Still revealing! York Minster's Undercroft visitor attraction celebrates first birthday
This bank holiday weekend, hosts and guides at York Minster will be celebrating the first anniversary of the opening of the largest visitor attraction within a cathedral in the country - Revealing York Minster in the Undercroft.
Over the last twelve months, more than 185,000 visitors have enjoyed the attraction, which celebrates the 2000 year history of the site on which York Minster stands. Interactive displays and a host of films and digital graphics sit alongside some of the most precious artefacts and relics in York Minster’s extensive collection – from the Horn of Ulf – the ivory Viking drinking horn that was handed to the Chapter of York to transfer the land to their ownership – to the York Gospel, an Anglo-Saxon illuminated manuscript that is still used in services today.
“It has been a superb first year, with fantastic feedback from our visitors who are amazed by just how much there is to see and do, hidden beneath the Minster floor,” comments Jess Monaghan, director of visitor experience at York Minster. “We often get comments that people are expecting a small exhibition down at the bottom of the steps in the South Transept, so are amazed to discover this hidden multi-chamber attraction which even includes a widescreen cinema!”
The attraction focuses not only on the rich history of the site, from the remains of the Roman barracks that can be seen beneath a glass floor, to the Norman Minster – the first stone cathedral built on the site, but also on the people of the current Minster – those who work, volunteer, sing and worship within the walls today, ensuring that the cathedral remains the beating heart of the city of York. “With Revealing York Minster, our contemporary Orb offering visitors a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see some of the medieval works of art created in stained glass up close, and the exhibitions in the East End highlighting the incredible conservation work undertaken on a daily basis by our expert stonemasons and glaziers, there is more than ever before to see and do at York Minster,” adds Jess.
The Revealing York Minster attraction was created as part of the York Minster Revealed project, the largest conservation project of a historic building in Europe, which includes repairs and conservation to the stonework and glass of the Great East Window, the largest expanse of medieval stained glass in the world, and the creation of the South Piazza which has quickly become one of the most popular outdoor spaces in the city.
This month marks the launch of new displays within York Minster’s Treasury, the first part of a four year programme of remembrance to mark the centenary of the First World War. The centrepiece of the displays is the King’s Book of York Heroes, a magnificently bound book, which weighs in at a massive 9st 4lb, and features not only the names of 1,447 people linked to York Minster who died in World War One, but also biographies and, where available, photographs.
York Minster is open daily for sightseeing from 9.00am to 5.00pm (12.45pm to 5.00pm on Sundays). Admission prices are £10.00 for adults and £9.00 for concessions. Children go free with a paying adult, and local residents holding a YorkCard also get in free.
For more information, please visit www.yorkminster.org
ENDS
YORK MINSTER REVEALED – HLF boiler plate
About York Minster Revealed
The York Minster Revealed project is a five-year project scheduled for completion in early summer 2016. It is the largest restoration and conservation project of its kind in Europe. The cost of the whole York Minster Revealed Project is £20 million, of which £10.5m has been generously supported with a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The remainder of the fund has been raised by York Minster.
State-of-the-art multi-media galleries, new displays of historic collections and interactive interpretations have created new learning opportunities for all ages. Also improved access to the South Transept, Undercroft, Treasury and Crypt has totally transformed the experience of visiting York Minster.
About the Heritage Lottery Fund
Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) aims to make a lasting difference for heritage, people and communities across the UKand help build a resilient heritage economy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage. HLF has supported almost 35,000 projects with more than £5.3bn across the UK. www.hlf.org.uk. For more information, please contact Katie Owen, HLF press office, on tel: 020 7591 6036/07973 613820.
For further media information or images, please contact:
Jay Commins
Tel: 01904 500698
Mob: 07810 546567
Email: jay@pyperyork.co.uk
or
Sharon Atkinson
Tel: 01904 557248
Email: sharona@yorkminster.org
