East Yorkshire: A Comprehensive History from Prehistory to the Present

A land of big skies, ancient chalk hills, and a hungry sea. A history ten thousand years in the making. East Yorkshire: A Comprehensive History from Prehistory to the Present is the definitive account of one of England's most distinctive and resilient regions. From the first Mesolithic hunter-gatherers who paddled across the lost lakes of Skipsea to the citizens of Hull who voted for City of Culture in 2017, this book weaves a compelling narrative of continuity, change, and identity. Drawing on the latest archaeological discoveries-including the 2017 Pocklington chariot burial and the extraordinary 2026 find of an Anglo-Saxon lordly centre at Skipsea-this volume brings the past to life. Journey through the Iron Age Arras culture, Roman rule, the Viking Danelaw, and the devastating Harrying of the North. Explore the rise of great monasteries and the conflicts of the Civil War, the enclosures of the Agricultural Revolution, and the transformations of the Victorian age. Witness the heroism and horror of the First and Second World Wars, when East Yorkshire stood on Britain's front line. Relive the controversial Humberside experiment and the triumphant restoration of the East Riding. Featuring detailed timelines, a gazetteer of historic sites, and over 40 illustrations, this is the essential single-volume history for anyone who loves this corner of England.