history
'It is now hard to imagine how important Howden was in medieval times. It was a centre of learning, a place of pilgrimage and at times hosted the royal court. There was too the annual fair in the autumn, as well as the markets. The town would not have been short of money as the entourages of bishops and kings as well as the cannons all needed supplies. There must have been constant activity when such structures as nave, choir, chapter house and bishop's palace were being built, with masons and workmen living in the town and barge-loads of stone coming along the Old Derwent right into the Market Place'.
The above is an extract from the book "Howden an East Riding Market Town".
Below are just a few famous dates in the town's past
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959 |
Howden manor given to Quen by King Edgar |
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1080 |
William the Conqueror grants Howden to the Bishops of Durham |
| 1191 | Prince John spent Christmas at Howden |
| 1200 | Howden granted permission to hold an annual fair by King John |
| 1228 | Monks from Durham start to build a new church at Howden |
| c1275 | A "miracle" took place at John of Howdens funeral mass |
| 1421 | King Henry V visited Howden |
| 1642-5 | Parliamentarian troops damaged the church |
| 1776 | John Wesley preached at Howden |
| 1840 | Hull and Selby Railway opened |
| 1929 | R-100 Airship flies from Howden airship station |
The two murals below, painted in the market place, depict Howden's history down the ages:
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Murals have been removed. Will be relocated. Watch this space.
