Part of York Minster is under wraps as a conservation project gets to the next stage.
This is how the South Transept entrance looks now.
It’s all part of work to conserve the Minster’s world-famous Rose Window, which began last year.
The 1984 fire damaged the stone and glass of the South Transept. The Rose Window, a symbol of the union between the Yorkist and Lancastrian houses that had looked out over the city for 500 years, was subjected to 450C heat and cracked in 40,000 places.
The current project sees the Minster’s talented stonemasons working alongside experts from the York Glaziers Trust to conserve three huge lancet windows in the cathedral’s South Transept which depict Saints Peter, Paul, Wilfred, and William of York.
Alex McCallion, director of works and precinct at York Minster, said: “Four decades ago, a multidisciplinary team of skilled craftspeople worked to sensitively restore the cathedral after that devastating fire.
“They, like all of those who had come before them in the Minster’s history, used the very best tools and techniques available to them at the time, being forward-thinking in their approach to the repairs.
“We now have a fantastic opportunity to reexamine their work to allow us to better understand the Rose Window and how we might care for it into the future.”
A sign outside York Minster reads: “A heart felt thank you to our donors and supporters whose generosity ensures this extraordinary heritage is protected for future generations.”
