Agenda item

A presentation by the Chairman of Die Hanse

The committee received a presentation by The Chairman of Die Hanse in Boston, Mrs Alison Fairman who was supported by Mr George Bell the Employer Engagement Manager and Ms Lindsey McBarron the Treasurer and Events Organiser.

Prior to updating the committee on its progress to date, a brief history of Hanse was provided. 

Members were advised that the word Hanse meant ‘community’ and had originated from travelling merchants who had belonged to the guild.   By 1200 Boston had begun trading with Europe, primarily with Bergen and Boston had been the main contact in England for Hanse.  The Port of Boston at that period had been sited just North of the current port and had a large Hanse warehouse (known as a Steleyard) which had a slipway for the Cogges (the small ships used at that time).

Within the Hanseatic League both Boston and Lynn had been the twin Wash Ports of eastern England.  Both towns became two of the wealthiest in England during that period because of the Hanse Trade.  By 1300 Boston had become the second biggest port in England due to the export of fleeces which were transported from Lincoln to Boston: in excess of 3,000,000 fleeces per annum had been exported.    Boston’s annual fair which during that time was held over a month, attracted many traders from all across Europe with members of Royalty attending the fair to personally collect taxes from the traders.  

The murder of one of the Merchants triggered their movement from Boston which was exacerbated by the silting up of the river.  The Americas’ had been discovered and the Hanse domination of the seas diminished.  By 1400 Hanse in Bergen was in decline and Boston had lost all its trade.  The last Hanseatic meeting took place in Lubeck in 1669.

Committee were provided with photographic evidence of the historic buildings within Boston which were used during the period together with a comparative view of the riverside architecture in both Lubeck and Boston.

In 2012 Pamela Cawthorne had written a paper on Boston in respect of its history with Hanse.  Whilst writing the paper contacted had been made with Mrs Fairman in respect of the demographic changes in Boston.  Assistance had been provided which in turn had led to the exploration of Boston joining Hanse which had started up again in 1980 in Lubeck.

Consideration was given to the benefits in joining Hanse and a number of factors were recognised. Hanse members were in Europe and in particular Eastern Europe where a large number of immigrants into the Boston population had arrived from:  joining could help in local community cohesion.  Boston had an unexploited history and a growing visitor economy.  Furthermore Boston had a working port which could attract new business and the History of Boston Project and Preservation Trust had confirmed their support of any move to join Hanse.

Contact had been made with the Council to seek its support which was vital for any admission application to be submitted: reports had been taken through the committee systems and the Council had agreed its support. Contact had also been made with Kings Lynn who were existing members of Hanse and who made representation during the final Council meeting.

Support was also secured from the Big Local which helped to launce the group and its first publication.

During the first year of operation the group had produced its first publication The History of Boston and Hanse; held its first meeting in February 2016 and secured four Students for Youth Hanse.

A visit had been made to Hanse tag in Bergen to meet the other Hanse town where Boston Hanse was officially welcomed to the conference and the Youth Students recognised as being the first and only English Members of Youth Hanse. 

Boston was now collectively known alongside Hull and Kings Lynn as the English Hanseatic Towns.  Boston Hanse had adopted its own constitution supported by the Heritage Forum; a web site was being produced and an official logo has already been adopted.  Leaflets were being prepared for tourists alongside other publications and further meetings were scheduled with local businesses and a further public meeting and a lecture. 

Support for Boston Hanse has been significant from many organisations included Boston Preservation Trust; the Council and Boston Stump.  Transported had assisted in securing £14,000 in funding and Boston Big Local had agreed to support them for a further two years.

Concluding the presentation, committee were advised that moving forward the organisation aimed to maintain the momentum it had achieved and to reach out and involve as many more residents as possible in its future projects and events.  It aimed to engage and support the visitor economy through other Hanse towns and also to make contact with the Polish Ambassador and other such representatives to try to engage more with the diverse communities within the town.

Member comments supported the activity to date of the organisation and agreed its value to the town and more importantly to its support to encourage both the economic visitor economy. 

Members congratulated the Chairman on the achievements and professionalism of the convention of the organisation to date and on its drive to promote the town.  Referencing the official ‘Welcome Sign’ on arrival at Kings Lynn which noted is status as a ‘Hanseatic Town’ a member suggested Boston be provided with a similar welcome sign.  Further comments referencing the ‘Hanseatic’ name suggested promotion of the name on Council literature and signage and promotion of the link within all future advertising for the town.

Concluding, the Chairman thanked all of the representatives for a thorough and interesting presentation and wished them all success in their ongoing endeavours to strengthen the organisation.  The Chairman also offered the support of the committee and suggested that the organisation come back in a further twelve months to provide a formal update briefing for all members.

There was no recommendation within this report it was tabled for notation only.