HCK recently had the thrill and honour of being shown around the premises of GK Beaulah on Park Street. Not far from the MKM Stadium, you may have walked or driven past this place many times, not knowing what they do. Come join me vicariously…
“Who are GK Beaulah?” you may ask? Well, for four years shy of a century, Beaulah’s have designed and manufactured wall plaques, shield and heraldic coats of arms.
“Why’s that important to a website about football kit and the aesthetics of the sport?” you may follow up. Because Beaulah’s supplied the England team with wooden plaques used in lieu of pennants for decades.
What’s more, City used such a plaque instead of a pennant for the 2014 FA Cup final, as well as for our 120th Anniversary game v. Cardiff last season.
The Park Street premises has been there since the 1960s and feels largely unchanged since that time, so a tour feels like stepping into the past, and just needs a fug of cigarette smoke to feel as if you’ve genuinely time travelled.
Hand craftsmanship remains at the heart of GK Beaulah’s work. This staff member (below), who’s been with the firm for 40 years, is hand painting the text on shield scrolls.
The firm imports high quality German ash wood to make the shield bases, though other materials are available. The solid ash bases come in three shades, light, medium or dark stain.
Beaulah’s clients are armed forces, learning institutions, city or town councils, sports clubs and families with coats of arms. During our visit a number of shields were heading to Scandinavian navies.
So hurrah for GK Beaulah. We’d love to see City sell these, even if only in limited numbers. Pennants are cool, but plaques are so much cooler, and handmade in Hull.
