Beverley Minster Explore Tours Ground Floor

06/09/2024

"A tremendous hurricane came over the town in 1608 which did incalculable mischief, the Minster being a prominent object and much exposed to its fury received considerable damage, its superb windows were demolished its roof stripped of the lead and fears were entertained for the safety of the fabric". Much worse was to happen in 1610 but that is another story and not connected to the weather. Well, Beverley Minster is still here and we have memorials dedicated to the windows in more recent times. Our most ancient, the East window with its collection of medieval glass, was restored but not all in the right order! Our most modern window of 2004 is alongside, and there is a story to tell about this! Our usual explore floor tours are from next Wednesday 11a.m. and Saturday 1pm, but this Saturday it is our HOD memorial tours. Still more of these on the walls and floor to research into. Beverley Minster Roof Tours Beverley Minster BEVERLEY Beverley And Villages What's On Beverley Minsteroldfund

04/09/2024

Do grab the roof tour experience while you can. The ground floor tours will be held as usual on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Wednesday roof tours will only run until the end of September. They will return in Spring 2025 but if you'd like to enjoy a medieval roof tour experience mid-week this year, please book soon: https://tinyurl.com/2y9vmurt

We will continue to run Saturday roof tours until the end of November.

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03/09/2024

The site of the old Grammar school today with the roof of the Minster Garth building in the background and St. Johns Street formerly Croft Lane.

03/09/2024

This Beverley Grammar school building was constructed in 1610, in the Minster churchyard and demolished in 1816 when a new school was built next to the Headmaster's house in Keldgate. The pathway to the gate is still there and would also be used for the bellringers as they lived in the first few houses on Long Lane, across the road. There is a memorial stone on the wall in the Minster to the Reverend Frederick Gwynne M.A., headmaster of the Grammar school who died in March 1816 in the 34th year of his age. He must have been the last headmaster in that building, and had only been in the job for 10 weeks when he died. His position was quickly advertised in the newspapers with accommodation in Keldgate which contained rooms for 40 boarders and a playground at the back. The house is still there. From the site of the old Grammar school in the churchyard the roof of the tall building in the background can be seen which looks to be Minster Garth. The old school backed on to St. John's Street, previously called Croft Lane until 1811, then renamed after St. John of Beverley. We have more memorials to see on our free tours on Saturday 7th on the hour from 10 a.m., the last one 3 p.m.
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28/08/2024

Our tour guides have been at work researching the lives of the people named in some of our memorials and statues, to give 30 minute free tours to do with "connections", being the theme for Heritage Open Days this year. These free half hour tours, on the hour, start from 10a.m., last one at 3pm. and will be held on Saturday 7th September, you can just turn up. We have a statue of a King wearing a rather fetching outfit, the fashion at the time, and not something to be worn when fighting off the Danes, Vikings and Scots which seemed to be a full-time occupation in medieval times. He helped the Minster enormously. We discovered a turkey on one of the memorials and have since found out the reason why! There is the extra large wooden seat made for an important vicar and a memorial nearby telling us his story. These are just a few to spark your curiosity. We hope to see you on the 7th and inspire you to join us on our other regular tours.

24/08/2024

As it is the birthday of William Wilberforce today 1759-1833 (slave abolitionist), I thought I would write about his connection to Beverley Minster. The Wilberforce family of Hull in the 1700s paid for the trompe l’oeil (three dimensional effect) chequer-pattern chancel floor which was laid using coloured marbles from Livorno in Tuscany. Four different colours of marble were cleverly set lozenge-wise so as to appear as cubes. There is a Wilberforce Crescent in Beverley built on land owned by Mrs. Wilberforce and used for housing in 1954. Were these two Wilberforce families related? More research needed as always unless anyone knows? In the meantime come on one of our ground floor tours https://beverleyminster.org.uk/minster-tours-school-visits/

21/08/2024

21/08/2024

The Beverley Minstrels were a powerful organisation and had their HQ for the northern area 'twix Trent and Tweed" in the Minster, financing these minstrel carvings in the 1300s. There are over 80 of these and they are important as they give us an idea of the instruments they played and the clothing they wore. Traditionally minstrels were seen as little better than strolling players so it is possible that they wanted to increase their social standing with this decoration. We have a list in the Minster of these minstrels, giving the name of the instruments they are playing. Towards the east end of the nave there are a few carvings showing medical problems or ailments. As I was filming this on a Sunday, the worship band was practicing for our 9:15 cafe style service in the Minster.

17/08/2024

The West doors are opened for weddings and other events and have some interesting oak panels on the inside. These were placed on the doors in the early 1700s as part of the Georgian restoration. There was a popular desire for symbolism, most people not being able to read or write. Firstly, we see four huge carvings of figures, each with a book, indicating that they represent the four evangelists or gospel writers. Matthew, Mark Luke and John. Often, they were shown holding open books, to indicate that they were ”perfectly taught of Christ”, the books being the emblems of this perfect knowledge. https://beverleyminster.org.uk/minster-tours-school-visits/ #1621869038818-196574df-6249111ertqq

