Pockets of Light was a series of new lighting designs created especially for a number of key historical buildings, as part of the Illuminating York event. The Society of Light and Lighting has worked with schools around York to create this and other displays. This display was a slowly changing kaleidoscope of colour.
This building is the undercroft of St Leonards Hospital. The ruins of St. Leonards Hospital only hint at the significance of the Hospital in medieval York. Founded soon after the Norman Conquest (around 1137AD), it was believed to be the largest medieval hospital in the north of England.
Overall, the main function of a medieval hospital was to care for the sick, the poor, the old and the infirm. Nurses performed acts of care which included cleaning, feeding, clothing and housing the sick, however medieval men and women also had their spiritual health to contend with.
At first glance the remains of St. Leonards looks like the ruins of an old church and to an extent this is true. Religion was very dominant in the middle ages. In return for following the Church’s recommended way of living, religion promised medieval folk the joy of being sent straight to Heaven. The sick were not allowed to be treated for any physical illness until they had confessed all their sins and as a result have their soul cleansed. The daily routine of the hospital included religious rituals like regular prayers.
The hospital lasted until Henry VII and the dissolution of the monasteries. The destruction that followed left York without a hospital for some 200 years, when a hospital was built on another site in 1740.
Beautiful shot. I love the arches and colours. There is a group in Sydney called Bach in the Dark. They play in the Crypt at St James Church in the CBD. It looks very similar inside. FAV
I was pleased and surprised to the very positive response to this shot - thank you all for your comments and favs.
It was nice to see this building being used as part of Illuminating York. It is normally a rather neglected and hidden away feature of York's history.
Ian
Thank you all for your lovely comments and favs. It's fascinating to see which of these Illuminating York shots generate the most interest.
Ian