York Minster Revealed

The outside of York Minster
York Minster

Heritage Grants

Date awarded
Location
Guildhall
Local Authority
York
Applicant
Dean & Chapter of York
Award Given
£10543000
The centrepiece of this major project was conserving the Great East Window, the largest expanse of medieval stained glass in the country.

Nearly half a million people visit York Minster every year. This transformational project gave a unique opportunity for specialists to study and restore the beautiful 311 panels of the six hundred year-old Great East Window, as well as repair the stonework on the east front.

Additionally, the project involved:

  • creating craft skills apprenticeships in stone masonry and stained glass conservation
  • improving the accessibility of York Minster including new ramps and toilets, and improved information for visitors about the Great East Window and in the Undercroft Museum
  • creating an audience development plan to engage with existing visitor groups and new audiences, including families, older people, schools and people from diverse ethnic communities
  • creating a new learning programme for schools

Richard Shephard, Director of Development at York Minster at the time funding was awarded, said: “York Minster Revealed has been a model of good practice. Many representatives from other cathedrals have come to York Minster in order to see how things might be done. This vast project could not have happened without the help and support of the Heritage Lottery Fund.”

Read a case study of the York Minster Revealed project on Historic England's website.

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