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- Introduction to the Beverley Photo Galleries - |
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Beverley is a large and ancient market town within the East Riding of Yorkshire. It's principle attraction is the still relatively little known Minster church situated to the edge of the town centre; a vast cruciform medieval building, larger than many of our cathedrals and filled with rare survivals of pre reformation stone and wood sculpture. The soaring west towers dominate the quiet, mainly residential area that embraces the Minster on three sides.
The building was established as a college of secular cannons by King Athelstane after 937 CE, on the site of an earlier monastery destroyed by the Danes. It became a popular pilgrimage place but was (perhaps fortunately!) destroyed by fire in 1188, to be steadily replaced by the present magnificent building over the course of several centuries, in the the three successive styles of gothic architecture.
It remained a popular attraction for pilgrims and survived the main dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII through being a secular institution. However it was finally dissolved under his successor, Edward VI in 1547. It became parochial afterwards and slowly decayed through neglect until restoration began in 1713 (without the addition of 'pineapple' domes or Greek columns, fortunately).
Some of it's most impressive features include the stone carvings of minstrels and grotesques in the nave, the medieval choir stalls and several elaborate tombs. The tomb of Lady Eleanor Percy, dating from around 1340 and covered with a richly-decorated canopy, is regarded as one of the best surviving examples of Gothic art.
My high quality images of the Minster can be viewed via the links below. The images show various interior and exterior views of the Minster including some of the sculptural and other details. The enlargements are mainly of 1024 x 768 size. There are additionally a series of photos of the impressive parish church and other monuments within the town. |
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Beverley galleries page links:
Copyright Kevin Marriott. All artwork, photography and other contents of this site is the copyright of Kevin Marriott and may not be copied or reproduced on the web or elsewhere without written permission. |
