Coat of Arms once again fit for a King

Charles I, the King who was executed in 1649, made two visits to King’s Manor, now part of the University of York, in 1633 and 1639.

Professor Sir Ron Cooke, a former Vice-Chancellor of the university, said: “Reinvigorate York (a scheme set up to revitalise the city) has been encouraging organisations in York to contribute towards the improvement of the quality of the public realm in the city centre.

“The restoration of the unique Charles I coat of arms is a remarkable and successful achievement. It will add to the pleasures of our townscape for decades to come, and is a real credit to the university’s commitment to both the city centre and to the exceptionally fine buildings of the King’s Manor.”

The King’s Manor was originally the Abbot’s House of St Mary’s Abbey.

When the abbey was dissolved in 1539, Henry VIII ordered it to be the seat of the Council of the North.

It performed this role until the council was abolished in 1641. Henry VIII and James I also stayed there. It is now the home of the university’s Centre for Medieval Studies and Department of Archaeology.

The coat of arms, with its lion, unicorn, fleur-de-lis and harp, representing France, England, Scotland and Ireland, was conserved in two phases in 2012 and last year. The work was carried out by Hirst Conservation on behalf of the university and builds on earlier restoration work by the York Civic Trust in 1972.

The old paint was removed, stonework repaired and heraldic colours applied to the coat of arms which was regilded using 23¾ carat gold.

York Civic Trust chairman Peter Addyman said: “The restored coat of arms looks fabulous and is an excellent example of modern conservation in practice.”