We set off and the weather wasn’t too bad, it wasn’t too good either, but as Linda had never been to York (she has led a very sheltered life, though she has been to Dublin), we had decided to make a nice day of it. We parked at the big car park just outside the city walls at the junction of Jewbury and Fossbank. We walked into town and as we were approaching M&S a lady accosted us, asking would we mind taking part in a tasting questionnaire, well never one to look a gift horse in the mouth, we of course said yes. She asked if we had any allergies, she then took us to a hall (Methodist I do believe), we where giving a into the safe hands of another Lady, who sat us down and brought out a tray with various small saucers (I forget how many but it may have been 9) each containing a piece of finger food. I must say that some where not all that bad, I have tasted worse. So we even got a bag of sweeties. Linda had asked who was doing it but she said she was not allowed to say, but I think that the bags of Tesco’s sweets was a big give away in more than one sense.
So that was Breakfast taken care of, we sauntered along the Shambles and into the market, I do like a good market and this wasn’t one of them, it was a mediocre market. We then done a bit of window shopping and eventually got to High Petergate and then into the Minster yard.
We decided to have a good look around the Minster and as a guided tour was about to start, we tagged along. I must say it was the best free tour I have ever taken part in (though entry to the minister is not). The lady guide certainly knew her stuff, she took us through the different stages of the building of this mighty Church. She showed us pointers to distinguish between the different styles and what to look out for.
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| First a lesson in flower arrangement |
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| Under this dragons head there used to be a font and this was filled by turning the dragons head with a chain that is no longer there. If it hadn't rained for a while you would be baptised with the odd birds nest and a couple of dead pigeons |
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| The West Portal, if any can read semaphore what do the new figures read? |
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| The Heart window |
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| The mighty Norman Nave |
A bit of brass that the Danes didn't get their hands on
Next we went into one of the oldest parts of the Minister, this is the place that has been used for Parliment in the past (I don't know how long past) The ceiling is a true piece of workmanship
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| The ceiling |
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| The window that is being renovated behind the rood screen |
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| And so we left this magnificent place, it is an awe inspiring place, even if one is not religious it must surely admiration for the stone Masons, glaziers and carpenters of the past |
The first church on this site was more than probable a simple wooden structure and had been built for the baptism of Edwin king of Northumbria; it was soon to be demolished and replaced with a more permanent stone structure. In 633 Edwin got done in, in battle it fell to king (later St.) Oswald to finish of the bricky work.
The size of it increased and it actually did not fall foul of the marauding Danes, it fell to the Normans to do that in 1069. It was burned down!
After Guilliam the Bastard got his hands on the throne of England (poked our ‘Arolds eye out he did) and installed one of his mates (Thomas of Bayeux) as Archbishop. Things seemed to have got going again, on the building front that is. The Norman Minister that replaced the Anglo-Saxon place of Christian worship was eventually enlarged and added to and some of its original column bases can be seen in the crypt (not the one that the cat crept into).
From 1220 onwards much alteration and additions where done on the Minister until it became the might York Minister that we know today (the centre nave had two side transepts added and by looking up to the arches the different forms of architecture can be seen.
There had to be quite a bit of trussing and supporting over the years as in 1960 the great central tower was about to come down with a mighty thud, this is when they found the early pillar supports, but nothing to support that the Anglo-Saxons had been busy here before them.
In 1984 a bolt of lightning struck the South transept and a lot of damage was done by the ensuing fire. I remember this very well as I went there with my family for a visit to York “after the fire and not before”.
I think that they have done a good job, we even saw a German Journeyman Mason (you can tell by their particular garb, big floppy had and corduroys with big pearl buttons on) he must have been across showing them how to build proper Churches like the Cologne Dom.
But it was a well spent 1.5 hours and will do it again next time I am in York.
After leaving the Minster we had a bit of a look around the outside of the building and some of the Roman remains (those Italians will build an ice cream parlour anywhere).
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| The Minster and Emporer Constantin |
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| A column of the Romans and the Minster school |
We legged it back to the car via M&S (toilets) and out of Foss gate.
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| The Fossgate walls |
Back home was waiting the remains of the fish pie and a bit of tele watching, I did go down to the Coble Landing as a storm was blowing, I saw a few of the fishermen trying to get a coble onto a trailer to pull it out of the surf, it was swamped and they had great difficulty keeping it upright.
Next day was off to Whitby!
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