An Introduction to Beverley
Beverley is regarded as one of the 40 most splendid and precious towns
in Britain. It is located in the North-East of England in the region
of East Yorkshire, formerly known as Humberside. Beverley is
surrounded by large greens pastures, collectively known as the
Westwood. This small market town is steeped in rich culture and
history. Over the last 500 years Beverley has under gone many dramatic
changes which have kept the town up to date.
The most important landmark in Beverly is the Minster. This exquisite
church was built from 924 to 939, taking 15 years to complete. The
Minster’s original founder was King Athelston and in 1066 that the
church played a vital role in the history of Beverley. The Minster
also occupies the site of the monastery, Inderauua, founded by Bishop
John of York in 705 AD. Also founded in this era is St. Mary’s Church,
which was initially a chapel of ease for the town’s residents. Inside
the church is a carving of the ‘Jolly rabbit’, which is said to have
been the inspiration for the white rabbit in Lewis Carol’s ‘Alice in
Wonderland’.Another significant piece of architecture in Beverley is
the North Bar. This brick gateway is the earliest surviving example of
its kind in England. Many of the streets in Beverley reflect the
influence the Vikings had upon the town as their names all end in
‘gate’, which was the Viking term for street. A few examples of these
can be found in the town centre, Lairgate, Hengate and Eastgate. In
1200, Beverley received national respect as it gained a reputation for
being an excellent site for tanning and cloth making. In Medieval
times, there was a steady growth of trade, markets and fairs making
Beverley the most important town in the region until the 14th century.
Between the period of 1600 to 1835, the town experienced a radical
improvement as for the first time, it was lit by gas. It was also
during this time that the population of Beverley increased from under