Hedon, Yorkshire, England. Geographical and Historical information from 1834.

HEDON:
Geographical and Historical information from the year 1834.

"HEDON, or Heydon, is a market town & borough, in the parish of its name, in the middle division of Holderness wapentake, East Riding, 176 miles from London, 99 e. by n. from Manchester, 43 s.e. from York, 10 w.n.w. of Patrington, and 5 e. from Hull. It is a small, pleasant and well built town, situated on a creek, called ' Hedon haven,' within two miles of the Humber, and at one time enjoyed a considerable trade, which was materially impaired by the choking up of the harbour ; and although there is a cut made at the south east part of the town, which helps to scour that part of the harbour remaining, it is to be feared that it will never regain its former usefulness ; and the town of Hull offering such superior accommodation for shipping has also tended to reduce this place. The chief trade here now, is in grain, which is conveyed by means of the navigable creek before mentioned, connecting this place with the estuary of the Humber, to London and the West Riding, and coals and lime are introduced in return. Hedon is a corporate town, governed by a mayor, nine alderman, two bailiffs, and burgesses (number unlimited) ; and formerly returned two members to parliament, of which privilege it was deprived by being placed in schedule A of the Reform Bill. By the new Boundary Act (an appendage to that bill), Hedon is appointed one of the stations for receiving votes at the election of members, to represent the East Riding. A court of record for pleas, to an unlimited extent, is held here ; another for the wapentake of Holderness, takes cognizance of debts under 40s. ; and quarter sessions for the borough -- all are held in the town hall.

There were formerly four churches here -- St. Nicholas', St. John's, St. James's, and St. Augustine's ; the latter, which is a magnificent structure, is the only one now remaining. The living is a rectory, annexed to the vicarage of Preston, the adjoining parish, and in the patronage of the sub-dean of York : the Rev. William Wasse, is the present incumbent. There are besides, a chapel each belonging to the baptists, methodists, and Roman catholics. The latter are a highly respectable body of people in this neighbourhood. There was formerly a good free school, for the education of the children of burgesses, supported entirely by the voluntary contributions of the members for the borough, but this is now broken up, and a national school established in its place. Several neat alms-houses, have been at various periods erected by the corporation, for poor and infirm burgesses, or their widows. The weekly market, which was held on Saturday, has long been discontinued, but there are markets on alternate Mondays, throughout the year, for cattle. The fairs are August 2nd, September 22nd, November 17th, and December 6th. By the census for 1821, the borough and parish contained 902 inhabitants, and by that for 1831, 1,080."

[Transcribed by Steve Garton ©2000 from
Pigot's directory (Yorkshire section) 1834]