York Minster included in Royal Mail’s A-Z of UK Landmarks stamp series

 

I attended a reception in the House of Lords today to celebrate 26 special issue stamps released by Royal Mail.  The stamps feature memorable destinations from around the UK, one of which is York Minster.

 

The series, featuring landmarks from A-L, was launched in October 2011, and concluded in April 2012 with stamps representing landmarks from M-Z.  The issue celebrates some of the country’s most famous tourist attractions.

 

York Minster is a spectacular gothic cathedral and one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe.  It is understood to date as far back as 627, when a wooden structure was built to baptise Edwin, King of Northumbria.  The existing Minster dates back to the 13th century.  Initial building began in 1220 but it was not fully completed until 1407.  The Great East Window, one of its main attractions, is the largest expanse of medieval stained glass in the world.  York Minster attracts 900,000 visitors a year.  Other landmarks featured in the series include Stirling Castle, the Tyne Bridge and the White Cliffs of Dover.

 

I am very happy that Royal Mail have chosen York Minster to be on one of their special stamps.

 

Photo: Hugh Bayley with an enlarged version of the York Minster stamp.