History

Howden is a town steeped in rich history, which is clear to see from the very first moment you enter the town, with the Anglo-Saxon Minster dominating the skyline.

The very first recorded reference to Howden refers to a wooden tomb belonging to a sister of King Osred of Northumbria in the year 700 AD which was made in a Saxon church in the area.

However, before this back in Roman times, the site of Howden was permanently underwater – a feature known as ‘Lake Humber’. Following centuries of winter flooding from the River Ouse, large quantities of silt were deposited, building up the land between the carrs and the salt marshes until the site became dry throughout the year.

Following the Norman Conquest, Howden was gifted to the Prince Bishop(s) of Durham, which dictated the town’s path for the next few centuries.

In 1201, King John granted the town an annual wholesale market, when merchants from as far away as London brought their wares to sell at local retailers. This market would last several days and was instrumental in increasing local wealth and town stature. This was further boosted in 1267 when the church achieved collegiate status and the population grew – in fact, back in 1379, the census showed 1,600 residents living in Howden. At the same time, York – which was the country’s second city – had a population of 10,000.

In slightly more modern history and with many nods to this day, the town became famous for its annual horse fair in the early 1700s. Yorkshire was a notable horse breeding area with Howden playing a significant role in the sales. The Horse Fair reached its peak in the mid-1800s, when during a two-week period more than 16,000 horses changed hands. The fairs continued until the 1920s.

The 1929 construction of the ’Blue Bridge’ over the river Ouse, connected Howden with Goole on the south bank and surrounding villages, opening up trade, work and travel opportunities.