Rare Antique Victorian York Minster Rescued Relic Oak Book Slide Minster Fire Of 1840
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A Rare Antique Victorian York Minster Oak Book Slide. A Relic Rescued From The Minster Fire Of 1840.
It is a beautiful piece of work in its own right. Wonderfully crafted from oak with a lovely patina and with a carving of the York Minster crest at either end. To the underside is some text which reads “A relic of York Minster from the Nettleships 4 Blake St York”.
I was sure that it related to one of the Minster fires, as there has been a few, firstly in 1753, then in 1829, again in 1840 and finally, in 1984. But which one...?
While conducting my research, I stumbled across another piece online, a tea caddy, which happened to have the exact same text on it. But in addition to this text, it had a date, and that date was 20th May 1840. Please see last photo for comparison with that piece.
York Minster was burnt down on 20th May 1840 (the same date as that on the caddy), when a clockmaker from Leeds, William Grove, had been carrying out repairs in the South West Tower. When he had finished for the night he had left a lit candle, which caused the fire in the belfry of the South West Tower and the Nave. The roof and vaulting were destroyed.
Thankfully shortly before this fire, a record of the boss designs within the vaulting had been made. Therefore it was possible to return this part of the minster to how it had been before the fire.
Records show that at the time of this fire, a Joseph Munby (clerk to the magistrates) was at 4 Blake Street (the address on my piece) as “Fire & Life Offices” “Eagle Life”.
In 1877, Joseph Munby is recorded as contributing half of £1,500 to the church in Osbaldwick, about two miles East of York, where the pulpit was a piece of ancient oak work, formerly of York Minster.
When you compare the text on this piece and the tea caddy that I’ve mentioned, it definitely matches. Whilst this piece doesn’t have a date on it, it’s safe to say that it’s from the same period as the tea caddy and was almost certainly rescued from the great fire at York Minster on 20th May 1840.
Condition is good, commensurate with age. Structurally sound and functions well.
Measures 34.3cm x 13.5cm x 1cm