Beverley is a beautiful historic market town in Yorkshire which sports those wonderful Germanic buildings. Be it old stone or boutique shopping, there are so many sites to see that you could easily come here for a long weekend. Staycation itineraries should include the races and a quiet pint in the local. If we are not selling it enough yet, let’s tell you a bit more about the place. We will start with what makes Beverley tick and then leap back in time and try not to step on any butterflies.
What is Beverley in East Yorkshire Famous for?
The most famous thing in town is Beverley Minster, which dates all the way back to the 13th century. Known as one of the best preserved gothic churches in Yorkshire, it is built atop the original priory which monks founded in the 700s. It’s a genuinely historical masterpiece… and a perfect place for a holiday.
Early History
In the days before the Romans invaded, the whole of England was not yet a country by itself. It was divided up into tribes. The two tribes from Yorkshire included the Parisi tribe and the Brigantes tribe. The Brigantes were a collection of tribes who banded together for safety. They covered the area from Yorkshire all the way up into the kingdom of Northumberland. The Parisi tribe were specific to East Riding. When Ptolemy made the first rough map of the tribes of Britain in 150AD, the Parisi occupied the East Yorkshire space. Later, the Romans would note the area for the town of Petvaria, which would have been near Brough. Remember though, Ptolemy never actually came to Britain. He drew up his maps from the library of Alexandria, taken from other sources. It’s quite amazing when you think about it. A wee guy in Rome made a map of the tribes of Britain without the internet before he ever came here. He missed out a few but he gave it an impressive go.
Of course, when the Romans strode north through the land, they chased out, defeated, or allied with all the tribes of Britain. They encouraged intermarriage, introducing Roman blood to our cold British hearts. Yorkshire was part of the Roman Empire from 71AD to 410AD. The Romans knew Yorkshire as Eboracum, while the Saxons called it Eoferwick and the Vikings named it Jorvick. The Romans had many towns in Yorkshire, with Bough the centre for the fleet and Malton a centre for the cavalry. The nearest villa is likely in Bishop Burton, according to the Beverley Civic Society.
The Angles, Saxons, Jutes and Frisians invaded around the 5th century after the Romans vacated around 40 AD. By that time, the natives were already a blend of bloodlines. Just like any other country, Britain is made up of a mix of other cultures, races, and peoples. And upon that backdrop, that’s the scene the monks decided to build their monastery beside a stream in 705.
The bishop of York was buried at the monastery in 721 after dying there. In 1037, that same bishop earned the title of Saint. He became revered as the town’s founder even though he rejected the Normans and tried to hold onto Viking rule. In 1066, William the Conqueror was next to land on British shores. Beverley appears in the Domesday survey twenty years later. Though it is more like he ordered it after he invaded and they took twenty years to do all that walking and calculating.
Beverley in the Domesday Book
Beverley was under the hundred of Sneculfcros in the county of Yorkshire in 1086. There were many households, roughly 20. Some of the residents included 38 villagers, 15 smallholders, and 3 men-at-arms. There were many owners, including the archbishop of York and other churchly owners.
The land included 3 x 1.5 acres of woodland. We’re not sure what the stars mean. It also included 3 mills – an astounding sum – and 1 fishery. The land was worth 34 pounds to the owners, but worth 44 pounds before the Normans came in and presumably wrecked it.
Medieval Era
In 1120, St Mary’s Church opened and in 1188, there was a fire in the Minster. At some point throughout this century the river was widened to allow for safe passage for trade ships. By this time there were three fayres a year here, that’s one more than most market towns. The town built a new market to accommodate all this. The church opened a grammar school that years and Flemings from Flanders came to town.
In 1220 they finally rebuilt Beverley Minster. They had the first Easter play that year, too. Locals staged it in front of the Minster building, which was the first ever in the UK… recorded anyway. The playing of the parts in holy texts traces back to Ancient Greece and the festival of Dionysus, the god of wine and parties. But in England, we are a little more reserved… and Jesus only uses food and wine to restore his body parts.
The Knights Hospitallers arrived in the early 13th century and they gave pilgrims a place to eat and sleep. The Greyfriars and Blackfriars moved in at a similar time. So even though this was a large town early on, Beverley had a spirit of helpfulness and they treated strangers with great kindness.
The black death, which knocked the population of England down about 20%, struck Beverley in 1349. When the plague retreated the townsfolk were given the last of the common lands in the west wood. This formed their grazing pastures which were shared as common. In 1390 there were 38 traders in town, with its own hospital and 5,000 people living in it.
The town used to have 4 gates but there is only one now. The North Bar, or gate 4, has been standing since 1409. The rebuilding of the minster finally completed in 1420. By 1461, the council had to ban kiln use inside the town, whose main trades were brick and tile production before it later became renowned for its tannery. The air was unbreathable and several residents complained. By the end of the century they had another three hospitals.
