One Hull Of A Story: The Syphilitic Monks

The introduction of syphilis into Europe has been a "lesioned" bone of contention among academics. The conventional theory was that Columbus' sailors had brought it back with them from the New World in 1493, with circumstantial evidence pointing to the first documented syphilis outbreak in Europe was among the French troops besieging Naples in 1495. It's true that the STD version of syphilis is a descendant of the American strain, but the strain that existed back in the 1400s, was more virulent strain that could be transmitted through oral contact of even by a casual touch.

The earliest evidence of syphilis in medieval Europe, was discovered at the site of the St. Augustinian friary in Hull. An archaeological dig at the site of the friary in 1994, revealed a number of skeletons. Both of monks and of wealthy patrons, in which it was discovered that at least two thirds of them had bone scarring, consistent with lesions caused by being infected with syphilis. Thus casting doubt on the Columbus theory, and placing Hull front and centre of the search for the origins of the disease in Europe.

Kingston-upon-Hull was given the status of a borough by royal charter in 1299, by Edward I, who wanted to use the port town for military campaigns against the Scots. The up until then Yorkshire borough of Kingston-upon-Hull was further incorporated in 1440, and became a separate "shire" to Yorkshire. Meaning it could elect a town council and a mayor. Over this period Hull had become one the biggest port towns in the country, second only to London. And at times even surpassing London for exports, mainly to the Low Countries and Gascony. As well as the Scandinavian countries and even as far as Iceland. Thus, Hull witnessed large numbers of sailors from all over Europe arriving at its docks.

In 1303 the "black friars" of the Order of St Augustine arrived in Hull, and with the help of the wealthy merchant William De la Pole, they established a friary adjacent to the town's market place, and across from the new Holy Trinity Church. Thus is was considered to be one of the most fortuitously placed Augustinian friaries in the county, as being close to the market and the docks, they could preach to many visitors and tend for their needs.

1611 map of Hull, the year one scientist claims the syphilitic monks may have been buried.

1733 map of Hull, showing the friary before it was destroyed in 1796.

The monks renounced all possessions, and only survived by receiving alms from local people, and donations from wealthy patrons. At an one time they would have been some 18 monks residing at the friary. By all accounts they lived and ate well, some were the very image of the "Friar Tuck" stereotype of the portly friar of legend. The monks administered to the spiritual, social and medical needs of the poorest of society. So regularly came into contact with beggars, sailors and prostitutes who were more likely to be carriers of syphilis. Although the 1994 dig did uncover the remains of wealthy patrons near the alter that showed signs of the disease also. Some 245 articulated skeletons were discovered in total, buried at the friary over the course of its life. The friary was dissolved in 1539, by Henry VIII. It is thought to be the last friary to be closed in England, standing strong against Henry's dissolution of the monasteries until the very end. The friary buildings remained standing up until the late 1700s, when in 1796 they were finally demolished and incorporated into the building of the Tiger Inn.

Now back to the syphilitic monks. The dig discovered a number of skeletons that showed the disease in various stages. A study of the skeletons reported in 2011 that through radiocarbon dating and the adjustment for the large amount of fish in the diet of the bodies, they could have been buried as late as 1611, thus the Columbus theory pre-dating their deaths and burials. However the archaeological evidence of the strata that the skeletons were found in dates their burials to 1450-1475. And for the amount bone scarring to have occurred, they would have had to have had syphilis for some 20 years, which pre-dates Columbus by some 40-60 years.

Thus the evidence is that the "Great Pox" in Europe, as far as anyone can tell had its epicentre in Hull. In fact further evidence concludes that Hull suffered a severe syphilis epidemic as early as the 1340s. It's thought that it was the Vikings contact with the Americas around the 1000s to the 1400s, and that as early as the 1300s their descendants had regular contact with the people of Hull. During this time, there is evidence in some other port towns of the British Isles of syphilis, many of who would have also traded with peoples form the Scandinavian countries, but also directly with the merchants and traders of Hull. So Hull it would seem was the Great Pox capital of the Europe. A proud boast, for our great city of culture.

Engraving of the friary, before it's destruction, and incorporation into the Tiger Inn, in 1796.

Join the One Hull Of A City facebook group, and spread the word!

One Hull Of A Story: The Phantom Cannons Of Hull - The bizarre account of hundreds of people in and around the city, hearing the sound of war, but there was no war or armies in the area.

One Hull Of A Story: Elephants In The City - The city of Hull has always been a unique and quirky place, on the edge of the world. This is one story of when they had elephants parading through it.