Probe launched after unsafe wall closes historic street

The wall in Keldgate, which adjoins Keldgate Manor, was found to be at risk of collapse and the road was closed as a precaution.

Contractors working for East Riding Council began taking down and removing the 13ft wall, but had to pause to allow engineers to secure a gas mains before the rest of the wall was taken down on Friday.

The council has been investigating why the foundations began to fail and said it expected to decide today wether to reopen the road, which has been closed to vehicles between Eastgate and Queensgate mini-roundabouts.

Speaking on Thursday, Nigel Leighton, the council’s director of environment and neighbourhood services, said: “The council’s contractors have worked around the clock over the past two days to make the immediate area safe and a large section of the wall has now been removed.

“Because of the wall’s proximity to gas and water mains, the utility companies are now on site to secure these before the final section of wall can be taken down tomorrow morning.

“The council will then need to undertake further investigations to determine the extent of the damage underground to ascertain a solution. With this being the case, the council still cannot guarantee when the road will be reopen.

“The council apologises for the inconvenience but would like to assure resident that these works are being carried out as expediently as possible and are in the interests of public safety.”

Keldgate was once the site of one of four stone bars or gates marking the official entry points to the town, which was never a walled town but had barriers across main roads to collect taxes and keep out undesirables.

These were often as simple as a timber beam across the path, a chain or a gate, and merchants had to pay tolls at the gates.

The only surviving gate is North Bar, which is 603 years old. The decision to build such an imposing structure in defence of the town reflected the insecurity of the people it was there to protect. Built by more than 125,000 bricks made in local brickyards, it is a potent reminder of the importance of medieval Beverley and the skill and determination of those who ruled the town.

The Bar House, which is still occupied, was the home of Beverley’s most famous painters, Fred and Mary Elwell.