ONLOOKERS were taken by surprise when city dignitaries solemnly followed an open cart with a single block of stone pulled by two horses through the centre of York.

The Lord Mayor of York, Coun Sue Galloway, the civic party and members of several of the city’s guilds accompanied the stone from the Mansion House to the newly-constructed Mason’s Lodge outside York Minster where the Dean of York, the Very Rev Keith Jones, was waiting to bless it.

They were marking the opening of the lodge which gives visitors the chance to see traditional masonry skills as stonemasons and carvers work on stones which will be used in maintaining and repairing the cathedral.

In recognition of the centuries-old techniques used by the craftsmen, the organisers had used only traditional mediaeval transport for the stone’s journey by water and land to the Minster. After it is prepared, it will become part of the cathedral.

The Dean said: “York Minster is a building largely made by hand, whatever brilliant scientific help we have; and now we can show everyone just how every stone is designed, worked and cherished by human skill to the glory of God.

“This is a step forward in the fulfillment of our wish to put the skills associated with the Minster on public display and to provide another attraction for York’s visitors.”

The stone was brought by boat up the River Ouse to the Guildhall, where it was loaded on to the cart before being taken in procession down Stonegate and Minster Yard into Deangate.

The procession included representatives from the Companies of Merchant Adventurers and Merchant Taylors, and the Guilds of Building, Butchers, Cordwainers, Freeman and Scriveners.