Forty years after a catastrophic fire tore through the South Transept of York Minster, cutting-edge technology is now being tested to show how disaster response has evolved—and how it could transform the future of heritage conservation.
On 9 July 1984, a lightning strike is believed to have ignited the blaze that severely damaged one of England’s most iconic cathedrals. In the aftermath, emergency responders had to navigate dangerous conditions without the aid of modern tools. Today, in partnership with Historic England, York Minster has welcomed a geospatial survey team showcasing how robotic technologies might lead the charge in a future crisis.
Among the new tools are a flying drone and a robot dog named Spot. Created by Boston Dynamics and operated by Historic England, Spot can walk up stairs, handle rubble, and even recover balance if knocked over. Most importantly, it can be remotely piloted into hazardous areas, transmitting real-time data without risking human lives.
Spot is equipped with a laser scanner that captures millions of data points, allowing detailed three-dimensional modelling of a structure’s interior. This capability would be crucial in a situation like the 1984 fire, where structural stability and limited visibility posed enormous challenges. Aerial drones add to this toolkit by accessing areas that would previously have required extensive scaffolding or been entirely unreachable.
“When disaster strikes a historic building, every minute counts,” said Jon Bedford, Principal Geospatial Surveyor at Historic England. “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.”
The demonstration at York Minster also highlights the growing role of innovation in long-term conservation efforts. Laura Cotter, Research and Innovation Manager at the York Minster Fund, has travelled internationally to explore how heritage organisations are integrating technology. Her team now operates out of the cathedral’s newly established Centre of Excellence for Heritage Craft Skills and Estate Management, which includes advanced CNC stone-cutting machinery, 3D modelling tools, and a state-of-the-art conferencing suite.
Cotter noted how her visit to Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, just weeks after its 2019 fire, underscored the global shift toward robotic assistance.
“During a visit to Notre Dame in 2019, only 9 weeks after the fire, I saw robots being utilised to move debris from beneath the fallen tower,” she said. “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.
“The 1984 fire caused the rose window to shatter into 40,000 pieces and took four years to access and repair. Without extensive scaffolding, we still do not have the ability to access the rose window to monitor how the repairs are performing.
“It is incredibly difficult to reach this area, even with modern drone technology, without putting the Minster’s precious medieval glass at risk of collision. Technology will continue to advance, and it will change the way heritage buildings are monitored and maintained around the world.”
The collaboration between Historic England and York Minster offers a glimpse into the future of heritage protection—one where precision robotics and digital imaging may become as essential as scaffolding and stone tools once were. For medieval sites across the globe, this technology may soon prove vital in both responding to crisis and preserving the past.
Top Image: Historic England Geospatial team piloting a mobile robot and flying drone inside York Minster. © Joseph Priestley (Chapter of York)
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