Beverley
 Cathedrals |  Stately Homes |
In the 15th century Beverley was a walled town with five gateways. Today only the north gate, or North Bar, remains, dividing the main road through the town intriguingly into North Bar Without and North Bar Within, the gate was erected in 1409. The northern approach to the town is the most impressive, for here are many fine 18th and early 19th century houses.
Beverley Minster is the fourth church to be built on the site. Founded in the 8th century by John of Beverley, who was buried there in 721 and canonised in 1037, most of the architecture is medieval. The present Minster, dating from about 1220, is one of the finest examples of English Gothic architecture. Its twin western bell towers, completed in 1420, are a landmark seen for miles across the flat countryside of the East Riding of Yorkshire.
The interior is full of monumental art acquired over some 700 years, but the most outstanding feature by far is the 14th century Percy Tomb, a shrine to the Percy family of Northumberland, who also owned considerable land in Yorkshire. The canopy of the shrine is richly ornamented with carvings of angels, fruit, leaves and symbolic beasts. There are other magnificent wood and stone carvings throughout the building, among them the fantastic rural scenes on the misericords, made of Sherwood Forest oak.
At the opposite end of the main street stands Beverley's other great church, the parish church of St Mary, built between 1120 and 1525. Originally started as a chapel to Beverley Minster, it is another fine example of Gothic architecture. Particularly notable are the central pinnacled tower, the chancel with its ceiling of 40 panels representing the kings of England up to Henry VI, and the fine carved misericords. St Mary's was built with money raised by the ancient gilds, representatives of the town's cloth weaving, tanning and dyeing trades.
Lying between the two churches are a number of attractive market squares and narrow streets, distinguished by houses built during the prosperous days of the medieval cloth trade. Wednesday Market is an attractive small square lined with Georgian houses. The central feature of Saturday Market is the Market Cross, dating from 1714 and bearing four shields of arms. Beverley is indeed, an extremely handsome market town, with elegant Georgian terraces and promenades, and still remains the flourishing market centre for the surrounding area; as such, it ranks as the county town of East Riding. The former Poet Laureate, Sir John Betjeman, described Beverley as "a place for walking in and living in"; it will not disappoint any visitor who chances upon it.
A short journey north from Beverley will bring the visitor to one of the prettiest villages in the Yorkshire Wolds. Burton Agnes appears unspoilt by time. Its cream-washed, brick cottages with pantiled roofs, the part Norman church, entered through a tunnel of Yew trees, the placid village pond, all cast a sublime calm over the whole.
The principal building in the village is Burton Agnes Hall. Built in the 17th century, the Hall is one of the outstanding Elizabethan houses remaining to us. It contains furniture, paintings (including a large Impressionist collection) and china, amassed by the family owners over four centuries. Burton Agnes Hall is especially renowned for its splendid Jacobean gatehouse, intricately decorated ceilings and overmantels carved in oak, plaster and alabaster. There are also extensive grounds, which include a magnificent walled garden with over 2000 plants, a maze and giant board games in the Coloured Gardens. The ghost of a young girl is said to haunt the property.
Burton Agnes Manor House is a rare survivor from Norman times. At almost 800 years old, the Manor House remains historically important; it is however, a grim building by comparison with the Hall that replaced it.