Explore Beverley

The architecture to be seen in Beverley is very varied. The Victorian commercial architecture in Italianate style has been deemed more pretentious than the Georgian style but is impressive when seen.

Often used as an emblem for Beverley, this handsome Georgian market cross was built in 1711-14, designed by a Wakefield architect Theophilus Shelton. The coats of arms displayed include the crest of the borough, and those of Sir Charles Hotham and Sir Michael Warton, the town's MPs, who contributed towards the construction costs. Just beyond the Market Cross (still in Saturday Market) is an area called Sow Hill. The road running east from Sow Hill to Walkergate is called Sow Hill Road.

The widest section of Saturday Market is an approximately square area called Corn Mill. One of the notable buildings to be found here is the old Corn Exchange, built in 1886. It replaced a Georgian corn exchange, and fish and butchers' shambles. It now functions as a cinema and music hall.

The Market Cross is just off the left-hand side of the picture. On the right can be seen further examples of the town's very varied architecture in the Georgian style. The pavement in this area of Saturday Market is known as Butter Dings. 'Butter' relates to the carts from which produce was sold and 'Dings' relates to the name of the archbishop's hall which existed here in the Middle Ages.