A new and prestigious Minster was erected immediately after the Norman Conquest and through successive rebuilding it grew in size and wealth. Both the Minster and York’s many religious houses enjoyed royal and aristocratic patronage, while wealthy citizens often favoured the numerous parish churches. The many carved stone fragments found by the Trust hint at the elegance of many of these establishments, as does a rare discovery — masses of particularly fine painted window glass dumped during the 16th century demolition of the Priory of St Andrew in Fishergate. Work by the Trust on the site of the College of the Vicars Choral at Bedern also revealed the buildings and gardens of priests employed to sing in the Minster. Objects, including coins and tokens, gold rings and fine glass vessels, indicate that these canons lived a comfortable lifestyle.

Christ as a child depicted on window glass from the Gilbertine Priory

Implements used in the production of manuscripts, a lead papal bull and seal depicting the coronation of the Virgin