A striking day.

Today was out day to be tourists in Beverley. The Guildhall is only open a day or two a week and so this was where we headed first.

The Guildhall is tucked away down a side road and is hidden by the four Doric columned portico that was built on to the rest in 1830.

The main room was also built on to the rest of the building and the is the Magistrates court. I think it has recently been redecorated as it was used for a film or TV location. The furniture is the original though.

The coat of arms behind the magistrates chair is that of George III.

It is a fantastic piece of stucco and the detail is really crisp and clear.

The ceiling and wall stucco was undertaken by Giuseppe Cortese in 1762. On the opposite wall to the Coat of Arms is the Coat of Arms of  Beverley, above. The town was originally called 'Inderawuda' and was founded by the Bishop of York as he built a church dedicated to St. John the Evangelist. John of Beverley, as the Bishop became known, and was later made a saint, and the Minster Church became a place of Pilgrimage. By 937 King Athlestan visited before a battle and had a vision of victory, and following this he heaped privileges on the town. At this time the name was changed to Bevreli or Beverlac. This was after the fact that the land surrounding was waterlogged due to beaver on the River Hull. This is why there is a beaver on the coat or arms above a river.

The figure of Justice in the clouds is in the central ceiling boss.

The original was was purchased by the Governors of Beverley from a wealth merchant.. That was in 1501, so the building is older. These timbers were revealed during recent renovations. The building was used by the Guilds of the Town before the council.

Up stairs is the Magistrates robing room where there is this three seat bench from the 1600's that is known as a 'bink' hereabouts. There is a collection of pewter plate that was auctioned off by the council as being too extravagant but bought back a few decades later. There is another room with no windows which was a dining room. The rumour was that the 'bigwigs' didn't want the public to see them enjoying themselves.

Once down stairs we heard a military band and left to watch the parade. We were just in time to see them walk past. It is Armed Services Weekend this weekend and the Yorkshire Regiment has the freedom of Beverley and are exercising the right today. We missed the band though. We walked back to the museum to finish our tour. As there was nobody in front of the Guildhall I waited until a white van had turned in the dead end and passed me before stepping out into the road to take a photo. For some reason the van, with no other car parked in the street, had pulled over and then decided to reverse! A lady shouted a warning and I just had time to slam my arm into the back of the van and roll away. I wish somebody had been filming as it was a real action man moment!!. I was straight on my feet and I think the van driver and on lookers were more shaken than I was. I have never been hit by a vehicle before. Just another unique experience to add to this trip.

We then went to the small museum by the library that we hadn't visited. It was an interesting little place with not too many items but covered the history of the area well. We then went for a bowl of soup at the East Riding Museum that is a converted Methodist Chapel. They have a good mix of performances on and we have been there to see 'Oliver'.

Following this we set out to the Minster. It is such a great building that I will put all the photos in a blog of it's own.

On the way back to the boat we passed the old Friary. In 1240 a Dominican Friary was established here. The Black Friars, after the colour of their cowls flourished until the Dissolution of the Monasteries by Henry VIII. After that it was mainly pulled down and this is thought to be the guest house that was left. It may have been built after this using the stones etc from the friary. During the 1800's the guest house was converted to three houses. In 1960's the nearby factory wanted to expand and they sort permission to demolish them. It was refused and the buildings were renovated in 1974. The East Riding of Yorkshire Council own the building but lease it out to the YHA for a hostel.

The Beverley Station was opened in 1846 on the York and North Midland Railway who leased the Bridlington Branch of the Hull and Selby Railway. In 1865 another line was established when the track to Market Weighton was opened. In 1903 the North Holderness Light Railway was proposed in 1903. This would have terminated at North Frodingham, but it was never built.

On the way back to the boat we walked through the new Flemingate shopping arcade and visited the Patisserie Valerie as we had a bit of money on a gift card. Just a coffee, missing the cake out.