According to tradition the men of Hedon received a charter of liberties from King lEthelstan, but there is no evidence to prove this or indeed to prove any settlement in the town until after the Conquest.
By it the king granted to William, count of Albemarle, free borough rights in Hedon so that his burgesses there might hold of him as freely and quietly as the burgesses of York or Lincoln held of the king.
In 1280 it was found by an inquisition that the men of Hedon "were few and poor" and that if the town were demised at a fee-farm rent the town might improve.
At that time Hedon was one of the chief ports in the Humber, but its place was gradually taken by Hull after that town came into the hands of the king.
Hedon was incorporated by Charles II.
