Medieval tiled floor to be restored in York Church

Recent archaeological explorations at All Saints North Street Church in York have led to the discovery of fragments of 14th Century floor tiles. Extensive research has allowed much to be discovered about the history of these tiles, which were used to raise the Lady Chapel floor by about three feet in around 1330, probably to reduce the effects of river flooding, a problem which still blights York today.

In order to preserve the history of the church the existing Lady Chapel chancel area is to be re-laid with handmade tiles replicating the original designs.  The 14th Century patterned tiles were manufactured in Tanner Moat which is where the Maltings Pub stands today and is within the parish of All Saints North Street.  The raised step where the Altar stands is to be covered in alternating brown and cream tiles interspersed with a tile representing Mary the mother of Jesus. In front of the Altar, lily pattern boarders frame a line of six magnificent roundels of 16 tiles each depicting a medieval scene representing God fighting evil. The rest of the sanctuary area is to be laid in plain alternating cream and brown tiles, apart from four tiles of St Mary’s monogram in front of the niche which contains the fragment of her medieval shrine.

These original medieval tile designs are steeped in religious symbolism, of the fight between good and evil, the Virgin Mary, Paradise the Holy Trinity, and much more.  The floor design is similar in many respects to that at Whalley Abbey Chapter House in Lancashire.

People are being invited to help with the restoration of the church by ‘Buying a tile’ with their own name, or that of a loved one, recorded on a list which will be kept within the Lady Chapel. These will be laid during the course of the year, and a display of the tiles will be on view on Saturday July 18th when All Saints North Street is celebrating the Visions of Our Lady of North Street, in conjunction with the Festival of British Archaeology, organised by The Council for British Archaeology.  The day will begin at 10am with a Guided Tour of the World Famous Stained Glass.  At 11.15am the medieval Visions, Archaeology and The Shrine will all be explored.  Some of these Visions - probably the best documented of all medieval Visions in England - were of tremendous political importance. The Virgin warned of the death of Henry V (1422) and left instructions as to the details of the coronation of Henry VI that he should be crowned in France as well as in England, who the young King’s guardian should be, and who should rule as regent while he was a child.  We know that a perpetual light burned before the image of Our Lady, and a fragment of that ‘larger than life-size’ image has been discovered.

Visitors can enjoy a hot buffet lunch at 12.15noon; tickets cost £7.50 and can be bought in advance from David Titchener on (01904) 631965.  At 2pm a special service will be held using the original text of the Mass (or communion service) as used in York in the 14th Century, which has been transcribed from ancient manuscripts.  As well as discovering the text, Eleanor McCullough as part of a joint partnership with the University of York and All Saints Church North Street, has transcribed the music which would have been used at that time which will be sung at this service by The Ebor Singers. 

All Saints North Street is widely acclaimed ‘York’s finest medieval church’.  This day of celebration is designed to share the history of the church with a wider audience, while marking the progress in an appeal to restore the shrine of Our Lady of North Street complete with medieval style tile pavements.