St. Mary's Church, Beverley - East Yorkshire

St Mary’s was established in the first half of the 12th century as a daughter church of Beverley Minster, to serve Beverley’s trading community. It is a cruciform church, 197 feet in length, with aisled nave and chancel, south transept with east aisle, north transept with east chapel and crypt below, northeast chapel with adjoining sacristy and priests’ rooms above, and a crossing tower.

The church was extended and the nave and aisles were rebuilt in the 13th century, when a crypt was added. The west front is late 14th century and the clerestory was added then. The central tower fell down in 1520 killing several of the congregation and damaging the church. The church was rebuilt and most of the building is perpendicular in style.

The 19th century saw significant restoration undertaken at St. Mary’s, in 1829-30 under William Comins, then under A. W. N. Pugin in 1844-52. E. W. Pugin took over the work, and was followed by Cuthbert Brodrick, George Gilbert Scott (who refitted the nave and chancel), and numerous other architects.

On the exterior wall of the south transept is an oval memorial to a pair of Danish soldiers. The text tells a tragic tale of the Danes, brought to England by William of Orange.



Here two young Danish soldiers lye
The one in quarrell chanc'd to die
The others Head by their own Law
With sword was severed at one Blow
December the 23d 1689.