Kingston upon Hull

Scene of the marketplace of Kingston upon Hull, with its statue of William III on horseback. Together with the High Street, this was the town's main thoroughfare. Unlike other town marketplaces of the time, which were characterised by deliberate open spaces, this was simply a widened street with the parish church at one end and the Guildhall at the other.

Situated at the mouth of the River Hull, the town had developed as a port in medieval times, with a particular emphasis on the export of local wool. By the late 18th century the population was growing, trade with the Baltic was strong and wealthy merchants were rebuilding their timber houses and replacing them with fashionable brick terraced houses.