The Tudor Rose window, designed to commemorate the Tudor dynasty, was severely damaged during the Minster fire. Peter Gibson OBE, who led the restoration of the priceless artefact, tells STEVE CARROLL how it was done.

That the window survived at all is probably a miracle.

But the intense heat and flames which ripped through the South Transept left its mark on the priceless 16th Century stained glass.

The extreme temperatures cracked the glass into 40,000 pieces and charred its perfect surface.

Its restoration was one of the most challenging tasks ever undertaken in stained glass.

Luckily for all those at York Minster, on hand in the city was an established world authority on all things stained glass.

Peter Gibson, a world-renowned independent stained glass consultant, led the team charged with bringing the damaged masterpiece back to its former glory.

It took almost four years. From the moment when the glass was still warm to the touch from the flames, to its panel-by-panel removal, to the adhesive which was used to mend all of the tiny cracks - the massive project to mend the Tudor Rose window was a success story that may never be equalled.

"It was a pretty close call," said Peter when asked how close the window was to disaster. "The transept survived because the roof fell at the right time.

"One major factor why the window survived is because it was re-leaded between 1968 and 1970 so, when the fire came along, the leadwork holding the glass together was strong and robust. The window was able to withstand the flames."

At first Peter was shocked and saddened when he learned of the massive blaze which wrecked the South Transept. But that focus quickly shifted towards repairing the 73 separate panels of 16th Century glass.

"The day of the Minster Fire was probably one of the saddest of my life. I can also say that restoring the Tudor Window was one of the most challenging conservation projects in stained glass ever undertaken."

Only an hour after the roof collapsed, Peter was on a narrow walkway directly under the window closely examining the damage.

The situation was bleak. The cracks meant it would be difficult to move the glass without it shattering. But Peter was still encouraged.

"I told people that day that although the window was as badly damaged as it could possibly be, I was quite convinced that one day it would shine again in all its glory."

Using a special sheet of transparent adhesive covering, which held the glass together, each panel was removed and taken to a workshop where it was cleaned.

A special adhesive, the texture of which mirrored that of the 16th Century glass, was used to mend every single crack.

A technique called plating, which saw the medieval glass encased in a sheet of clear glass on either side, helped to protect the newly restored panels.

And so it was reconstructed, panel by panel, before it was unveiled again before Her Majesty the Queen on November 4, 1988.

"We put half of the restored window on display in the Chapter House of the Minster before it was replaced. People came from miles and miles around to see it.

"The restoration was one of the greatest achievements of my life. It is equalled with my first restoration, as an apprentice, a panel in the East window. It is very special.

"As I pass by the Minster almost daily and look upwards at the Rose Window, I feel most privileged to have taken part in the rebuilding of this House of God, which was so severely damaged in the fire.

"I like to think that I have kept faith with those unknown craftspeople who created this historic window almost 500 hundred years ago.

"I hope and pray that this restored, and priceless glass, will long continue to shine and be an inspiration for countless future generations."