Medieval North Bar illuminated for festival

The grade one listed structure, the only surviving gate or bar into the town, which dates from 1409, will be illuminated from the end of November, when the town’s Christmas lights are switched on.

The work and the next 10 year’s lighting bills are being paid for by reserves accumulated over the last 16 years by Beverley’s Festival of Christmas.

The £10,000 cost was largely paid for by money set aside in the two years when the reindeer – one of the festival’s main attractions – could not come because of foot and mouth and bluetongue. The rest came from a donation.

Festival committee John Bird said it was their contribution to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations next year.

“We know what it is going to look like as we had a demonstration in the winter. I think it will look very attractive and define the windows and ledges in it. We wanted it to be up and running for this year’s festival because it only really comes into its own in the dark nights – it would be no good doing it in June.”

Mr Bird said surrounding residents and businesses had been consulted and they’d had no objections. The LED lights will be set flush into the road surface and will be positioned so they only illuminate the Bar and do not spill light on either side.

He said: “We thought it would be good for the town, it is a historic monument, a grade one listed monument and we thought it would add to the actual building itself. Because we are now working with East Yorkshire Events on the festival we don’t need the reserve funds that we have built up over 16 years.”

Beverley once had four main gates or bars, with the others, Newbegin Bar, Keldgate (or South Bar), and Norwood Bar guarding entrances from the West, South-West and East respectively. Reputedly some 112,300 bricks were used in North Bar’s construction.