BEVERLEY, a market and borough town in the East Riding of Yorkshire, about a mile from the river Hull, with which it communicates by means of a canal called the Beverley Beck. It is a very neat and handsome town, consisting principally of one long wide street upwards of a mile in length, and terminated by an ancient gateway. The magnificent collegiate church of St John is in size and splendour superior to many cathedrals. Having been erected at different times it exhibits various styles of Gothic architecture. The west front is said by Rickman to be the finest of its kind in England. It is 334 feet in length from east to west; the breadth of the nave and side aisles is 64 feet; the transept is 167 feet long; and the two towers at the west end are 200 feet in height. St Mary's church is also an exceedingly handsome and spacious Gothic building. The market-place, which comprises an area of nearly four acres, is ornamented with an octangular market-cross. The grammar-school is of great antiquity, and has two fellowships, six scholarships, and three exhibitions at St John's College, Cambridge. There are several national and two infant schools, Blue-coat school, mechanics' institute, newsroom, four banks, savings bank, dispensary, theatre, jail, &c. Its trade is chiefly confined to tanned leather, oatmeal, malt, corn, and coal. Market-days, Wednesday and Saturday. It is governed by a mayor, six aldermen, and eighteen councillors; and returns two members to parliament. Pop. (1851) of parliamentary borough, 10,058; of municipality, 8915.