Heritage Open Days are a national celebration of Britain’s history and culture, inviting the public to visit places that would not normally be open to view – and all for free.
This year various buildings in Beverley will mark the event by throwing their doors open for some or all of the days between Thursday 8 September and Sunday 11.
Taking part for the first time will be Monks Walk public house in Highgate, which has rebuilt an ancient staircase to allow access to the 13th century walls and timbers – revealing the oldest timber-framed building in Yorkshire.
Monks Walk landlord Neil Pickford said:
“Part of this magnificent building, which is older than the nave of Beverley Minster, is a unique survivor from this period and forms a vital link to the pre-Reformation period in Beverley.”
“Once a warehouse, it is now the only survivor from a period when this street was lined with London merchants, who were buying corn from Beverley Minster and shipping it to the capital.”
“Visitors will be able to see the original wattle-and-daub walls from 750 years ago, plus the later rough hand-made bricks that replaced them some 100 years later.”
Monks Walk first floor tours will be available from noon to 8PM on all four days of the Heritage Open Days celebration.
Beverley Minster will be taking part between 10.00 – 4.00 on Saturday 10 September.
The nave will be cleared of chair so the visitors will get a unique perspective; there will be special guided tours every hour, tours of the Bell Chamber, refreshments, plus an exhibition of sculptures by the Yorkshire Sculpture Group.
Beverley Minster has not taken part in this national event before, so this provides a new and different perspective for visitors to the Beverley’s most iconic landmark.
Other buildings taking part in the Heritage Open Day include the Treasure House in Lord Roberts Road, Beverley Guildhall in Register Square, and the Bell Tower at St. Mary’s Church North Bar Within.
