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window was saved with very great difficulty.
Martin escaped
by ropes taken from the belfry, through the far window in
the north transept. He was shortly after taken at Hexham,
tried at York assizes, acquitted on the plea of insanity, and
died in New Bethlehem Hospital, London, in 1838.
The building was restored by national subscription at a
cost of £65,000, under the care of Sir Robert Smirke. The
timber and lead were given by the Government, and the
stone by Sir Edward Vavasour, from quarries on his
estate near Tadcaster. A new organ was presented by the
Earl of Scarborough, and the communion-plate by the Archbishop.
On May 6th, 1832, the Cathedral was opened
for public worship. On the 20th May, 1840, through the
carelessness of a workman, the building again suffered from
fire. The south-west bell-tower, together with the roof of the
nave, were entirely destroyed. A second subscription was
set on foot, and the damage repaired by Mr. Sidney Smirke,
at a cost of £23,000. In 1843, through the liberal bequest
of Dr. Beckwith, a new peal of bells costing £2000 was
placed in the south-west tower. In 1845, a* monster bell,
"Peter"—the largest but one in England—was purchased
by public subscription, and placed in the north-west tower,
which, it is said, is not strong enough to allow the bell to be
rung in the usual way.
In 1860, the organ on the screen was remodelled. In the
following year, the building was warmed by patent stoves,
the choir lighted with gas from the clerestory, and the chapterhouse
restored externally, at the cost of Dean Duncombe.
In 1863, the nave was fitted up with moveable benches,
choir-seats, and organ, and also lighted with gas in a similar
manner to the choir. In 1874, the south transept, the oldest
part of the building, was completely restored internally by
public subscription, costing £10,000.
The fiddler was removed from his turret in 1879, and the
whole of the facade of the south entrance renewed in
accordance with the original design, being completed in 1880.
The best exterior view of the Minster is to be had from the
City Walls, between Victoria Bar and the south-east bastion,
near Clementhorpe : the finest interior view is from the west
entrance, about half-way up the nave.