A special edition of the Tyne Tees Television current affairs programme ‘Briefing’ on the devastating fire which hit York Minister on the night of the 9th July 1984. Presenter Ian Breach speaks with those connected to the fire about what happened and the damaged caused. With Christmas approaching, Ian also speaks with many of the clergy and craftsmen about the work that has already been to restore the minster to its original glory. Title: Tyne Tees Briefing Special The Choir of...

A special edition of the Tyne Tees Television current affairs programme ‘Briefing’ on the devastating fire which hit York Minister on the night of the 9th July 1984. Presenter Ian Breach speaks with those connected to the fire about what happened and the damaged caused. With Christmas approaching, Ian also speaks with many of the clergy and craftsmen about the work that has already been to restore the minster to its original glory. Title: Tyne Tees Briefing Special The Choir of Yorkminster practicing a seasonal carol inside the minster itself changes to a montage of exterior views of the building featuring the roof. Title: It Will Rise Again With the choir continues to perform inside the minster more exterior views of the building from ground level with presenter Ian Breach looking up at it. With the carol coming to an end Ian introducing this special edition about ‘one tragic night in July this year’ and the devastating fire that caused significant damage to the minsters and the work that is continuing to undo the damage. ITN news report from that the 9th July 1984 on the night of the blaze with fire crews battling the flames and part of the roof in the south transept collapsing. From a Tony Cook Tyne Tees Television Northern Life regional news report photographs of the fire taken by teenager Nicholas Hilton-Scott and local resident Philip Bowman speaking about the fire the following day. Inside the minsters the smoking remains of the south transept roof with flames still burning a timber. The Minster Chancellor Cannon John Toy stands with Treasurer Cannon Ralph looking over the devastation and talking about how he first became aware of the fire. Cannon Mayland talks about his and other senior clergy work to help save some of the minster’s treasures before they were lost to the fire. An aerial of the minster and the destroyed south transept taken from the ITN report and firemen inside the minister damping down the remains. Standing outside with scaffolding surrounding the south gable Andrew Simpson Senior Fire Prevention Officer for North Yorkshire Fire Brigade remembers the night of the fire and the work done by the crews to stop the fire spreading further than it did. Wearing a hardhat and standing inside the minster with working going on around him, Cannon Ralph Mayland recount entering the minster during the fire to assess the south transept and then to retrieve as may items as could be rescued. Standing on scaffolding beside one of the minsters-stained glass windows Peter Gibson Superintendent of the York Glaziers’ Trust and Bob Littlewood Superintendent of Works in his office both remember their first impressions of the damage done to the minster. In daylight the true scale of the damage to the south transept with tape covering the remains of the roofing timbers as well as the charred Rose Window above. From another Tony Cook report for Northern Life dated 31st July 1984 a fire brigade press conference and interview with North Yorkshire Deputy Chief Fire Officer Stan Philips who providing details on the cause of the fire which he believes was most likely caused by lightening as well as a non-functional fire detection system. A selection of newspaper headlines relating to the fire changes to Derek Phillips Minster Archaeologist explaining the disastrous effect of the fire on the minister roof. As Derek Philips provides details photographs of the roof both before and after the fire help illustrate his points. Back outside Andrew Simpson is asked if the fire brigade saved as much of the minster as they could have done? He believes so and says the decision to deliberately collapse the south transept roof probably prevented the fire from spreading. As Derek Philips concurs with this decision, he explains that remarkably it caused minimal damage to the structure of the south transept itself. As he talks a montage of black and white images of the south transept following the fire. Ian Breach asks the questions architecturally what are the implications of the fire? As Derek provides a detailed history on both the vault and roof, both now lost, architectural drawing if said structures help illustrate his points. In his office Bob Littlewood Superintendent of Works talks about getting to work immediately to clear the debris and to stop the weather penetrating the rest of the cathedral. As he continues