Minster Woods is a small family business based in York, making handcrafted York Minster wood gifts and keepsakes from reclaimed historic timber.
Every piece we make comes from wood reclaimed from the South Transept of York Minster Cathedral — a building whose history dates to c1250 — following the devastating fire of 9th July 1984. The provenance of this wood is certified by the Superintendent of Works at York Minster at the time the wood was reclaimed, and each item comes with an original signed certificate of authenticity.
This is not wood you can simply go and buy. The supply is genuinely limited and irreplaceable. When it is gone, it is gone.
We are part of York and Beyond, a family business that has been sourcing and crafting items from historic materials since 2006. Our other sites — Brontë Woods and David Lloyd Tools — reflect the same values: quality materials, honest craftsmanship, and products made to last.
Every item is made by hand in York. Every item ships with a signed certificate. Every item carries a piece of history that no factory could ever replicate.
If you have any questions about our products or provenance or York Minster wood gifts, please do get in touch — we are always happy to talk about the story behind the wood.
You can find out more about York Minster and the 1984 fire at yorkminster.org.