It was, at the time, the worst disaster to befall a historic cathedral.
On the night of July 9, 1984, a catastrophic fire tore through the south transept of York Minister, leaving its roof a smouldering ruin.
But now, more than 40 years on, officials at the historic church have teamed up with heritage body Historic England to test out a robot dog that could be used if disaster were to strike again.
The ‘animal’, named Spot, can handle rough terrain and stairs and is even able to re-balance itself if knocked over.
It is fitted with a laser scanner that scans millions of points in its surroundings as it moves.
In the aftermath of a fire or similar catastrophe, the robot could be used to assess damage without needing to put people at risk.
Also used at the Minster in recent weeks were Historic England’s drones, which are fitted with remote cameras and laser scanning tools that can be used to examine high up areas that would be difficult to enter or see normally.
Previously, extensive scaffolding would have been needed to evaluate conditions high up, but a drone can do this in a matter of minutes.
‘Spot’ the robot dog has been put to the test at York Minster. It could be used to help assess damage in the aftermath of a disaster like the devastating fire that hit the cathedral in 1984
It is fitted with a laser scanner that scans millions of points in its surroundings as it moves
Spot is part of a range of mobile robots manufactured by US engineering firm Boston Dynamics.
The York Minster fire began when the roof was struck by lightning shortly before 2.30am.
In tackling the blaze, firemen had to haul hoses up the Minster’s narrow staircases.
Outside, a 100foot ladder and water drawn from the River Ouse were used to try to douse the fire before the roof fell in.
Amid fears that the fire could spread to the cathedral’s central tower or nave, firemen decided to direct a jet of water at the south transept’s roof to collapse it.
Once on the floor, the burning ruins of the structure were easily extinguished.
Firemen then worked in dense smoke to check that the nave, quire and central tower had been saved.
Amazingly, the Minster’s Rose Window survived, despite cracking in 40,000 places.
The York Minster fire began when the roof was struck by lightning shortly before 2.30am on July 9, 1984
The ‘animal’, named Spot, can handle rough terrain and stairs and is even able to re-balance itself if knocked over
Spot is part of a range of mobile robots manufactured by US engineering firm Boston Dynamics
A view of the laser scanning technology being used on a drone employed by Historic England inside York Minster
The drone can examine difficult or impossible places to reach inside the cathedral
The church was rebuilt over the next four years, using insurance money and public donations.
A re-dedication ceremony in 1988 was overseen by the Queen.
Jon Bedford, principal geospatial surveyor at Historic England, said: ‘Our robot dog and drones can quickly and safely enter potentially dangerous areas, giving us detailed 3D models and images of what’s happening inside.
‘Having used these tools in many varied high-risk environments, I’ve seen first-hand how they can navigate debris, climb stairs, and reach elevated structures that would normally require expensive and potentially risky methods of access.
‘This means we can make faster, better-informed decisions about protecting a heritage site.
‘Our drones and mobile robot, Spot, are tools that would have been invaluable during the 1984 fire.
‘They aren’t just clever gadgets – they’re helping us safeguard our heritage and keep people safe.’
Laura Cotter, research and innovation manager for York Minster Fund, the organisation that oversaw the fundraising campaign for the restoration 40 years ago, said: ‘During a visit to Notre Dame in 2019, only nine weeks after the fire, I saw robots being utilised to move debris from beneath the fallen tower.
Amid fears that the fire could spread to the cathedral’s central tower or nave, firemen decided to direct a jet of water at the south transept’s roof to collapse it. Once on the floor, the burning ruins of the structure were easily extinguished
The church was rebuilt over the next four years, using insurance money and public donations
‘The anniversary of the 1984 York Minster fire highlighted to me the lengths people went to rescue the Minster’s fabric and contents without robotic assistance.
‘I considered what innovations in technology could be utilised today to capture vital data, in unpredictable and hazardous conditions, to inform repair priorities and approaches.’
She added: ‘Technology will continue to advance, and it will change the way heritage buildings are monitored and maintained around the world.’
The efforts to rebuild York Minister’s south transept inspired the work to restore Paris’s Notre Dame cathedral to its former glory after the devastating fire in 2019.
The damage done to Notre Dame was much more severe than what York Minister faced.
Reconstruction efforts, which were completed late last year, involved more than 250 companies and thousands of workers.