In 1520 the spire of St. Mary’s collapsed and killed several people. We tried to find more details but the website only mentions how they replaced the roof bosses and added new carvings. After this, the town seemed to go into a local recession. Henry VIII closed the friaries in 1537. The hospitals shut as did the Knights Hospitallers.
In 1609 they demolished then rebuilt the grammar school. Wool began to decline in the town. Let’s pause there and pick things back up in the Industrial Revolution.
Fun Facts and Trivia
There comes a part in every good tour guide where you get to look out the windows and see all the best bits of the location. Here are the points you should spot out of the window, should you decide to take a trip to downtown Beverley. We are being metaphorical, of course. These aren’t actual places. That bit comes later.
- The First Grandstand at Beverly Racecourse was built in May 1767 at a cost of £1,000. The most recent expansion has cost around £4.5M. Thats inflation for you!
- Pilgrims once came from all over Europe to stay at the ministry or with the friars here.
- Henry VIII stayed here during the catholic rebellion, this protesting probably saved the buildings from burning.
- The large town of Beverley was once the capital of East Riding.
- The White Horse Inn is a 16th-century building which was once a hostelry for passing travellers.
- Local legend says Lewis Carroll took inspiration for the white rabbit – also a local store – when he passed through the archways into the historic St Mary’s church.
- The town holds food festivals, music festivals, fayres, and markets, regularly throughout the year. A summer holiday here always has a full itinerary.
There are loads of remarkable facts about this ancient town. Read more on the local websites.
The Industrial Period
Lairgate Hall opened its doors in 1700. 14 years later the town received its market cross. Horse racing didn’t take hold in Beverley until 1767, but it has been a staple ever since. By the end of the century, there were around 4,000 people in town. Still small by comparison to the 29,000 people that live here now.
In 1871 the population topped 10k, and the year began with oil lamps which gas lamps finally replaced in 1824. The railway came in 1846 and the cottage hospital opened in 1876. Beverley had its own municipal borough from 1835 to 1974. By 1880 it was the administrative centre of the area. From 1883 the town had water but no sewerage system, leading to an 1884 typhoid outbreak.
The Rugby club was formed in 1886. By the end of the century, the town was known for its famous tannery. Brewing and farm machinery were the big products that led the town into the 19th century though.
The Modern Town of Beverley, UK
Throughout the 19th century, the town gained many new features. It got a cinema in 1912. In the 20s, post WWI, the town gained its first council houses…many of which are probably still going. Electricity in your own house wasn’t a thing until 1930 but most houses didn’t have their own loo until the 60s. The few that remained after they demolished the slums in the 50s, that is. The bypass came through in 1981. The same year the town made the main streets suitable for both people and carts. In 1983 the town held the first East Riding Folk Festival. You can learn more about this event on the website but if it is on, it is in June.
Beverley joined the East Riding authority in 1996. The town gained a green belt before the end of the century.
By 2005 the population of the town was 19,500. In 2006 the town played host to the British Cycling Championships. In 2007, the Royal Bank of Scotland voted the town the best place to live in the UK.
Since the beginning of the century, the town has experienced slow growth along with steady trade. The people are as welcoming and accommodating as their ancestors were, with the town managing to retain its historic features and beautiful Georgian style.
Famous People from East Riding
As always, there are more than just buildings to try and get a glimpse of while you are in town. There are celebrities, too. Every town in England has at least four footballers from it. Since Beverley has a long, long history, there are bound to be more than a few politicians and ancient explorers in the roundup. Here are our favourite famous faces from Beverley for your perusal:
- Rugby players James Robert Crag and Lewis Bean were from Beverley.
- Gerry Ingram, the footballer, as well as Peter Goy, Neil Thompson, and Paul Robinson.
- In the 1300’s nun Joan of Leeds ran away from a convent, where women were totally free to come and go as they pleased after they accused her of living with a man. She pretended she was dead to get out.
- Composer Anthony Hedges added to the versatility of the talent in Beverley.
- Actress Lisa Kay
- Novelist Julia Pardoe is also from Beverley.
And after all those, there is still a list as long as your arm of famous people from Beverley. In East Yorkshire, not the US. Although we are not sure who would win in a side-by-side comparison.
Best Attractions in Beverley
No travel guide is complete without learning about the best things to see and do in the area. Here are the best bits of Beverley. Try them all out – but not at once.
Historic Sites
Both a historical site and local landmark, you can’t come to this town without paying homage to the fine building The Minster. Beverley Minster is one of the prettiest gothic-style buildings in the area. After you are done with the Minster, take a look at St Mary’s Church. It has more spires than Buckingham Palace. That’s not an official statement, by the way.
