Beverley Minster contains woodwork spanning over 1000 years from roof timbers which were saplings in 921AD to elegant prayer desks made in 2007. John Phillips FSA gave an illustrated tour of the minster’s carved woodwork and its history.

The minster is 330 feet long. Recent investigations have shown that the exterior in medieval times was painted white. John explained that prior to the dissolution of the monasteries there was a chapter house and the east end was reserved for the use of the canons.  There were wooden screens with doors dividing off this area.

The earliest carved screens still in existence date to 1340. They were gilded and the backs have graffiti scratched into them. John reviewed the features and history of the various screens and how they have been adapted when moved, and renovated over time.

John spent some time describing the wonderful medieval choir stalls. One has the date 1391 carved on it. They were produced by the celebrated Ripon School of Carvers. Beverley has the largest set of such stalls and misericords, 68 in all.

The misericords are short lift up seats and are carved with secular and not religious subjects. John supposed that maybe it was considered sacrilege to sit on a religious carving.

The Bridlington Priory also had Ripon School choir stalls. As happened at some other monasteries, the wood work was scattered or destroyed during the dissolution. John showed pictures of two surviving Bridlington bench ends, now in Leake Church near Thirsk.

The bench ends have a distinctive style. They are buttressed with a column containing a tabernacle and topped with a grotesque. The elaborately carved ends themselves are topped with “Aysgarth” flowers, often referred to as poppy heads.

John went on to describe the changes made during several restoration periods, notably by Gilbert Scott in the late Victorian period, including an oak organ screen carved by James Elwell of Beverley.  He also showed carving restorations carried out around 1900 by the local Baker family of carvers, one of whom went on to find fame in the USA.

In his vote of thanks Bro Rick Hudson said the encyclopaedic knowledge John showed encourages a visit to Beverley Minster.