York Handmade Brick Company, based at Alne, near Easingwold, has supplied 17,000 specially manufactured bricks for the new York Minster Centre of Excellence, a world class campus facility for research, education and training in traditional craft skills.
This significant contract was worth £15,000 to York Handmade.
The £8.5m centre, based in the York Minster Precinct, will bring benefits including continuing the craft of stonemasonry and encouraging global learning and knowledge sharing. It will also preserve ancient craft skills for future generations, as well as being a shining example of best practice in managing complex heritage estates.
Utilising world-class, cutting-edge technology, it will also support young people in the early stages of their careers and provide dedicated residential facilities for first-year apprentices.
The Centre of Excellence will also position the Minster as leading the charge for the preservation of ancient craft skills on the international stage, facilitating knowledge sharing and exchange programmes with leading cathedrals worldwide, including Washington, Milan and Trondheim.
Guy Armitage, the managing director of York Handmade, said: “This was a tremendous project with which to be involved, and we are very proud to be associated with it. It is such a forward-thinking facility that will safeguard skills in the city of York to preserve the heritage of York Minster for the future.”
Alex McCallion, the Director of Works and Precinct at York Minster, explained: “The Centre of Excellence was completed in November 2024 and is now fully operational. The Centre will be officially opened later this year and we are hosting a special heritage day on August 2 for members of the public to visit the buildings.
“The creation of a Centre of Excellence will not only enable the preservation and development of the ancient craft skills that have sustained the Minster over the centuries but will also secure a sustainable future for it, our visitors and the communities that we serve.
“York Handmade’s bricks were used in the construction of the ancillary building which houses the plant room, gardeners’ store and LEV system. We have used their bricks many times in projects throughout the Minster Precinct.
“The use of York Handmade on this project ensured we secured support from our own Fabric Advisory Committee and York’s Conservation Officer when discharging the conditions around material. We are delighted with the result.”
The vision for the Centre of Excellence is a key element of the adopted York Minster Precinct Neighbourhood Plan which sets out a policy-led approach to creating a sustainable future for the Minster and its seven-hectare estate.
Guy Armitage added: “We have recently invested £1.5 million in brand-new machinery which has transformed how we make our bricks. Over the years, we have undertaken significant technological improvements, culminating in this overhaul and renewal of our manufacturing process, which has speeded up production, facilitated two brand-new products and increased efficiency.
“This investment will enable us to manufacture high-quality, UK-made bricks for many years to come and it reflects our commitment to the brick industry and the astounding architectural projects using bricks.”
