Scorched prayer kneeler from minster blaze on show

A prayer kneeler scorched in the York Minster fire in July 1984 is one of the exhibits on show

A scorched prayer kneeler and traces of molten roof lead are among the items at a York Minster exhibition marking 40 years since the devastating fire there.

The south transept of the historic building was gutted by flames on the night of 9 July 1984 after lightning struck its roof.

The Out of the Ashes exhibition, in the minster's north transept, opposite where the fire took hold, tells the story of those who fought the fire and dealt with its aftermath.

Exhibition curator Kirsty Mitchell said putting the display together had been "a really emotional and powerful experience".

The roof of the south transept of York Minster caught fire after a lightning strike on 9 July 1984

Items of fire-damaged furniture which survived the 1984 blaze are on display as part of the exhibition.

Among the items showing scorch marks are a wooden prayer kneeler, as well as an old donation box which was in the south transept at the time of the fire.

Ms Mitchell said although both have now been cleaned and restored, a decision was made by staff to keep the scorch marks as part of the story of the minster.

“I think it was the right decision and it's a great thing we have these pieces that still show that part of their story”, she said.

Curator Kirsty Mitchell said a "fantastic photographic archive of the fire" could be seen at the exhibition

As well as scorch-marked furniture, splashes of molten lead which fell from the roof during the fire can still be seen on the wall near the crucifix in the south transept.

The exhibition showcases dramatic photographs taken by eyewitnesses who captured the events of the night, as well as allowing visitors to take part in a digital-visual trail called On This Spot.

Ms Mitchell said: “I’ve listened to the firefighters who tackled the blaze talk about their experiences and I’ve read through the reports, and I still find it so difficult to imagine what it was actually like being in here when the fire was raging.”

'Horrified and aghast'

John David, Master Stone Mason Emeritus at York Minster, ran into the burning building that night.

He said he still remembered feeling “horrified and aghast” at seeing the building on fire.

“There was a little hole in the roof where the lead had melted and the flames were just coming up.

"Gradually the hole was getting bigger, and I thought after a few minutes, 'I work here, so I had better do something'."

Fire-damaged furniture such as this old donation box survived the blaze at the minster in July 1984

Visitors to the exhibition will be able to look at the clean-up operation following the fire and the four years of restoration that took place in the aftermath of the blaze.

Mr David said: “We are just one part of a whole history.

"When you work on a building like this, you are actually conscious of the people who worked here before.”

The exhibition and digital-visual trail at York Minster is due to run until June 2025.

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