Minster prices get a fiery welcome
It is a building that dominates the skyline for miles around, which has impressed visitors for centuries; but the decision to increase the admission charges to York Minster have provoked a storm of criticism.The price of looking round York Minster is set to rise from January 5, 2010. Adults will have to pay £8, while students and old aged pensioners will be asked to pay £7. The increase in admission price will enable visitors to look around the Crypt and Undercroft - which had previously been covered by a fee separate to the main admission charge.
The Dean of York, the Very Rev Keith Jones, was quoted in the York Press on December 29, as saying: "Our charges have helped us survive. In many countries, cathedrals and churches receive help from taxation, but English cathedrals are required to manage without grants from Government for repair or running... Our charges enable us to employ our work-staff, keep repairing the Minster, and remain open."
The Minster's coffers almost received a greater blow on the last day of 2009.
On New Year's Eve, firefighters battled for more than four hours to save the Minster's Great East Window which was being restored in the Minster's stoneyard when a fire broke out. Around thirty firefighters and staff from the Minster moved over 300 panels of stained glass, that constitute the 600 year old window, to safety. The Great East window is believed to be the largest medieval stain glass windows in the world.
After surveying the damage, the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, was quoted by the BBC as saying that: "I am glad to say that, apart from the two offices that were damaged, fire officers worked at such great speed that the damage was limited and no one was injured."
The Minster itself has been damaged by fire on more than one occasion, as listeners to the Best of York tour guide can discover. The downloadable tour begins in St Helen's Square and concludes outside the Minster.
The professionally produced and recorded Walk Talk Tour of York is composed of commentary points. Listeners hear about a particular attraction and then receive instructions explaining how to reach the next commentary point. The tour costs just £4.50 to download and visitors without the wherewithal to listen to the audio guided tour can hire it from the city's Visitor Information Centre. To hear an audio sample from the tour please click here.Visitors wishing to climb the Minster's Tower will still be required to pay an additional charge.
Buy one Walk Talk Tour and get the second free by entering the code BI123 in the shopping basket.
You can follow Walk Talk Tours on Twitter at @WalkTalkTours.
Labels: audio guided tour, audio tour guide, things to do in York, York, York Minster, York walking tour, York walking tours
posted by Walk Talk Tours @ 09:38
4 Comments
4 Comments:
Hi Phil,
I was in York in 2005.
I paid to enter the Minster but couldn't justify the extra for the crypt.
Yes these buildings are horrendously expensive to keep, but it seems a lot. (Especially if you translate it into AUD$)
Perhaps they need to be more creative. As it appears that most of their revenue from the public come from this source. By creative I mean _ maybe put on plays about the history or guided tours by a tour guide. I have not been here, but as part of my New Year's Resolution is to get out and do more, I shall take a trip in the summer.
Nina
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Al, I agree that it costs too much to visit the Minster and many other cathedrals in the UK. It would be good if state funds were made available to ensure their upkeep, but I can't see that happening in the current climate. Nina, York Minster is well worth a visit. I'm not sure how the Minster can raise funds. Time to get our thinking caps on...
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