This is a film of a historical pageant procession through Beverley that took place on July 10th, 1937, as well as a re-enactment of historical scenes.  This version of the film was updated in 1969 to include a commentary by Ernest Symmons. Title – Minotaur Film Productions presents: Beverley ‘Through the Ages’ A Debenham Film Production Photographed and Narrated by Ernest F. Symmons Beverley ‘Through the Ages is exhibited with kind permission of Mrs Thelma Symmons Historical Pageant...

This is a film of a historical pageant procession through Beverley that took place on July 10th, 1937, as well as a re-enactment of historical scenes.  This version of the film was updated in 1969 to include a commentary by Ernest Symmons. Title – Minotaur Film Productions presents: Beverley ‘Through the Ages’ A Debenham Film Production Photographed and Narrated by Ernest F. Symmons Beverley ‘Through the Ages is exhibited with kind permission of Mrs Thelma Symmons Historical Pageant Procession, Beverley ‘Through the Ages, July 10th 1937. The film begins with a view of Beverley Minster, followed by an old book being opened next to a skull and a sand timer.  Then a group of people in various historical costumes, and carrying a stuffed bear, walk across a field.  They are next seen walking through the streets of Beverley as part of a bigger procession, interspersed with cut backs to the book, opened at different pages.  The procession begins with the Romans and moves on chronologically to the entry of St John into the town c.700, the Viking invasion, King Athelstan, Archbishop Thurlston, Orders of Franciscans and Dominicans, craft guilds, tanners, mystery plays, Bishop Fisher, and the visit of Henry VIII and Queen Kathryn Howard.   The commentary notes that Madge Whiting designed the Tudor episode, with the presentation of Queen Elizabeth, and tells some of the history of the borough, including the granting of Beverley the Charter of a Mayor in 1559.  In 1642 Charles I moved court from York to Beverley, and then through the Victorians, and finally up to today.  There are representations of all the sports, as well as the Mayor, Mr Burden, Miss Beverley, Margaret Evans, and other queens, which are named.   This is followed by a historical re-enactment of someone seeking sanctuary in St Mary’s Church.  The man is let in and reaches the Frid stool, with his pursuers daring not to strike him.  The Charter is then shown, and there is more film of the procession.  Among the historical figures shown and commentated upon are John Wesley.  It is noted that Major Norman Birch and Nancy Hall play the roles of Charles XIII and Kathryn Howard, respectively. Intertitle – In the romantic days of the early Victorian era. There follows a re-enactment of a ‘typical’ scene from the nineteenth century, filmed in Bishop Burton.  Young ladies are gossiping in a village, with a gentleman on penny farthing.  Miss Nichols appears:  a woman displaying a fashionable dress from London.  In a private garden a young man reads poetry to his love.  The woman’s father, with a bad leg, appears in a bad mood and orders his daughter inside and the man to leave, despite his protestations that he wishes to marry his daughter.  The man returns and puts a ladder up to his love’s window and they go to the blacksmith to get married, which ceremony he performs, for a fee of 7’6p.  The brides’ father arrives too late to stop it. The End.