Cathedral · England · Still standing

York Minster

York Minster is the Anglican cathedral in York, England, formally the Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of St Peter. The present Gothic building, begun in the 13th century and completed in the 15th, has a cruciform plan with a central tower, two west towers, an octagonal chapter house and extensive medieval stained glass.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

First raised

1220

Its prime

1472

Today

Still standing

As it stood in 1472

The shape it held in its prime.

A long cruciform Gothic cathedral of creamy‑white magnesian limestone, dominated by a square central tower and twin western towers. The aisled nave runs lengthwise with large pointed windows filled with medieval tracery; the north and south transepts show tall lancet groupings. An octagonal chapter house attaches to the north transept. Roofs are low-pitched and lead-covered; parapets, pinnacles and carved stone mouldings crown the elevations. The building sits well above surrounding red‑tiled town roofs.

Step inside

9 places to explore in 1472.

The record describes 9 distinct spots at York Minster — including 7 interiors: inside the nave looking east toward the choir and crossing, crossing beneath the central tower, north transept interior with the five sisters window and more. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and walk through every one — more scenes means more photos, more angles and more of the immersive experience.

View from surrounding roofs across the city toward the full-length elevationApproach to the Great West Door and west towersInside the nave looking east toward the choir and crossingCrossing beneath the central towerNorth transept interior with the Five Sisters windowSouth transept interior at the great rose windowOctagonal chapter house interiorChoir interior facing the Great East WindowUndercroft exhibition with reused Norman fabric and Roman remains

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