‘Luminous’ at St Paul’s Cathedral by the amazing @luxmuralis.bsky.social - on until 28th Feb. Book tickets via St Paul’s website.

Created by @luxmuralis an artistic collaboration of Peter Walker, Sculptor & David Harper, Composer.

#luxmuralis #luminous #stpaulscathedral #london #lightandsound

For more information on the Hidden Minster Tours, check the @yorkminster.bsky.social website.

See previous posts for more information on the images from my tour last week

#yorkminster #history #heritage #york #medieval #architecture

Our guides Alison & Geoff on the @yorkminster.bsky.social ‘Chapter House & Mason’s Loft Tour’ were brilliant and so knowledgable.
If you’re in York, do check the website and book yourself into the tour. Your ticket gets you entry to the Minster for a whole year too.

#yorkminster #medieval #tour

Lastly you come into the most spectacular space, standing inside the amazing timber structure of the Chapter House Roof @yorkminster.bsky.social Photos really don’t do it justice, you have to see it to understand the sheer scale & skill of what they achieved.

#yorkminster #stonemasons #medieval

We got to walk across a section of the roof at @yorkminster.bsky.social and get some unique views of the architecture. The structure in the second image is the outside of the Chapter House Roof.
You get a close up view of some of the stone-carving from here too.

#yorkminster #stonemason #medieval

Next stop, up a hidden spiral staircase was the Mason’s Loft at @yorkminster.bsky.social to see the wooden templates used by the stonemasons, and the space where the designs were drawn out onto the floor.
They even had a self-flushing garderobe!

#yorkminster #stonemason #medieval

Yesterday I went on the Chapter House & Mason’s Loft Tour at @yorkminster.bsky.social and it was fantastic! A fascinating glimpse at some behind-the-scenes spaces, and unique views.
We started in the Chapter House, and then headed up into the hidden spaces above this beautiful ceiling #yorkminster

Just a stone’s throw away from University college where C.S. Lewis studied, and Magdalen where he was a fellow, these fawn carvings and lamp post in St. Mary’s Passage, Oxford are thought to have been the inspiration for ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’.

#oxford #cslewis #narnia

This 1495 gem of an illustration warns against vanity, with the tale of a young woman who spent too much time in front of the mirror, only to see the terrifying sight of the devil displaying his rear-end in the reflection.
Given by Marquard vom Stein to his daughters, Elsa & Jakobea.
#medievalwomen

It was great to see & smell historical scents recreated by the brilliant @tashamarks.bsky.social of AVM Curiosities at #MedievalWomen exhibition at @britishlibrary.bsky.social
It really brings history to life to read a ‘recipe’ and then smell that recreated!

#britishlibrary #historicalscents

I absolutely loved the Medieval Women exhibition at the @britishlibrary.bsky.social so many amazing manuscripts, objects, and fascinating stories, definitely worth a second visit.

#medievalwonen #manuscripts #britishlibrary

And a detail of the Fife Tiara, showing the wonderful cut and construction.

#tiara #jewels #jewellery #gemstones #historicjewels

This photo shows Princess Louise wearing the tiara.

The Fife Diamond Tiara
1887. Princess Louise, Queen Victoria's granddaughter, was given this tiara on her wedding day by her husband, the Duke of Fife. Designed by Parisian jeweller Oscar Massin, the pear shaped diamonds are 'swing-set' allowing them to move & catch the light when the tiara is worn.

Queen Victoria’s full emerald and diamond set, with parure (necklace, earrings and brooch) and tiara.

Queen Victoria's Emerald Tiara. 1845.

'Albert has such taste, & arranges everything for me about my jewels’
Victoria in her journal, 22nd February 1843.

Prince Albert worked closely with the Queen's Jeweller, Joseph Kitching, to design the tiara to match Victoria's emerald & diamond parure.

A photo of the beautiful Natural History Museum, with an appropriately blue sky, while I try to remember to post here rather than the other place…