Arriving to a historic town of Beverley in East Yorkshire on a very wet and misty Tuesday morning, one cannot help but feel that the excitement for the day ahead has been somewhat dampened…
… and yet, surprisingly, a small history trail leaflet picked up in a tourist information office, changes the mood under the umbrella and the journey of discovery begins…
Dubbed by the locals as ‘Little York’, Beverley is a Medieval history buff’s dream.
This 15th century gate marks one of the entrances (and the only one surviving from those days) into the old town of Beverley.
There are lots of ways to discover the town and its rich heritage, but one of the more entertaining ways you can do so (yes, even on a day when you cannot see your path for the rain), is by taking Beverley Town Trail of Medieval Guilds and Crafts.
There are four trails one can take and it’s hard to decide which one is better – using artistic clues they highlight 39 guilds and trades that thrived during the Middle Ages in this bustling town.
Some of the artwork is right under your feet…
This Perch picture marks the place of a fish market.
The artwork in the trails is not displayed terribly conspicuously – if you are not looking for it, you won’t know you are walking past it.
This clue looks like a lost glove somewhere on a bench, but it actually marks the location where glovers used to practise their trade.
Some of the artwork is really high up. This is the place where leather coats used to be made.
Spotting the artwork is really part of the fun and it’s so easy to get hooked on trying to locate every detail that you can be in danger of forgetting the weather…
It might take you a while to spot this little clue, especially on a wet day.
This medicinal plant was not an easy find either…
The beautiful part about walking the trails is that a first-time visitor gets an excellent idea of town’s history and main attractions without having to go through history websites, books or excursions.
While on the trail, it’s inevitable that you will lift up your eyes and enjoy the amazing architecture of Beverley Minster.
Medieval trail is, of course, not the only fun thing to do in this charming historical town.
If you get easily tired while walking, Beverley has an array of cafes, tea rooms, restaurants and pubs where you can take the weight off your feet and enjoy whatever you happen to fancy.
Shopping is quoted as one of the most common activities here for visitors and locals alike – the town is full of small independent shops as well as the usual high street brands.
So whatever is your thing, just make sure you are wearing comfortable shoes to walk those cobble streets, otherwise you’ll have to pay a visit to a cordwainer (go find him first…) and make your own pair!
You can take prints of these and make your own shoes…! But first, go find where ‘cordwainer’ used to work!
On a final note…
The Beverley Town Trail of Medieval Guilds and Crafts was, apparently, a community effort many years in the making.
Over 700 children from the area were involved in developing ideas for the trail, maybe that’s why the trail seems to be a really fun way to discover the town for those visiting with the little ones.
Hi, I am Vytenė, a travel blogger originally from Lithuania. Highlighting here European destinations worth exploring. You don’t have to go far to have the time of your life!
