efore Christianity arrived York had an important part to play in the history of Britain. For the Romans, York was the capital city and many important buildings were built on the site of the current minster, including a cathedral. A stone building was built around 627 by Edwin the King of Northumberland and rebuilt again after a fire in 741. In 1069 the church was destroyed and when Thomas of Bayeux the first Norman Archbishop arrived in 1070 he found the church in ruins. Thomas built a new cathedral which lasted until the middle of the twelfth century at which point Archbishop Roger reconstructed sections in the new Transitional style. In 1230 the Normans started rebuilding the cathedral in the Early English style beginning with the transepts which can still be seen today. The south transept is the work of archbishop Walter de Gray who held the position at York from 1215 until 1255. He is buried in the eastern aisle of this transept. The north transept is the work of John Romanus who was the Treasurer at York and the work on the north transept was completed just after the south. Unusually the transepts have their own aisles. The south transept has a door with three very steep gables above it, lots of lancet windows and a circular window in the roof gable. The north transept is much simpler, consisting of five very tall lancet windows known as the 'Five Sisters', which could be the tallest medieval lancet windows in England. The chapter-house at York is unusual in the fact that it has no central column. The roof of the chapter-house being made of wood that has been designed to look like stone. Apart from the two towers, the West front was complete by around 1345. The front has a huge window containing a heart shaped from the Flowering tracery. Fire damaged sections the cathedral in the last century.Location
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York Minster
| County | Categories | ||
| Remains | Excellent remains | Access | Only open at certain times |
| Location | 53.96329,-1.083921 (Google Maps) ///couple.mixed.spices | Directions | Directions via Google Maps |
| County |
| Categories |
| Remains |
Excellent remains |
| Access |
Only open at certain times |
| Location |
| 53.96329,-1.083921 ///couple.mixed.spices |
| Directions |
| Directions via Google Maps |
efore Christianity arrived York had an important part to play in the history of Britain. For the Romans, York was the capital city and many important buildings were built on the site of the current minster, including a cathedral. A stone building was built around 627 by Edwin the King of Northumberland and rebuilt again after a fire in 741. In 1069 the church was destroyed and when Thomas of Bayeux the first Norman Archbishop arrived in 1070 he found the church in ruins. Thomas built a new cathedral which lasted until the middle of the twelfth century at which point Archbishop Roger reconstructed sections in the new Transitional style. In 1230 the Normans started rebuilding the cathedral in the Early English style beginning with the transepts which can still be seen today. The south transept is the work of archbishop Walter de Gray who held the position at York from 1215 until 1255. He is buried in the eastern aisle of this transept. The north transept is the work of John Romanus who was the Treasurer at York and the work on the north transept was completed just after the south. Unusually the transepts have their own aisles. The south transept has a door with three very steep gables above it, lots of lancet windows and a circular window in the roof gable. The north transept is much simpler, consisting of five very tall lancet windows known as the 'Five Sisters', which could be the tallest medieval lancet windows in England. The chapter-house at York is unusual in the fact that it has no central column. The roof of the chapter-house being made of wood that has been designed to look like stone. Apart from the two towers, the West front was complete by around 1345. The front has a huge window containing a heart shaped from the Flowering tracery. Fire damaged sections the cathedral in the last century.Location
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Dimensions of main church
Timeline
931
...
Wulfstan I becomes Archbishop of York
Wulfstan I becomes Archbishop of York after being appointed by king Athelstan. ¹
1037
...
Bishop John of York is canonised
Archbishop Aelfric canonised John of York, responsible for founding the monastery at Beverley, as St. John of Beverley.
1069
September
York captured by the Danes
An army sent by Sweyn of Denmark landed in the north and captured York. Local rebels joined the Danes and attacked the two castles within the city. A fire lit by the Normans in an attempt to prevent the Danes attacking the castles got out of control and a large part of the city was destroyed including the cathedral. The confusion aided the Danes in capturing the castles and killing most of the Normans in the city.
1070
...
