InfoBritain

York Minster

York Minster could be visited for a number of reasons. One of those reasons might not obviously include geological history, but York Minster is the site of a revolutionary turning point in the history of geology. In the 1790s a mining surveyor named William Smith was observing through his work how rock sits in layers, and how different layers possess characteristic fossils. He began to think that the layers, or strata, were formed at different times, and might provide a record of earth history. Unless land had been disturbed by violent geological forces, rock layers would become progressively older the deeper they sat in the earth. It was the view provided by York Minster tower that finally allowed Smith to confirm this theory. Looking out from the tower in 1794 he realised that British rocks are tipped towards the south east. Forces of erosion would generally flatten out this tipped landscape, revealing older rocks in raised western areas and younger rocks in lower land in the east. Smith could see a great swathe of land from the top of York Minster tower, and with his geographical knowledge, he realised the rocks were getting older as he looked northwest. Smith then went on to create the first geological map of Britain which was finally published in 1815. It is a great irony of history that a cathedral tower, an expression of a school of thought which saw the world as unchanging, should provide the view that allowed William Smith to confirm that the world is changing all the time.

Opening Times: The tower at York Minster is open every day, except Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and in severe weather. It is open from 9.30am - 5 pm Monday to Saturday and 12.30pm to 5pm on Sunday. During July and August the tower is open to admissions until 6pm and from November to March opening is from 10am to thirty minutes before dusk. Children under eight are not allowed and children under sixteen must be accompanied.

Directions: York Minster is in the centre of York close to the A19. Click here for an interactive map centred on York Minster.

Access: wheelchair access to the Cathedral is good, but there is no access to the tower. There is a Touch and Hearing Centre, and a Braille guide.

Contact:

telephone: +44 (0) 1904 557216

e-mail: visitors@yorkminster.org

web: www.yorkminster.org

 

William Smith's geological map of Britain