York Minster Library

York Minster Library is the largest cathedral library in the country, with a collection of approximately 120,000 books, tracts and pamphlets. Over 25,000 of these were printed before 1801, including 115 incunables. The original Minster Library was started c. A.D. 750, under the impetus of successive archbishops, especially Egbert and Albert, and of the Master of the School, Alcuin, who was in charge of the library c. 778-81. Unfortunately, nothing from these early collections survives today: what was not burnt by the Danes was destroyed by the Normans in 1069.

The present collection has its origins in 1414, when the Canon treasurer, John Newton, bequeathed 40 volumes of manuscripts to form a library. In 1629, the library developed from the then modest size of about 100 volumes, to a collection of national significance, with the gift of Archbishop Tobie Matthew’s (d. 1628) collection of some 3000 books. Further gifts and purchases have increased the Library to its current size.

The Minster Library is situated in Dean’s Park, on the North side of York Minster. The building which now contains the ‘Old Library’ and the Library’s loan collections was built c. 1230 by Archbishop Walter Gray as a private chapel for his York palace. This fell out of use in the sixteenth century and the derelict chapel was restored about 1810 to accommodate the Library, then comprising approximately 6000 volumes, which had outgrown its old quarters in the Minster. A major new extension, opened in 1998, contains a new reading room, a special collections room, an archive strong room, a conservation studio, and staff offices.

The ‘Old Library’ collections include incunables (works printed before 1501); early printed to eighteenth century books on theology and many subjects in the humanities; a significant collection of sermons and tracts dating from the seventeenth century; and pre-1801 liturgical works partly from the collections of the Reverend Dr Marmaduke Fothergill (d. 1731) and Canon T. F. Simmons (d. 1884).

The Yorkshire collections, now totalling some 20,000 books and pamphlets, incorporate the most comprehensive collection of earlier material for Yorkshire, with York and Yorkshire printing; Civil War tracts (c. 2000 items) mostly relating to York and Yorkshire; Yorkshire local history, mainly from the Edward Hailstone (d. 1890) and William Foot Walker (d. 1995) collections; Yorkshire acts, Yorkshire newspapers, and (as yet uncatalogued) playbills. The Yorkshire parish library collections include East Harlsey (c. 300 volumes), Hackness (c. 112 volumes), and Stainton in Cleveland (c. 300 volumes).

The largest archive collection is that of the Dean and Chapter’s own archive, c. 1150 to the present, and those of related bodies: the College of the Vicars Choral, c. 1200-1936, the Song School; the archaeological archive of excavations of the Minster from 1967 onwards.

The manuscript collection comprises: 101 mediaeval manuscripts, including theological, medical and liturgical works, particularly the Use of York from the Fothergill Collection. The post mediaeval collection is extensive and includes items in the Walbran and Hailstone collections. Non-manuscript materials include: maps and plans of Yorkshire; architectural plans of the Minster and its properties; and photographs, mainly Minster and York.

Music collections include manuscript and printed music, with some mediaeval liturgical music, mainly of the use of York. Otherwise, the collections date mainly from the sixteenth to the twentieth centuries, containing many rare items, such as the unique printed copy of Byrd’s Gradualia (1605), and manuscript and printed music by Purcell; the Minster choir repertoire from c. 1600 to the present day and compositions by Minster organists; collections given by Marmaduke Fothergill (includes manuscripts copied by Matthew Hutton (d. 1711)), William Priestly and Catherine Sharp.

Reader admission is through the Reader Enquiry Desk staff (Tel. 01904 625308). Prospective users of pre-1801 printed books, printed music, playbills, and printed topographical and biographical prints should make an appointment with the Librarian (Tel. 01904 625308). Prospective users of archives, manuscripts, manuscript music, photographs and microforms should make an appointment with the Archivist (Tel. 01904 611118). Wheelchair access is available.