Beverley legend that takes your breath away
Celebrations to mark the 600th birthday of Beverley's North Bar will kick off tomorrow.
The Bar 600 Celebrations will see a series of events held over the next 10 days.
Events will include bus tours, concerts, a medieval banquet, an outdoor art exhibition, archery and other activities.
A full-day of celebrations will also be held in Beverley Market Place from 10am on Sunday, July 12, when there will be a parade, plays, music, dance, medieval re-enactments and workshops.
It follows a lecture series about medieval Beverley and the construction of the North Bar.
Beverley Renaissance co-ordinator Kerry Straw, whose group initiated the celebrations, said: "People really do treasure the North Bar, they see it as an important part of the town's culture and history. It is the only town left in England with a barred gate and this is the last remaining of three in Beverley."
Professor Barbara English, of Beverley, has written a North Bar 600 booklet outlining the history of the structure.
The booklet costs £2 from Beverley Tourist Information Centre, Butcher Row.
9 Comments
by Tony, West of River Hull
Wednesday, July 08 2009, 9:47AM
“Bar... humbug. From a jealous Hullencian staring into a hole in t' ground.”
by Shep, Hull
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 3:13PM
“I remember in my teens (about 25 years ago) that you could indeed go in the bar, as it and the building next door were an art gallery.
I had been taken in there a few times with my parents and remember looking through the small windows watching the traffic pass by underneath..
Ah, to be young again!”
by Bev Devil, Beverley
Monday, July 06 2009, 6:47AM
“Excellent...now all we have to do is get all of the local councillors to sit under it for a bit.....
:-)”
by Charles, Cottingham
Saturday, July 04 2009, 1:08AM
“Over 25 years ago I remeber being able to go inside the North Bar, now it seems this is no longer possible. Perhaps the Council could open it up again as a "tourist attraction".”
by steve B, London
Friday, July 03 2009, 1:36PM
“As an old schoolmate of Mr Snowden, sat at my desk in London, I can vouch for the legend of the devil in Beverley, and many others, mostly involving the 'white rabbit' in (I believe) St Marys church - Matt might recall a 'fascinating' talk I did in year 8 about the Beverley sanctuary stones...”
by Matt Snowden, Beverley
Friday, July 03 2009, 1:01PM
“Mick - I wish it was something that was better not to know about, but it's far too dull to be covered up!
I'm assuming that what I do is in the paper copy of the Mail as it's not online. As a kid, I was told that if I didn't hold my breath when I walk under the bar, the Devil will jump down and get me. I now walk through the bar twice a day to work and home again. Out of habit or perhaps superstition, I still hold my breath. My parents probably told me that when I was a kid just to shut me up and so I'd behave, but it's stuck with me... it's a bit like the legend Alix mentions.”
by Alix, Still at work
Friday, July 03 2009, 12:56PM
“On the building in the picture there is a tiny devil that sits on the roof that you can only see from a certain angle - not sure of the full story but it's kinda cool!”
by Mick, Hull
Friday, July 03 2009, 12:02PM
“"Former Beverley Mayor Councillor Matt Snowden still respects the tradition of the little devil"
Which is?
Or is it better not to know what the Ex Mayor does?”
by Alix, At work in Hull, missing Beverley
Friday, July 03 2009, 9:20AM
“I like the old legend about the bar where when you walk underneath it, you should hold your breath so the spirit of Beverley stays within the original town limits :o)”