Sparkling in the spring sunshine, York Minster looks every bit as magnificent as the day it was a new-build.
That’s the investment that’s gone into York Minster Revealed, one of the largest conservation and restoration projects of its kind in Europe.
To celebrate the completion of York Minster Revealed, a traditional ‘topping out’ ceremony took place at the cathedral on Thursday (March 31).
Hundreds of people who have been involved with the project gathered outside the cathedral’s newly unveiled East Front to toast its completion.
Restoring the 600-year-old East Front and Great East Window – the largest single expanse of medieval stained glass in the country – has been a key part of the project.
For 12 years this view of the Minster has been covered in around 16 miles of scaffolding, while nearly 2,500 stones have been cut or repaired by highly-skilled stonemasons.
Other activity included the creation of the visitor attraction, Revealing York Minster in the Undercroft.
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‘Changed the culture’
Dean of York, The Very Reverend Vivienne Faull, said the investment had also changed the culture of the cathedral:
The Heritage Lottery Fund gave a £10.5 million grant to the project. Boss of HLF Carole Souter said:
