Beverley Minster and Town

Thursday 09 July
Depart: Parkinson Steps: 09.00
Arrive: Parkinson Steps: 19.00
Open to: IMC Delegates
Price: £58.50
How to Book: Advance Booking Required via IMC Registration

In the late 14^th century, Beverley was a major port, the tenth-largest town in England outside London, its economic prosperity based on wool processing and textile manufacture. Within the eastern part of Yorkshire, it was also a significant ecclesiastical centre, the Minster acting as the mother church for the town and its hinterland and its shrine of St John of Beverley attracting many pilgrims.

The excursion will explore the ecclesiastical buildings of medieval Beverley, particularly the Minster and St Mary's. St Mary's Church, originally a chapel of the Minster, is considered to be one of the finest parish churches in England. Its architecture displays work from most medieval periods, especially the late medieval. Inside, carvings in the nave reveal the involvement of local people in its building. There is a 15^th-century painted ceiling depicting the kings of England, a fine set of carved misericords, and a delightful sculpture of a medieval hare, dressed as a pilgrim. St Mary's is also home to over 600 roof bosses depicting a wide range of subjects from biblical imagery, patrons associated with the church's past, lewd jokes, and folk figures such as Reynard the Fox.

The sites of the medieval friaries will be visited during a walk through the town to Beverley Minster. The Minster was founded in the 8th century, and rebuilt several times, resulting in the current superb Gothic building, which is one of the great glories of late medieval architecture in the north of England. Its place in the religious life of the town will be explored, and new evidence for the way in which it was built, derived from the masons' and carpenters' marks, will be examined in detail.

There will also be an opportunity to see the rest of the town, and to discuss the famous 14th-century North Bar, an outstanding example of early brick architecture.

This excursion will be led by Jenny Alexander and Bryony Wilde (both Department of Art History, University of Warwick). Packed lunches will be included.

Please arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the listed departure time. Sensible footwear is recommended, as there will be a significant amount of walking on uneven surfaces. It would also be advisable to bring raincoats, sunblock, and water. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.