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The most popular derivation of the
name Beverley is the Anglo-Saxon “Beoferlic” or “Beaver
Clearing in the Woods” - quite probably a reference to the
beavers that used to dwell on and around the River Hull as it passed
Beverley. Although the beavers have long since gone, the town’s
crest depicting such an animal by water still remains.
When John, Bishop of York, retired to Beverley in 718 AD, he lived
in his own monastery “in the wood of Deira” - this being
an ancient name for East Yorkshire. The monastery is generally regarded
as the direct ancestor of Beverley Minister and in turn helped to
develop the town as a whole. Over the centuries, numerous events
and changes have occurred, many as a result of national developments.
John himself became renowned for performing several miracles and
after his death and subsequent canonisation as Saint John of Beverley,
the first tourism boom for the town started, being a place of pilgrimage
and sanctuary. His bones now lie in Beverley Minster and his legacy
is remembered at the annual St John of Beverley Festival.
Royal charters under various monarchs continued to develop the town,
giving it the right to hold fairs, market days and an array of traditions.
Our thriving market traders on a Saturday and Wednesday are still
governed and guided by an ancient royal charter.
Dominant over all is the gothic majesty of the Minster. It was not
until 1220 that the current building was begun, with various Minsters
before it falling foul of a range of disasters, such as destruction
by Vikings and a fiery fate due to a dreadful blaze that swept the
town in 1188.
The Minster is not alone, as the main stretch of central Beverley
is bounded by both the great Minster and the equally beautiful St
Mary’s Church. We also have the medieval North Bar, the Market
Cross, ancient alms houses, the free pastures including Westwood,
the Guildhall, the Friary, Beverley Beck… the list goes on,
but each is as special and unique as the next.
The reformation of the church had a considerable impact on the town
in terms of a loss of economy and during the Civil War, Charles
I placed his headquarters in Beverley as he repeatedly attempted
siege on Hull. In 1665 the plague arrived claiming many local lives,
with the plague pit located where the railway station stands today.
In the eighteenth century the town became prosperous once more,
after the economic disasters endured under the Tudors and Stuarts.
Large houses were built in streets like Newbegin, Keldgate, Hengate
and Lairgate: most smaller houses in the centre were rebuilt in
brick and pantile. The winding streets, the constant changes of
roof lines, the mixture of open and narrow spaces, continue to delight
visitors from all around the world.
The Bribery Commission reported corrupt election practices in the
town in 1857, ’59, ‘60, ‘65 and ‘68…
this is one tradition that is happily not upheld! In the midst of
this controversy, the acclaimed novelist Anthony Trollope unsuccessfully
stood in Beverley for Parliament in 1868. He was so upset at losing,
that he infamously described Beverley as "that uninteresting
town"!
The Great War saw many local lads sent over seas not to return.
However, it was during the Second World War that Beverley found
itself in the direct line of fire. The most devastating event took
place on August 3rd 1942, when a bomb was dropped on Flemingate,
resulting in several deaths and injuries. Thanks to the latest “Old
Mother Riley” film showing at the Marble Arch Cinema on Butcher
Row that day, lives were saved, as many Flemingate residents had
gone to see it.
And as national socio-economic trends have changed, Beverley has
lost its once thriving industrial heartland, which included a ropery,
wool dying, a shipyard and tannery. These areas have undergone much
regeneration and are now residential and retail areas. Over the
coming months major work will commence on the Clariant factory site,
marking the end of the last large-scale industrial business in Beverley.
The Beverley Beck is a prime example of how an area that was once
bursting with industry became moribund and run down, but has now
found a new lease of life with housing and businesses, making it
a thriving community once again.
A unique and much loved area of Beverley is the Westwood. This common
pasture land has been under the guardianship of the Pasture Masters
for generations, alongside the other common lands of Swinemoor and
Figham Pasture. Beverley is very lucky to have such unspoilt areas
accessible to all residents and visitors and of course the Westwood
also houses the racecourse. Horse racing has taken place in the
town since the sixteenth century and it continues to play a vital
part in the area’s current economic sustainability.
Festivals are also playing an increasingly important role within
the town, by providing opportunities for creative and cultural events
that all add to the social and economic vitality. These include
the Beverley Literature Festival, Early Music Festival, Puppet Festival,
the Festival of Christmas and the now legendary Beverley and East
Riding Folk Festival. Beverley Town Council is also leading the
way with such events, having in past years organised the Battle
of Beverley and a town-wide celebration acknowledging the 50th anniversary
of V.E. Day. The Town Council annually organises a Food Festival
in October.
Beverley is a wonderful town in which to live. From the gothic majesty
of the Minster and the rolling grasslands of the Westwood, to the
regeneration of old industrial areas and community spirit that is
evident throughout all quarters of the town. Beverley Town Council
is proud to be part of this rich history and will continue to play
a positive and active role within it for many years to come.
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Foreword
