Medieval York - The Power and the Glory

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Enter the world of Medieval York

Stained glass from St Mary's Abbey

This atmospheric exhibition, set amongst the ruins of a medieval abbey and glowing with the colour of stained glass, evokes the wealth, power and craftsmanship of a key era in York’s history.

The gallery – which houses objects from Anglian York to the time of Henry VIII - can be enjoyed simply as a beautiful visual experience or by choosing one of several tours on different subjects.

These include a family leaflet tour on the Vikings, an audio tour about the monks of the abbey, a graphic novel on the theme of power, videos about technology and trade, or a guided tour about our greatest treasures.

The Inheritance

After a sneak preview of "the Treasury" which lies ahead, the first big display we see is the York Helmet and the Cawood Sword, two finds made in York from the pre-Viking and early-Viking times. These amazing artefacts combine the cutting edge technology and craftsmanship of the time with ancestral traits.

Power and Religion

The four abbey statues

Round the corner a full view down the gallery is revealed through the arches of St Mary’s Abbey with four stone abbey statues standing beyond. More of the ruins outside can be seen through a full-length window.

Stained glass panels from Wakefield Cathedral are mounted in the recently uncovered windows and smaller pieces depicting the coats of arms of powerful families are backlit at the opposite end of the gallery.

For the first time, pieces of the 1330 shrine to St William of York can be seen reconstructed, surrounded by objects that pilgrims would have brought to York Minster.

The Treasury

This room shows off the museum's "crown jewels", spectacular pieces of Viking and medieval gold and silver treasure, including the Vale of York Viking Hoard, the Middleham Jewel and the Ormside Bowl.

Here there are also four pieces of rare medieval stained glass from St Denis' Cathedral in Paris which have never been displayed in the museum before. Don’t miss this feast for the eyes.

Trade and Industry

The Vale of York Viking Hoard is now on display.

We find out more about how craftspeople created these treasures and a host of more everyday items in a fascinating display of stained glass, leather, pottery, bone, amber, combs and tools – all showing how well York's moist ground has preserved these materials for archaeologists.

We are then shown how much York was trading with other countries in another display, with examples including a silk cap from Iran, Limoges panels from France and brooches from the continent.

A second shrine

As we leave the gallery, a second, later, shrine to St William has been reconstructed dating back to the 15th Century. It was taken down during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, which marked the end of an era.