14/08/2024

The Georgian changes in the early 1700s to the nave were dramatic. At least five bays in each nave arcade were in filled with galleries. In 1823 it was decided that all services were to be held in the choir so the pews and galleries in the nave and side aisles were to be taken down and recited in the choir aisles with the backs of the choir stalls removed to enable the congregation to see. The Georgian galleries were sold in 1826 at auction, parts of which can be seen today in an oversized doorcase ornamented with cherubs and palms of glory at New Hall, Barton upon Humber. From 1823, at times, it must have been rather crowded in the choir with an average congregation of 600 to 700. Men women and children would sit on the altar steps and "rows of the female s*x perched up above the reredos cramped in the choir". In 1870 the Minster was cleaned inside of all the accumulated dirt of centuries and worship was temporarily held in the nave. As this was so successful it was decided to go back to the nave for most of the services. The galleries were removed from the choir aisles, and stalls and chairs were provided in the nave. Information from the book "Beverley Minster an Illustrated History" Edited by Rosemary Horrox which is on sale in the Beverley Minster shop along with other useful guides. Don't forget our tours
https://beverleyminster.org.uk/minster-tours-school-visits/ #1621869038818-196574df-6249111ertqq

11/08/2024

This bench pew is dedicated to a Minster Boys School Headmaster who was Churchwarden in the Minster for 50 years. "This seat was presented by the friends of the late George E. Whitehead (Churchwarden 1913-1956) and other donors to commemorate his services, those of past Churchwardens, and is for the use of Churchwardens of Beverley Minster". He joked that he would go to Church on Sunday to ask God to give him the strength to whack the boys on Monday! He knew every boys name and collectively called them ‘little Tommies’.
Lurk Lane Boys School excavations found remains of a Bedern (college or house of prayer) and a purse of copper coins (stycas) pre 806 which is now at the British Museum. The School, built on a site in Lurk Lane given by Thomas Denton, was opened in 1848 replacing the National School in Holmechurch Lane taking boys who had attended St Martin's Parish School in Cross Street. It was supported by subscriptions, donations, school pence and charities for which some boys were taught free, and an annual Government grant was received from 1849. After many enlargements in 1958 senior pupils were transferred to Molescroft County Secondary School (Longcroft Lower School) and in 1970 the Junior School was amalgamated with the Minster Girls School as Minster Church of England School. There is so much to see and hear about in Beverley Minster relating to the local community, plus the architecture and timeline of history, so do come and book a tour using this link https://beverleyminster.org.uk/minster-tours-school-visits/ #1621869038818-196574df-6249111ertqq

08/08/2024

Some time ago a lady visitor came into Beverley Minster looking for a stone monument of an angel with a book. We couldn't find this but have done so now, in the first of our 3 military chapels in the south transept. I do hope the lady in question will see this post and come back. It is the memorial to Major General Barnard Foord Bowes aged 43, who lived in Beverley, had an estate at Cottam and he added his Mother's maiden name of Bowes to his surname in order to inherit from both sides of the family. He was killed in 1812 at the assault on Salamanca, Portugal during the Peninsula War. The memorial stone is notable for the fact that it is made of Coade stone, an artificial stone of great durability and cheaper than marble or natural stone. The recipe for this stone was a closely guarded secret in the 1770s by it's inventor Eleanor Coade, who became one of the few women to be acknowledged as a major influence on 18th-century architecture. There is lots more of interest to see, and learn about, on our tours at £6 each by booking a Wednesday or Saturday place with this link https://beverleyminster.org.uk/minster-tours-school-visits/ #1621869038818-196574df-6249111ertqq

04/08/2024

One of our Guides recently had a visitor to Beverley Minster looking for the origin of the tattoo she had of a pig and a harp which was copied from the same tattoo as her Granddad. He recently told her that the pig and harp idea came from one of the Misericords in Beverley Minster. She came to check it out. We located which seat it was under (18) and then found it for her. She was very happy. A misericord is a small wooden structure formed on the underside of a folding seat in a church which, when the seat is folded up, is intended to act as a shelf to support a person in a partially standing position during long periods of prayer. The name comes from the Latin ‘misericordia’ meaning compassion or pity. The ancient rule of Saint Benedict in the 6th century required that clergy should stand during the greater part of the daily offices, but by the 11th century a relaxation allowed the aged and infirm either a T-shaped staff on which to lean, or a misericord seat to rest upon, without their deviating from the standing posture. The earliest in England are dated from the early 13th century. There are no religious carvings on these seats as it was thought disrespectful to put your bottom on one! There is a small booklet on sale in the Minster shop on the Misericords.

04/08/2024

The two men who helped make Beverley Minster great. Bishop John, on the right, was our founder who was retiring from his seat as a Bishop of York Minster and found a clearing in the woods in the land of the Deira tribe in about 700 AD to build a small monastery/church. The area may have been covered in forest with boggy lakes and pools, so it is likely that spaces firm and dry enough to build on were limited in both size and number. Even today after hundreds of years of draining it was necessary to insert deep piles to stabilise the foundations of the houses in St. Matthews and St. Martins Courts only a matter of yards from the Minster. In 937 King Athelstan who was the first King of united England was on his way to fight the Vikings in Scotland, prayed over John's remains and won, so gave the church land and endowments to help make the Minster as magnificent as it is today.

04/08/2024

Welcome to the page which will give you information, and increase your interest and enthusiasm to join us on one of Beverley Minster's Ground Floor Tours. They are usually held on Wednesday's at 11 a.m. and Saturdays at 1 p.m. but it is best to check. Group tours can be booked for other days and times. Always check on the website to make sure the tours are available for your chosen dates and times with this link

Beverley Minster Parish Centre, 38 Highgate, Beverley, East Yorkshire HU17 0DP E: [email protected] T: 01482 868540