A GEORGIAN festival celebrating a golden age in Beverley's history has marked 300 years of the town's Market Cross.
The week-long festival has featured period costumes, a Georgian banquet, concerts and games.
Nearly 1,000 people gathered in the town today (Sunday) to take part in a re-enactment of the proclamation that named George I as king of Great Britain at the Market Cross in 1714.
Specially-made Beverley Cross buns were handed out free to everyone who attended and visitors were also offered a piece of the Market Cross birthday cake, which had been made from an ancient recipe.
Proud resident Brenda Charmers, 76, visited the event to show her support for the town's rich history.
"There were some wonderful sights," she said.
"Everyone was gathered around the Market Cross and there were dancers in traditional dress, who looked magnificent.
"We also saw a few people dressed as old fashioned soldiers who fired shots from their rifles, which definitely frightened more than a few of the pigeons."
Mrs Charmers was impressed with the number of people who turned out to mark the event.
She said: "It was a good atmosphere – there was dancing and music and a huge cake, which they said was big enough to feed 1,000 people."
Dozens of events were organised to mark this historic occasion including tours of Beverley Minster, claret tastings and a performance of Tea with Lady Susan, a period play inspired by an early Jane Austen novel.
But it wasn't all fun and games as many of the walking tours and lectures focused on the darker side of Georgian Beverley.
As well as film screenings and samples from the White Rabbit Chocolate shop, visitors were also treated to tales of life for poor people in the workhouses or of popular entertainment at the time, like cock-fighting.
Liz Tunnicliffe, 53, recently moved to Beverley and was fascinated to find out about the town's colourful heritage.
She said: "I've always lived around Hull but I only moved to Beverley a few months ago so I've been looking forward to finding out a bit more about the place.
"It was a really wonderful event that attracted quite a crowd of people of all ages and I think it will get a lot of tourists interested in coming here too."
Mrs Tunnicliffe praised the hard work the organisers had put in to make the festival a success.
She said: "It was so enjoyable and a really interesting day – it's made me want to find out more about the history of the town."
John Bird, chairman of the Beverley Georgian Festival, said he was amazed by how well the event was received by visitors.
"It's been a fantastic week for everybody involved and the show of support from the general public has been really astonishing," he said.
"Nearly all of the events were sold out and we just never expected such an enthusiastic response.
"It does Beverley proud."
Funding for the project came from the Heritage Lottery Fund and support was also given from Beverley Town Council and East Riding Council.
Other organisations that took part included the Beverley and District Civic Society, Georgian Society for East Yorkshire, Beverley Renaissance Partnership and Friends of Beverley Minster.
