Hull Trinity House

By the 18th century it had responsibilities including management of the harbour at Hull, and buoys and pilotage in the Humber Estuary.

[3][4] In 1457,[note 1] Edward IV granted the rights of lowage and stowage (duties payable for loading and unloading), enabling the guild to build an almshouse and chapel for thirteen persons impoverished by some misfortune relating to seafaring.

[13] Statues of Neptune and Britannia were installed above the main entrance, with the building forming a square around a courtyard, with almshouse rooms around it.

[14] The Trinity House became an important institution in Hull in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, with some influence over civic matters, as well as supporting and opposing bills in parliament relating to the towns trade and port.

[15][16][17] During this period members and institutions of the Trinity house were together with the Hull Corporation and other interests constant presences at visits to the town of royalty, nobles and other important persons.

[19] Waters north of Whitby were governed by a similar historic institution, Trinity House, Newcastle, which also still exists, but which has always been separate and distinct from its Hull counterpart.

During the late 16th, 17th and 18th centuries the guild both supported and opposed bills to construct lighthouses at Spurn and Flamborough; acts of 1766 and 1772 placed lighthouse construction under the jurisdiction of the London Trinity House, whilst the Hull guild was responsible for lighting and maintenance.

[20] In 1810 a lifeboat was set up at Spurn Point, funded by subscription, with a crew provided by the Trinity House.

[22] The guild reached the peak of its influence and power in the Napoleonic era, to the extent that it became the target of criticism and attack in the press.

[25] A new building was constructed on the Trinity House site, adjacent to the chapel and the school opened in 1787 with 36 boys and with T.O.