Landmarks
You must go to the northern side of the old town and look for the fourth gate. The North Bar is all that remains of the four large gateways that used to be the guarded routes into and out of town.
You might also visit the Guildhall to see where the old trade deals were made. This has an inner beauty like that of a town hall or courtroom. This is a grade I listed building, putting it among some of the oldest in both the town and the country.
Outdoor Attractions
Beverley Civic Society runs a local garden. The Coronation Garden opened in time for HRH Elizabeth II’s coronation, hence the name. It has tended beds, beautiful lawns, and pleasant places to sit. There have been recent additions to make it pleasant and turn it into a peaceful oasis in the heart of town.
Take a walk out on the 1.5-mile hike along the Hudson Way Rail Trail. Bike it or hike it but enjoy the lovely scenery. It feels a lot like an old Roman road. If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, try the Beverley Parks Nature Reserve. This nature reserve is on that gorgeous green belt. It has four sections. There are Victorian waterworks, greenhouses, parklands, fields, and a forest to explore so bring your own lunch.
Recreation
The biggest recreational feature in town is the Beverley Racecourse. A day at the races is not as expensive as you might think. Go for the experience of sipping coloured gin from a cocktail glass with a funny hat on.
More seriously though there has been racing in the town for over 300 years. Initially, it was infrequent, however, an annual meeting began in 1767 and the rest, as they say, is history. Today there are around 19 days of racing there per year and two five-furlong listed races are the highlight of the calendar. These are the Hilary Needler Trophy for two-year-olds in May and Beverley Bullet Sprint in August for three-year-olds up.
If you don’t enjoy the ancient pass time of fast horses and hatted women, you can take in a show at the East Riding Theatre. Built in the early 20th century, this building still emulates the arched windows and gothic style of the rest of the town… except it has lovely theatrical shows.
Cultural Sites
Head to the Treasure House run by East Riding Council. This attraction mixes an art gallery with a local museum. It includes all the treasures of the area, either man-made or artefact-wise. The museum is set inside a restored Edwardian space, refurbished from the original gallery opened by Edward Champneys in 1910. They have a weapons cache on display, discovered in 2002. The primary artistic exhibits include those of Fred and Mary Elwell, Edwardian painters from the town.
Sports and Teams
The local football team are Beverley Town and they play in the Northern Counties East Football League. The sponsors for this league really go all out on branding. You can find all the latest news, browse the photo gallery, and get recent results on the BTFC page.
The Beverly Rugby Union Football Club, on the other hand, have 140 years of experience. They play at Beaver Park and wear green and white. You can learn about meetings and events or browse their shop and gallery here.
If neither of those makes you happy, you can hit a ball about a park in the Beverley Town Cricket Club. They offer a quality sports facility to the community, with a men’s, women’s, and elders team.
Where to go Shopping in Beverley, East Yorkshire?
The main shopping street in Beverley is Butcher’s Row. Once upon a time, the market town was thriving, and this is where the butchers chopped their meat. There is a surviving hat shop in town, which the ladies at the races keep in business. There are three markets in the town. The Beverley one is Saturday and Wednesday, the Pocklington is on Tuesdays and the Bridlington on Wednesdays and Saturdays. It’s a busy town.
Where to Eat and Drink?
The Westwood Restaurant, established in 2007, is a high-quality British restaurant with excellent menus. Enjoy a cocktail at the Mirage Bar and Bistro or visit Shammy’s cocktail bar.
Notable Attractions Nearby Beverley
Should you be in town for more than a few weeks, you will need to know more about what else is in the area. East Riding and the rest of Yorkshire have some fabulous places to visit containing something to do for every age group and demographic. Even tea-haters can find something to do in Yorkshire if they tried hard enough. Here are our top nearby towns for you to get out and explore:
- Visit Bridlington, East Riding’s favourite seaside town.
- Head west into Ripon to see the ancient cathedral.
- See the market town of Batley: home of Fox’s Biscuits.
- Adventure in Harrogate, the spa town.
- Head up the Ouse and into York if you’d like to continue in historical towns.
- In the north you can visit Scarborough. Try some sea fishing or enjoy the summer sun.
With so many nearby places to get to know, there’s no reason why the whole family couldn’t have great fun here. Dip your toe in and see if it feels like family memories.
How to Get There?
We wouldn’t be as good a travel guide blog if we didn’t tell you how to get to the places we convince you to go and see. Here are some loose directions we hope don’t get you lost.
By Road
Take the A1079 out of Hull and keep at it till you hit Beverley.
By Air
Your nearest airport is Humberside airport but you can also use Leeds Bradford.
By Rail
Beverley train station is on the Northern Railway line.
By Sea
Your nearest port is Hull, which you might have to pass through to find your way to Beverley in the first place.
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