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# ✨ Treasure Hoard: The Dragons on the Chapter House Door at York Minster
- URL: https://www.digest.andymarshall.co/treasure-hoard-the-dragons-on-the-chapter-house-door-at-york-minster/
- Published: 2026-09-02T17:53:17.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-02T17:53:17.000Z
- Description: The light is low, and as I look through the portal up towards the vaulting I see dragons. At the top of the open door that leads into the chapter house is the upward thrusting head of a dragon.
- Author: Andy  Marshall
- Tags: Treasure, dragon motif, door, chapter house, york minster, york, yorkshire, #treasure-87

**Inside the minster I'm tasked with photographing the chapter house. I walk around to the entrance and peep inside this marvel of Gothic architecture.** 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2024/03/York-Minster-Visit-One-27-3-1.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2024/03/IMG_0912-1.JPG)

The light is low, and as I look through the portal up towards the vaulting I see dragons. At the top of the open door that leads into the chapter house is the upward thrusting head of a dragon. 

I get my lights out and angle them to the side of the door. Instinctively I place them directly to the side of the door. I stand back and look up and I'm taken aback completely. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2024/03/YMT-200-1.jpg)

The 13th century door is full of life - like the life of the church - in its own flowstate, spiralling upwards with cusping and floral end-stops. I get the sense that this door is orchestrating my every move as my eyes follow the pattern onwards and upwards, until - there it is - the dragon: head turned upwards, like an outlet, as if needed to expunge my awe and wonder. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2024/03/IMG_0972-1.JPG)

It's a a piece of art that has the spectacle of Van Gogh's Starry Night - breathtaking in its rendition, full of telling and narrative. This place is illustrated like a book, there is intent behind each swag and swirl. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2024/03/York-Minster-Visit-One-27-1.jpg)

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Andy Marshall’s Treasure Hoard Gazetteer

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