Who was this figure? There are several possibilities: a female saint, a patron of the church or, most likely, a depiction of a Virtue conquering a Vice. This was a favourite scene in medieval England and there are good examples elsewhere in the country which show Virtues in similar postures 'subduing' Vices, depicted as strange sub-human figures.

Despite the unfinished nature of the drapery, the figure can be dated by her costume type to around 1300. She was found in a pit together with other stone working and building debris. It must have been an unfinished piece from the workshop of a school of sculptors who had completed the sculptural decoration of the Minster Chapter House in 1290.

Figures such as these would originally have been painted, and colours can be reconstructed from traces which survive on other sculptures. All the evidence from this figure and other complete examples, as well as information on costume of the day, was brought together and a reconstruction drawing of the intended appearance of the figure was produced, showing her as Joy overcoming Idleness. So, ironically, this half-made medieval sculpture has achieved its place in history after all.