to speak from inside the south transept the great archway now sealed with plastic sheeting and scaffolding erected around both the inside and outside the south gable. Laying in the ground masonry from the gable that had collapsed due to the heat of the fire. In a line against a wall a series of carved stone figures is followed a several burned roof bosses all of which were installed only five years earlier as part of another restoration project. Another Tony Cook news report for Northern Life dated 8th August 1984 on fire damage to the minsters Rose Window. Peter Gibson and a colleague begin the work of removing the glass sections to begin the restoration work, he is interviewed from the scaffolding with regards the fire cracks in the glass plus damage done to the lead soldering around it. On the roof of the south transept contractors installing a temporary metal frame roof while on the ground visitors watch the work going on from behind a metal grill. Standing beside a plan of the minster Derek Phillips explains to Ian Breach one of the side-effects of the fire was the flooding of the undercroft or crypt. Using the plan Derek explains the importance of the undercroft to the minster and its history. Standing in the undercroft itself is Margaret Hanson Assistant Archaeologist who talks about the damage caused by the water and the problems of getting the remains of it out. A woman carrying documents comes down a set of steps beside a temporary ventilation system which is being used to remove the damp. Margaret Hanson points out some of the treasures in the undercroft that were not damaged, but describes efforts to remove a water damaged carpet which, if not removed, would have caused problems and potential damage to some of the undercroft’s historic plasterwork. Derek Phillips talks about the work to be done to restore the undercroft or potentially look at presenting it a new. The temporary roof in place in the south transept changes to Cannon Ralph Mayland talking about the overwhelming response to the York Minster Appeal Fund. As Cannon Mayland talks about support coming from across the world as well as from children, a montage featuring some of the said letters from countries such as the United States of America, Australia and France as well as children who have raised money for the appeal. Inside St Williams College an exhibition of photographs relating to the fire plus a display board containing some of the letters of support received. With Christmas approaching Cannon Ralph Mayland provides details of what has been achieved so far in the restoration. As he provides details the temporary roof and a working platform inside it where work to replace the roof will take place. Scaffolding has also been completed around the south gable. In a workshop Ian Breach stands next to stonemason Geoff Butler as he works on a reconstruction of stiff leaf foliage for the south gable. Nearby a second stonemason working on another piece. Geoff, explains Ian, is one of fifty-three people working on the care and maintenance of York Minster. Another mason uses a photograph to help him while working with hammer and chisel to recreate another stone section. On the roof some of the masonry being fixed into position on the south gable. Ian Breach asks Bob Littlewood about issues with the supply of stone and timber, as he speaks a delivery of stone being unloaded from a lorry. Bob explains he is currently travelling the country looking at oak trees that have been offered to see if they are suitable for the minster roof. Derek Phillips provides details on the work done to catalogue and sub-divide the burned roof timbers to create a comprehensive picture of the way both the roof and vault was build. This, he explains will help facilitate reconstruction. A montage of architectural plans and photographs of the fire are used to help illustrate Derek’s comments. On College Green with York Minister and sundial behind him, Ian Breach explains that York is a city of great optimism, and the fire has done nothing to dent that sense of confidence. Dedication and commitment of the craftsmen and the whole world of sympathy and support means it will, in the words of the Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie, ‘rise again’. Ian looks back up at the minster behind him while inside the Choir of Yorkminster begin to sing ‘Away in a Manger’. Over the closing credits a montage of exterior views of the minster including from the city walls. Credit: Presenter Ian Breach Film Camera Dave Dixon, Richard Edwards, Eddie Crooks, Fred Crone Film Sound Bob Rhodes, Ian Richardson, Ed Gray Research Gillian Firth Associate Producer Alex Murchie Film Editor Peter Telford Directors Rob Cowley, Bernard Preston, Garth Price, Geoff Wonfor Producer Bob Farnworth End title: Tyne Tees. © Tyne Tees Television Ltd MCMLXXXIV