York Minster

The Centre of Excellence is a first-of-its-kind project, and is crucial for helping us to secure the environmental, financial and heritage sustainability of York Minster for many years to come.

Please accept cookies to access this content

The Centre of Excellence for Heritage Craft Skills and Estate Management has established the York Minster Precinct as a world-class campus facility for research, education and training in traditional craft skills. It is creating capacity to allow our world class stonemasons to undertake commissions for other ecclesiastical institutions and heritage estates utilising our state-of-the-art cutting technology.

The new Centre is bringing many benefits to York and the wider heritage sector including continuing the craft of stonemasonry and encouraging global learning and knowledge sharing. We are preserving traditional craft skills for future generations, as well as being a shining example of best practice in managing complex heritage estates. Utilising world class, cutting-edge technology, we are supporting young people in the early stages of their careers and providing dedicated residential facilities for our first-year apprentices.

The vision for the Centre of Excellence was a principal policy of the adopted York Minster Precinct Neighbourhood Plan (2022) which sets out a statutory planning-led approach to creating a sustainable future for the Minster and its seven-hectare estate. The Plan is now driving the biggest changes in the Precinct since the 1850s.

Why now?

The Neighbourhood Plan was conceived to enable the Chapter of York, the Minster’s Governing body, to deliver its responsibilities towards the fabric, daily life and future sustainability of the Minster. Those who live and work in or around the Precinct share a sense of their responsibility to hand on to future generations a treasure of exceptional beauty.

It costs more than £33,000 a day to maintain the Minster and its 7 hectare Precinct and takes a multidisciplinary team of skilled heritage craftspeople and experts to care for the ongoing cycle of repair, restoration, conservation and development of York Minster, its ancient buildings and monuments.

Meet the teams

The scale of restoration and the associated costs are continuing to grow as we respond to the consequences of a changing climate and increasing material costs which is unsustainable. Our restoration work is set against a backdrop of declining craft skills in the wider industry. The Neighbourhood Plan seeks to address this and with the Centre of Excellence now operational, we are beginning to drive efficiencies, safeguard traditional craft skills and over 2025/26 will start to generate an income to the Works Department to reduce reliance on Chapter’s finite reserves.

It is also important that we continue to respond to innovations and modern processes such as digital technology, data scanning, Computer Aided Design (CAD) and embrace low carbon technology as we implement of vital decarbonisation journey through the delivery of the Plan.

The Centre of Excellence for Heritage Craft Skills & Estate Management will secure the long-term environmental, financial and heritage sustainability so that future generations can enjoy this magnificent building as we do today.

INTRODUCING OUR NEW CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE

Through the £9.3m project, two sites have been developed: The Heritage Quad and The Works and Technology Hub. The project was underwritten by the York Minster Fund, who led a major fundraising campaign to support this vital project for the future care of the fabric of York Minster.

The two sites provide C21st facilities for craftspeople, including our stonemasons, and house and deliver training in modern techniques and processes to apprentices and students, working with cutting edge digital facilities.

New workspace and associated facilities have been created, enabling greater engagement and interaction with the public around key crafts and trades and allowing improved links with our national and international networks. Both buildings incorporate the latest sustainable features including the latest photovoltaic technology, air source heat pumps rainwater harvesting and extensive planting to increase biodiversity within the Precinct.

Partnerships

The Centre of Excellence has positioned the Minster as leading the charge for the preservation of ancient craft skills on the international stage, facilitating knowledge sharing and exchange programmes with leading cathedrals worldwide, including Washington, Cologne, Milan, Pisa and Trondheim.

We are now planning how we enable reciprocal visits for apprentices between these, so we are continually sharing knowledge and training on a global scale.

“Delivery of the Centre of Excellence sees the culmination of over 6 years work and has created a unique facility on the international heritage stage which carefully balances the use of modern technology with traditional craft skills.

“The team are already delivering exciting results which will ensure we are accelerating the restoration and conservation of York Minster, as well as continuing a strong apprenticeship program to safeguard these vital skills for future generations. Importantly, the new low carbon infrastructure shows what can be achieved in a heritage estate with a strong architectural brief and planning framework.”

– Alex McCallion, Director of Works and Precinct at York Minster

“Innovation never stops. To be a true Centre of Excellence we must continue to innovate our approach to heritage conservation, utilise ‘tech for good’ and sustain craft skills. To be world class we must continue talking to and sharing knowledge with our partners across the world. Our next phase of research looks towards digitisation and how we access the precious but fragile fabric of the building. Watch this space…”

– Laura Cotter, Research and Innovation Manager at York Minster Fund

A world-class campus facility

A £9.3 million project to secure a sustainable future

York Minster Neighbourhood Plan

Ensuring the Minster and its Precinct continue to flourish

Meet the teams

The skilled heritage craftspeople and experts that look after the Minster

Case studies

Get to know us

Support the project

Donate Now