Own a piece of York Minster’s history
Friday 14 August at 12.30pm
Stone, timber and fabric from two momentous events in York Minster’s history will go under the hammer next week at the cathedral’s annual auction.
Stone removed as part of a major conservation project will be auctioned alongside digital replicas of stained-glass panels from the cathedral’s Great East Window, the country’s largest, single expanse of medieval stained glass.
The items have been involved in the work over the last six years to conserve and restore York Minster’s magnificent East Front, which is one of the largest projects of its kind in Europe.
In addition, the auction will include a selection of parts of 14th century oak ribs and bosses from the vaulted roof of the South Transept, which was destroyed by fire in 1984.
“The auction always proves popular as it offers people a chance to bid on a wide-variety of stone removed from the cathedral during conservation works, while helping us raise funds for ongoing maintenance work,” explained John David, York Minster’s Master Mason.
“Both the 1984 fire and the project to return the cathedral’s East Front and Great East Window to their former glory and preserve them for future generations have been landmark events for the Minster, so the auction really will offer people the chance to own a piece of history.”
The auction, which takes place on Friday 14 August at 12.30pm, will include up to 100 lots of stone removed from around the cathedral, including the East Front, during conservation work.
For the first time, bidders will have the chance to buy a special digitally printed copy of a stained-glass panel from the screen which covered the Great East Window during the York Minster Revealed conservation project.
The screen is a near life-sized replica of the window and was put in place after all 311 pieces of the 600-year-old glass were removed for conservation and restoration in 2008. Ten pieces of the screen, each showing a complete panel from the window, will be auctioned on the day.
York Minster’s Stoneyard team has repaired and replaced nearly 2,500 stones during the York Minster Revealed project, and are due to finish their work on the East Front later this year. In June, York Glaziers Trust began returning 157 of the restored 600-year-old stained-glass panels to the Great East Window, but the entire window will not be completed until 2018.
Auctioneer Rod Cordingley, of Stephenson and Son, has donated his time to run the auction, which will take place in Dean’s Park, at the north side of the Minster, on Friday 14 August at 12.30pm. Previews of the stone will be held on Thursday 13 August, 2pm - 7pm and Friday 14 August, 10am - 12noon.
A brochure will be available at the auction with brief descriptions of the items on sale and a certificate of authenticity will be available for each item bought. Purchased stones will need to be removed from the site by 4.30pm on 14 August. (Removal/carriage can be privately arranged with ‘One man, one Van’ who will be on site on the auction day.)
People interested in the work to restore and conserve the medieval Gothic cathedral will be able to see behind the scenes next month when York Minster’s Stoneyard opens its doors for its annual open day. On Friday 11 September, visitors will be able to learn about the work of the cathedral’s Stoneyard, take a tour of some of the Minster’s hidden spaces and see how the cathedral has evolved over the last 1000 years.
For more details, visit www.yorkminster.org
ENDS
Notes to editors:
About York Minster Revealed:
York Minster Revealed is a five-year project scheduled for completion in early summer 2016. It includes one of the largest restoration and conservation projects of its kind in Europe. The cost of the whole York Minster Revealed project is £20million, of which £10.5m has been generously supported with a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).
About the Heritage Lottery Fund:
From the archaeology under our feet to the historic parks and buildings we love, from precious memories and collections to rare wildlife, we use National Lottery players' money to help people across the UK explore, enjoy and protect the heritage they care about. www.hlf.org.uk
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