning histories' drawing on Hull's 800-year experience of living with water and flood to drive climate awareness and flood resilience in a city which has experienced major flooding in recent years and is increasingly vulnerable in the face of future climate change. Here, we use civic and other records to reconstruct a flood timeline for medieval and early modern Kingston-Upon-Hull, revealing a history of repeated flood events impacting the town and surrounding area in the centuries after its foundation in c. 1260. We explore who managed and governed water and flood risk, and how this was achieved, arguing that water management was a pervasive concern as well as a collective and shared responsibility which ultimately generated a 'living with water mentality'. 2

Citation

Mcdonagh, B., Worthen, H., Mottram, S., & Buxton-Hill, S. (online). Living with water and flood in medieval and early modern Hull. Environment and History, https://doi.org/10.3828/whp.eh.63830915903577

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 2, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Feb 12, 2024
• Deposit Date: Dec 14, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 4, 2024
• Journal: Environment and History
• Print ISSN: 0967-3407
• Publisher: White Horse Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3828/whp.eh.63830915903577
• Keywords: Water; flood; governance; risk; resilience
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4483010