A new exhibition at York Minster will showcase the city’s rich cultural and creative history.
The Heart of Yorkshire: Creativity and Culture in York Minster’s Collections will take place in the Chapter House and run from Saturday, 19 September 2020 – Sunday, 17 January 2021. It will feature around 50 items, including some rarely seen on public display.
Helen Rawson, head of heritage at York Minster, said: “York Minster is custodian to a diverse collection of objects, many of which were made in York and which tell the stories of the cathedral, the city and the Christian faith in the north of England.”
The exhibition will highlight objects from the cathedral’s 300,000 strong collection, including stained glass, illuminated manuscripts, grave goods and York’s first newspaper.
Helen added: “This new exhibition has been curated to showcase some of these amazing objects, to celebrate the artistry and craftsmanship in the city over the centuries and to explore the role of the cathedral at the heart of this rich and inspiring culture.”
What to look out for
Items going on show include:
- A 12th century stained glass panel – one of the oldest surviving pieces of stained glass in Europe. It will be on display with other stained glass ‘displaced’ during different stages of conservation and restoration work.
- Silver chalice, paten, gold ring – 13th century artefacts that were discovered in the grave of Archbishop Sewal de Bovill, who was Archbishop in York from 1256 – 1258.
- The York Mercury – a copy of York’s first newspaper printed in the city by Grace White, one of the three female printers operating in the 1600s and 1700s. She also took over her husband”s printing press when he died and ran the business between 1716 and 1721. What an icon!
- The Bolton Hours – a 15th century illuminated manuscript which includes full page pictures of saints and biblical scenes.
The exhibition has been made possible due to funding and support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Museum Development Yorkshire.
The exhibition will be open during normal visiting times which are currently Monday to Thursday 11am – 4.30pm, Friday and Saturday 10am – 4.30pm and Sunday 12.30pm – 2.30pm. Entry is included with a standard admission ticket and entry to the Minster is free for York residents with a valid proof of address.
For more information please visit the York Minster website.