Hero
Bevis and Ascupart
Bevis beat the giant, then hired him.
See it clearly
- What's there
- Medieval town gate with lion statues
- Legend from
- Medieval romance
- Tone
- Light-hearted
A knight, a giant made into his page, and two lions guarding the town gate.
The Bargate was the main north gate of medieval Southampton. Sir Bevis of Hampton is the hero of a medieval romance, and the city likes to call him its founder. In the story he defeats the giant Ascupart and makes him his page. Large painted panels of Bevis and Ascupart hung on the outside of the Bargate until 1881 and are now kept inside. The lions by the gate are said to represent the Bevis legend. They were removed for repairs in 2020 for the first time in 275 years. Bevois Valley takes its name from him.