Lanfranc becomes Archbishop of Canterbury
William the Conqueror placed Lanfranc in the position of Archbishop of Canterbury a move designed to strengthen his hold on the English throne. Thomas of Bayeux, a pupil of William's brother Odo, was put in the position of Archbishop of York after the death of Ealred who died on September 11th, 1069. Archbishop Stigand was imprisoned in Winchester.
1137
June 4
York Minster damaged by fire
York Minster was partially damaged by fire in this year that destroyed a large part of the city. The near-by church of St. Mary's and some other 37 churches were also damaged.
1171
...
York Minster construction work
Archbishop Roger began reconstruction work of a new church after the previous one had been destroyed by fire. ¹
1221
...
Joan of England marries Alexander II
At York Minster, King John's daughter Joan married Alexander II, the king of the Scots. Joan was only eleven years old at the time of the wedding.
1226
(to 1241)
York Minster South Transept
Building work on the South Transept of York Minster took place until 1241. It was directed by Archbishop Walter Grey and was executed in the Early English style with five lancet-shaped windows known as the Five Sisters. ¹
1242
(to 1255)
York Minster North Transept
Building work on the North Transept of York Minster took place until 1255. There a five slender windows in the north wall of the trancept that are known as the Five Sisters of York. ¹
1251
December 26
Margaret marries Alexander III
King Henry III's daughter Margaret married Alexander III, king of the Scots, at York Minster. Both bride and groom were under the age of eleven at the time of the wedding. The festivities were huge as many members of the English and Scottish courts attended the wedding.
1286
(to 1296)
York Minster Chapter-house
Building work on the Chapter-house of York Minster took place until 1296. ¹
1291
(to 1345)
York Minster Nave and West Front
Building work on the Nave and West Front of York Minster took place until 1345. ¹
1328
January 24
Edward III marries
King Edward III married Philippa of Hainault at York Minster. The marriage was arranged as many were at the time. The arrangement was organised as early as 1323, when she was not yet nine years old. The Bishop of Exeter visited Hainault to see the girl. ¹
1330
(to 1338)
York Minster West Window
Building work on the West Window of York Minster took place until 1338. ¹
1346
October 17
Scots defeated at Neville's Cross
During the absence of King Edward III while he was on campaign in France the Scottish king David II was approached by the French King Philippe VI to invade England. David II did so and advanced south. On the way to Corbridge the army captured Aydon Castle, allowing the inhabitants to leave safely if they handed the castle over. At Neville's Cross the Scottish were defeated by a band of monks, priests and land workers led by the archbishop of York, William Zouche. David II was captured and sent to London to be held at the Tower. ¹
1361
...
New choir built at York
Under the direction of Archbishop Thoresby the eastern end of the building was extended elongating the choir. The architectural fashion of Decorated Gothic was changing to Perpendicular Gothic as this construction work was undertaken. ¹
1400
(to 1405)
York Minster East Window
Building work on the East Window of York Minster took place until 1405. ¹
1407
(to 1423)
York Minster central tower
Building work on the central tower of York Minster took place until 1423. ¹
1432
(to 1456)
York Minster south-west tower
Building work on the south-west tower of York Minster took place until 1456. ¹
1470
(to 1474)
York Minster north-west tower
Building work on the north-west tower of York Minster took place until 1474. ¹
1530
October
Wolsey pardoned
King Henry pardoned Thomas Wolsey and allowed him to retire to York as the archbishop.
1553
October 4
Archbishop of York arrested
The archbishop of York was arrested on charges of treason and sent to the Tower. His homes were raided and his riches were stolen.
3D Virtual Reconstructions
Transport yourself back up to a thousand years and explore historical buildings as they may have appeared in the past. Built using the popular game development tool Unity 3D, these reconstructions will run in the most of the popular web browsers on your desktop or laptop computer.
Page Navigation
Selection of references used:
- 1. John Haywood, Encyclopaedia of the Viking Age
- 2. John Timbs & Alexander Gunn, Abbeys, Castles and Ancient Halls of England & Wales (North), 1872
- 3. John Harvey, English Cathedrals, 1961
- 4. John Harvey, The Black Prince and his age, ISBN:0-7134-3148-2
- 5. T. Francis Bumpus, The Cathedrals of England and Wales, 1934
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1: Location
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2: Alignment
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3: Size
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