How do you tell the story of a window that has stood for more than 500 years and survived siege, fire, and civil unrest?

You bring in the experts.

That’s exactly why we teamed up with History Hit, the award-winning podcast network and online history channel dedicated to bringing the past to life for modern audiences through multimedia storytelling.

With a shared passion for making history accessible and engaging, they were the perfect partner to help us share the remarkable story of York Minster’s Rose Window.

Welcoming the Team

The Rose Window is a symbol of unity in the aftermath of the Wars of the Roses, the series of civil wars fought between the rival House of Lancaster and York throughout the 15th century.

The red and red-and-white roses of its design are thought to celebrate the marriage of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, which united the rival factions and ushered in the Tudor dynasty. The Lancastrian red rose is featured to reflect the House of Lancaster’s victory over the House of York, while the red-and-white rose symbolises of the two houses coming together.

With such strong Tudor connections, it was only fitting to welcome historian Matt Lewis to the Minster. Matt’s expertise helped bring to life the history, symbolism, and significance of one of York Minster’s most iconic treasures.

One theory Matt proposed was that the inclusion of the yellow sun was a reference to Edward IV’s favourite badge, the Sun in Splendour. Edward was a Yorkist king and the father of Elizabeth of York. While an overt reference to the defeated Yorkist cause could not have been included in this window, Matt wondered whether this symbol might represent a subtle nod to Elizabeth’s father and her Yorkist heritage.

Up the Scaffolding

It’s a relief that this team had a head for heights!

We were thrilled to take Matt and the crew from History Hit  up the scaffolding to see behind the scenes of the ongoing conservation project on the Rose Window. Matt met with Alex McCallion, Director of Works and Precinct at York Minster, for a closer look at the window.

From this unique perspective, Alex was able to share with Matt the latest chapter in the Rose Window’s history: its ongoing fight against the effects of climate change. Recent analysis has shown that the window is under immense pressure from increasingly extreme weather events, including intense heat, temperature fluctuations and heavy rainfall. Both the glass and the stone tracery surrounding it face a significant 21st-century threat. Alex was able to share how the Minster’s team at the Centre for Excellence for Heritage Craft Skills and Estate Management were working in partnership with the York Glaziers Trust to combat this threat. 

To the Glaziers Studio