North Bar illuminated once again in Beverley

The floodlights on North Bar in Beverley are working once again for the first time in several years, thanks to funding from East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

The North Bar lights were originally part of the Beverley Festival of Christmas, which was the brainchild of John Bird – the former mayor of Beverley who died in 2019.

Over the years, the lights ceased to function, and last year, Beverley Civic Society asked for them to be reinstated. The restored lighting has now been funded by the council's Local Growth Initiatives Fund, a scheme designed to support high street projects in East Riding town centres.

Dick Lidwell, chairman of Beverley Civic Society, said: “The Beverley Civic Society is delighted to see the North Bar floodlights being brought back to life. Our unique medieval Bar stands tall along with our two great churches, and deserves to be celebrated in this way.

“John Bird was a highly active member of the Civic Society, in addition to being Mayor of Beverley, and it was he who was instrumental in bringing the floodlighting to the North Bar. He had instigated the highly successful Festival of Christmas in 1995, and it was with some money raised through the event that the installation of the North Bar lights was funded, and installed by East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

“The Society, and the town, has missed the illumination since the lights failed and welcomes the work that the council has put into restoring them.”

Councillor Barbara Jefferson, East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s Cabinet member for Heritage and Coastal, added: “The restored lighting at North Bar marks a great entry to the beautiful town of Beverley, and I am absolutely delighted that we have been able to fund these repairs. The North Bar looks resplendent once again.”

Photo ;- (L - R) Cllr. Denis Healy; Cllr Barbara Jefferson; Carol Bird (widow of John Bird); Cllr Linda Johnson; Dick Lidwell ( Chair of Beverley Civic Society )