Eboracum Monasterium:

In roman York there was on the exact site of York Minster the principia of Eboracum (roman name of York). In the principia (more or less exactly at the south entrance of the present Minster) in 306 Constantine the Great was proclaimed Emperor of the roman empire.
627 a small wooden church was built for the baptism of Edwin by Paulinus.
627-33 a church was built of stone around the wooden church of Edwin's baptism. 732 Egbert, brother of the King of Northumbria was consecrated as first archbishop of York.
741 the Minster burnt down and a new one was built by Egbert.
c.1080-c.1100 Archbishop Thomas built a new cathedral in norman style.
The present building of York Minster was built between 1220 and 1472. Archbishop Walter de Gray started building the gothic cathedral. All three gothic styles are to be found in York Minster: Early English in the transepts, Decorated in the nave, Perpendicular in the choir. The "Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of St. Peter in York" (as is it's full name) is the largest mediaeval church north of the alps. It is renown for it's glass windows, more than half of all mediaeval glass of England is in this very building. It is a functioning church to the present day with at least three services a day. Once there you should not miss Evensong at 5 pm.

1215-1255 Walter de Gray was Archbishop of York (besides being Chancellor of England). 1220 he started building the south transept which was completed c.1244. The north transept was being built more or less at the same time although a few years later. The transepts as well as nave and choir have wooden beam vaults.
Besides building the transepts Archbishop de Gray purchased St.Andrewsthorpe, renamed it to Bishopthorpe and built the palace there (see the cache "Eboracum Ebor"). He brought lasting order to the administration of the church in the northern province and crowned his career with the wedding in the Minster of Alexander III of Scotland to Henry III's daughter Margaret.

More about the Minster at its Webpage: www.yorkminster.org

"Eboracum Monasterium" at "geocaching.com"





Left: Archbishop Walter de Gray (from his tomb)