In the early medieval period, the town of Beverley was not walled. There are records indicating that Bars had been built in the 12th and 13th centuries, but North Bar is the only survivor. It was built in 1409 at a cost of £98 (£128,000 in 2020), and was renovated in the 17th century. In 1673 the bi-annual
horse fair was held on the street within the bar and the bi-annual sheep fair in the street without the bar. In 1686 the annual cattle fair was moved to street within the bar and the sheep and horse fairs were moved to the street without the bar. The cattle fair was moved elsewhere in the town in 1865 and by 1959 all fairs had moved further afield. The bars also acted as
toll gates, passage through them having to be paid for as a sort of local tax. For example, records (extract below) for the year 1420 in which
King Henry V visited the town, demonstrate that North Bar was the principal route into the town by the amount of tolls collected.
£17- 4s. 8d. received for pavage at the North bar this year by John Fletcher and John Grimsby collectors as appears by their accounts. £2. Is. 9^d. received by John Smyth the collector in Norwood for pavage this year as appears by his account examined and proved. 13s. 4d. received by William Read collector at Newbegin bar this year as appears &c. 18s. 4|d. received by Richard Batty collector at Keldgate bar for pavage as appears &c. £2. 2s. 9d. received by John Fayr collector at the river for pavage this year as appears &c. There are records of the North Bar being used as viewing gallery for the town governors in the 15th and 16th centuries during the plays that occurred at the
Corpus Christi festivals. In 1643, a year into the
English Civil War, the mayor, the Rt Hon Manbie, ordered that North Bar, as well as Newbigin and Keldgate Bars, be locked by
constables of those
wards between the hours of nine at night and six in the morning. ==Layout==