Thousands of bricks in the wall for education, research and training centre

York Handmade Brick Company has helped create the new York Minster Centre of Excellence.

The firm based at Alne, near Easingwold, was hired to supply 17,000 bricks for the centre, which is a campus facility for research, education and training in traditional craft skills.

The £8.5m centre, based in the York Minster Precinct, will bring benefits including continuing the craft of stonemasonry and encouraging global learning and knowledge sharing.

It will also preserve ancient craft skills for future generations, as well as demonstrate how to manage complex heritage estates.

Guy Armitage, managing director of York Handmade, said: “This was a tremendous project with which to be involved, and we are very proud to be associated with it.

“It is such a forward-thinking facility that will safeguard skills in the city of York to preserve the heritage of York Minster for the future.”

Alex McCallion, director of works and precinct at York Minster, explained: “The centre will be officially opened later this year and we are hosting a special heritage day on 2 August for members of the public to visit the buildings.

“The creation of a Centre of Excellence will not only enable the preservation and development of the ancient craft skills that have sustained the Minster over the centuries but will also secure a sustainable future for it, our visitors and the communities that we serve.

“York Handmade’s bricks were used in the construction of the ancillary building which houses the plant room, gardeners’ store and LEV system. We have used their bricks many times in projects throughout the Minster Precinct.

Armitage added: “We have recently invested £1.5m in new machinery which has transformed how we make our bricks.

“Over the years, we have undertaken significant technological improvements, culminating in this overhaul and renewal of our manufacturing process, which has speeded up production, facilitated two brand-new products and increased efficiency.

“This investment will enable us to manufacture high-quality, UK-made bricks for many years to come and it reflects our commitment to the brick industry and the astounding architectural projects using bricks.”