Meet a Glazier

York Minster is home to one of the most significant collections of stained glass in the country. Behind every panel is the dedicated team at The York Glaziers Trust – Britain’s oldest and largest stained glass conservation studio – who work tirelessly to care for and preserve this magnificent collection.

We sat down with Susanna, one of the Conservators at The York Glaziers Trust, to chat about her role and find out how the team looks after such a precious part of York Minster’s heritage.

Can you tell us about your role at The York Glaziers Trust and how you got into it?

“I am a Stained Glass Conservator at The York Glaziers Trust (YGT). After completing my MA in Stained Glass Conservation and Heritage Management at the University of York, I was offered a position at the YGT as a Trainee Conservator in January 2023, and have since progressed to the position of Junior Conservator and subsequently to my current role as Conservator.

In addition to my conservation work, I run the YGT’s social media and am a member of our teaching team, which provides hands-on conservation training for the University of York’s MA programme.”

What projects are you currently working on?

“On the conservation bench at the moment, we have the exquisite South Transept lancet windows created by renowned York-based glass painter William Peckitt (1731-1795). These windows date to the late eighteenth century, and the quality of the craftsmanship is remarkable. It has been such a joy to see them up close, as the detail can so often be lost from ground level. The glass has been heavily broken in many places (a rogue pigeon was involved in one particularly unfortunate incident!), and the windows have been exposed to the extreme heating and cooling cycles typically experienced by south-facing windows. However, we are in the fortunate position to be able to rectify these issues with the help of conservation-grade adhesives and the provision of a bespoke environmental protective glazing system.

“Also in development is the conservation methodology for York Minster’s beloved Rose Window, which suffered catastrophic heat damage during the 1984 fire in the South Transept but was saved thanks to the timely and innovative intervention of our predecessors at the YGT. We are looking forward to revisiting this window next year, both to see how the conservation programme of the 1980s has fared, and to ensure the window’s continued survival for generations to come. This work will also coincide with our 60th anniversary as a charitable trust, so it is a particularly exciting time to be a member of the YGT team!”

What’s your favourite piece you’ve ever worked on? 

“As a conservator, it is so difficult to choose a favourite project. However, I think the window that has stuck with me the most is York Minster’s window S5 (c.1390), which is in the South Choir Clerestory. This was the first conservation project that I worked on from initial removal and condition assessment, through the conservation process, and finally to the reinstallation of the conserved glass and its new protective glazing system. It was hugely rewarding witnessing the process it is entirety, and contributing to the upkeep of this beautiful and significant window. Plus, during this project I rapidly gained a head for heights, which has proven essential for working on the Minster scaffold!”

What has surprised you about working at The York Glaziers Trust and on York Minster’s Stained Glass? 

“I think what has surprised me the most is how rapidly our studio has changed, even within the short space of time that I have worked as a conservator. Over the past three years, so many of our working methodologies, studio spaces, and approaches to conservation have evolved in response to changing technologies. For example, last year our main studio on Deangate finally got its own goods lift, after 110 years of carrying stained glass panels up and down a spiral staircase!

“We currently operate at the forefront of conservation best practice and as a team we are encouraged to be thinking regularly about how best to improve our skills and techniques. New avenues for templating, scanning, digitisation, and documentation are presenting innovative solutions to our day-to-day conservation problems. Our pioneering use of new materials, such as UV-IR glass for state-of-the-art protective glazing, reminds me that approaches to conservation are never ‘finished’; there is always room for improvement, and there is always scope for innovation for those with the imagination to think outside the box. We are very fortunate to enjoy a close working relationship with the Minster’s Centre for Excellence, who are equally proactive in utilising emerging technologies to support traditional craft skills and ensure that heritage conservation remains viable, dynamic and responsive.”

Kings and Queens of Stonemasonry

York Minster is adorned with intricately carved grotesques, decorative stone figures that embellish the building’s exterior. As part of the conservation project to restore the South Quire Aisle, new grotesques have been commissioned, and our team of Stonemasons are hard at work bringing them to life.

The new carvings depict Anglo‑Saxon kings and queens: King Athelstan, Æthelflæd, Lady of the Mercians, and Saint Edmund. These hand-carved figures are a testament to the skill and dedication of our team of Stonemasons.

Take a closer look at each figure and discover more about the carving process!

Athelstan – Created by Richard Bossons

The first of the three grotesques to be commissioned depicts Athelstan, the first king of all England.

This detailed carving was created by our Experienced Stonemason, Richard. Of the three grotesques created as part of this project, this one is now complete. It will remain in the workshop and, once the scaffolding on the Minster has been adjusted, it will then be carefully lifted into place on to a pinnacle on the South Quire Aisle.

This grotesque was commissioned and funded by the King Athelstan Memorial Foundation.

Æthelflæd, Lady of the Mercians – Created by Rita Dawe

Accompanying Athelstan on this pinnacle will be his formidable aunt, Æthelflæd, Lady of the Mercians.

This grotesque is being created by Experienced Stonemason Rita, who is currently in the process of sculpting a clay model of this figure. Once complete, the clay model will be 3D scanned and printed. Rita will then use this printed model as a solid reference from which to carve the stone grotesque.

This process is just another example of how our heritage craftspeople are blending traditional skills passed down through generations with the latest in digital technologies and innovations.

*Update May 2026:

Rita has now completed the intricate details of this grotesque, bringing Æthelflæd to life with depth, character, and human touch. The model is now ready for 3D scanning, an important step that will guide the final carving in stone.

Saint Edmund & the Wolf – Created by Harriet Pace

The third and final grotesque in the trio depicts Saint Edmund and the Wolf. Edmund, King of East Anglia, was killed by Viking raiders after refusing to renounce his faith. He was tied to a tree, whipped, shot with arrows, and later beheaded. His head was eventually found being guarded by a wolf.

Experienced Stonemason Harriet has completed her clay sculpture of this figure, and Luke, our Digital Surveyor, has 3D scanned it ready for printing. The next stage is to begin carving the detailed design in stone.

Discover more about our current conservation projects and get to know the teams behind the works.

Meet Our Master Mason Emeritus

For nearly five decades, York Minster has been cared for under the guidance of our Master Mason Emeritus, John David.

Responsible for the planning and design of the cathedral’s stonework, John is a true master of his craft. He is our longest-serving member of staff and continues to work to conserve a building he helped to repair 40 years ago, following the devastating fire of 1984 – during which he helped carry precious treasures away from the blaze and later worked tirelessly to restore it to its glory.

Hear from John as he shares his role in caring for York Minster and gives a first-hand account of the 1984 fire.

Meet A Stonemason

York Minster has been home to a team of stonemasons for more than 800 years.

The skills and techniques employed by the team have been passed down through the centuries as they continue to be responsible for the ongoing care and restoration of the cathedral and its surrounding precinct. Every stone is still cut by hand on site at the Minster using similar types of mallets and chisels as their medieval predecessors possessed.

It has never been more important that these ancient skills are sustained through continuous investment in the next generation of skilled cathedral stonemasons.

Hear from our stonemason, Freya, as she shares what it’s like to be part of the team shaping a lasting legacy at York Minster.

Meet the Gardeners

Meet Our Digital Surveyor

Stoneyard Apprentice James Digger

We catch up with first-year apprentice James Digger about life at the Minster and his thoughts on #StoneFest18