Master's Weekend in York - Friday 12 to Sunday 14 June 2026
Twenty-four Scriveners travelled to York recently for the Master’s weekend.
An informal Italian meal in the Assembly Rooms kicked off the weekend on Friday. This was the first neo-classical building outside Italy and was based on a design for an Egyptian Hall, illustrated in Palladio’s famous books, I Quattro Libri, of 1570. Fully completed in 1735, the main ballroom features 44 magnificent columns of stone and stucco (moulded plaster decorations), supporting an upper storey decorated with pilasters.
Saturday was a packed day with a walking tour of the city during the morning, led by Liz McNeil, a Merchant Taylor of York and John May OBE, a Past Master Cordwainer of York. We learnt about the great sweep of history on which York is built. We heard about the people who formed and built the city, as well as seeing many of the historic buildings and places. We were stopping for lunch at the Duke of York pub near the Shambles and arrived to find #MorrisDancing and #StickDancing outside. It felt like it had been put on just for us, but we understand that it’s a regular dancing spot.
A tour of York Minster was led by Tim, who is a specialist in medieval stained glass, so it was disappointing not to be able to get close to the east window because the Friends of York Minster were meeting in the Lady Chapel. However, there is a wonderful website (https://stainedglass-navigator.yorkglazierstrust.org/) which displays the windows in a detail that we could not have seen even if we stood in front of the window. Thanks to York Glaziers’ Trust, the York Minster Fund and National Lottery Heritage fund for providing this amazing resource.
There was significant smooching under the Heart of Yorkshire in the west end window, where tradition decrees that couples who kiss there will stay together forever. Couples in our group who have already reached their fourth and sixth decade together took advantage of the opportunity to ensure that they last the course!
Some people managed to fit in a stop for a cup of tea, while others dashed to bookshops, Harry Potter shops, cat shops and just for a wander before we were off to the Grand Boardroom of the Grand Hotel for dinner. Originally built in 1906 as a ‘Palace of Business’ for the North eastern Railway Company, its red brick and Portland stone façade, marble interiors and oak-panelled rooms reflect the prestige and ambition of the railway at the height of its power. We were delighted that seven York Scriveners, including the current Master and Clerk, joined us along with some personal guests of Scriveners.
On Sunday morning we were off to the Railway Museum. The very pleasant landscaping did not make up for the circuitous route now required to enter the museum, but inside there were wonders. Two people in the group were certain they had travelled on the Mallard in its heyday.
Rather than add another 5,000 steps to the day, everyone piled into the “Petit train touristique” to get back to the Minster for lunch in the Refectory. Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding and a couple more photos before departures for home. A grand Yorkshire weekend.
