About the Beaver
The Beaver has had at least two other names before its present name. It was called The George in 1850 and before that it was known as The Wheatsheaf. The name Beaver can be linked with the word ‘beeofer’ (beaver). Together with the word ‘leah’ (clearing in woodland), you get the name Beverley. Although the pub’s title includes ‘Hotel’ it does not have accommodation for the general public; but it used to provide rooms for the extra police brought in from other forces for race days. The single meetings each year brought a tremendous increase to the town’s population. At the end of each day the police had to control the race crowds in the pubs. In the bars, all moveable furniture was stored and pairs of policemen patrolled the streets from Saturday Market to The Beaver looking for troublemakers. Anyone found being a nuisance would be frog-marched to the station and put on the next train to Hull.