Recognising your own flaws is the hardest bit.
Yes, there is far too much worldbuilding and description going on. The general gist, as I understand it, is that Knott has arrived in the big city leaving behind his past life. That doesn't need to be told in 13 paragraphs, it can be so much more concise. The reader doesn't need to know (or at least they dont need to know now) about the geography of Redhill, or Knott's childhood, or what he thought of Minimus on the way.
You need to find the core of Knott's arc and focus in on the important things for that. That's not to say you can't throw in the worldbuilding, but it needs to be more natural. Maybe, when Knott disembarks, he looks back at the grooves on the side of the ship and that makes him think of the sea-serpents.
As it is, it's one long, loosely connected, overload.
Having said that, I wouldn't call the prose clunky, it's perfectly fine in fact. This line in particular has a lovely lyrical flow to it: 'The road to the north market went through slums half flooded, full of pauper children running naked through the streets screaming in their delight.'
I hope I haven't been too harsh, that wasn't my intention. The amount of thought and work that's gone into it is clear, and I think it could be great with a bit of focus.