York Minster restoration project gets under way to improve visitor access and facilities

8:12am Tuesday 9th October 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Julie Hayes, Business editor

Work has now started on revamping the south transept of York Minster as part of a scheme to improve access to the cathedral Work has now started on revamping the south transept of York Minster as part of a scheme to improve access to the cathedral

Work has started on improvements to York Minster as part of a landmark project.

Building restoration specialists William Anelay have started work on refurbishing the piazza surrounding the south transept and the undercroft below the Minster.

Working with architects Arroll & Snell and project managers Gardiner & Theobald, William Anelay, which has been based in York since 1747, has been appointed to carry out the construction works to improve access for all.

The work is expected to be complete by spring next year in preparation for the opening of the Minster Revealed project, a five-year scheme supported by a £10.5m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The York Minster Revealed project includes the largest conservation and restoration project of its kind in the UK, and is set to transform the visitor experience with new underground, interactive chambers, and a world-class stained-glass gallery, The Orb.

The Minster will remain open throughout the works and visitors will be able to enter the cathedral through the West Door while pedestrian access past the south transept will be maintained at all times.

The piazza area, which is currently laid out on different levels with stone steps and a temporary ramp, will be excavated with the foundations being levelled off. It will be replaced with sandstone and limestone and the area approaching the Minster Gates will be relaid with new sandstone flags.

The undercroft area below the Minster has been home to a museum for many years and the access will be improved with two passenger lifts, and a series of ramps and walkways.

The Rev Canon Glyn Webster, acting Dean of York and chancellor, said: “The work from William Anelay will allow us to welcome visitors to York Minster with much improved facilities, so that their visit will be all the more rewarding.

“This is one of the country’s most loved places, and this enables us to make it known and enjoyed by many more people.”

Tony Townend, Anelay’s recently appointed managing director, said: “We are delighted to be part of this project, which will allow this magnificent building to be enjoyed by all for many years to come.”

Comments(4)

Priapus says...
1:10pm Tue 9 Oct 12

"pedestrian access past the south transept will be maintained at all times".

My pedestrian access this morning past the south transept seemed to involve being nearly ridden into by aggressive cyclists.

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pedalling paul says...
9:48pm Tue 9 Oct 12

The Planning Committee Report of June 2008 which consented to the Piazza works noted that......
1.5 A Traffic Regulation Order was introduced in 1991 to restrict vehicular traffic proceeding along Deangate to cyclists, horse drawn carriages, emergency vehicles and statutory undertakers vehicles. There is no intention to seek to amend this Order or the classes of vehicles permitted to proceed along this road. The scheme submitted would seek to channel this traffic along a defined route passing through the centre of the Piazza of sufficient width to allow carriages and cyclists to pass each other. A much greater part of the area could then be given over to the movement of pedestrian traffic.
That's the final scenario. I guess that we'll all have to more tolerant during the construction phase, when the carriageway width is widened.

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Malcolm says...
11:26pm Tue 9 Oct 12

Cyclists should be banned inside the city walls. Absolutely no need for them to traverse the city at all, they can go around it.

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Magicman! says...
3:37am Wed 10 Oct 12

^ You're a moron. How about we ban pedestrians in the city centre too... after all "They can go around it"!! Listen to yourself man and you'll see how stupid it sounds. Cars can go around because the drivers are not expending their own energy, not getting exposed to the rain, and can generally circum-navigate around the city in relatively good time (in addition to the pollution issue, which is why Deangate had the prohibition on cars placed on it in the first place).

The south transept outside the minster is still a road, a road which vehicles will be travelling along... if you cannot cope with that then avoid the area.

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Going back to the actual subject of the article before it got hijacked... I do hope those nice Gas Lamps will remain outside the minster. If not I wouldn't mind having at least one of the lantern heads (have it running off a calor gas bottle in the garden!)

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