\n Twelve sculptures will form the new Watchers of York trail being launched by Make It York on Monday, June 29.\n<\/p>\n
\n The York tourism company has unveiled its first \u201cstone guardian\u201d, the Watcher of York, which will be located near the Minster.\n<\/p>\n
\n The first Watcher of York sculpture which will be located next to York Minster (Image: Alex Dyett)\n<\/p>\n
\n A Make it York spokesperson said each Watcher, on show until Monday, August 31, will have its \u201cown personality and guardianship\u201d.\n<\/p>\n
\n Each Watcher, they said, will have a connection to a different part of York. “Some watch over hidden corners, some over green spaces and waterways, while others keep an eye on the movement of people through York’s historic streets.”\n<\/p>\n
\n The sculpture near the Minster \u201cremains close to its ancient home, keeping watch over the city that inspired them all\u201d, the Make It York spokesperson said.\n<\/p>\n
\n Each sculpture has been inspired by York Minster’s medieval stone carvings and developed alongside the ancient cathedral.\n<\/p>\n
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\n The four-foot-tall sculptures have been designed using detailed digital renders of historic stone figures on the Minster.\n<\/p>\n
\n One of the original sources for the Watcher character is a medieval carving of a wyvern \u2013 a mythical dragon-like creature\u00a0\u2013 located on the South Quire of York Minster, dating from around 1400.\n<\/p>\n
\n Make it York said the team was encouraged to create the sculptures based on how the wyvern models look today, rather than their original design.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cThis approach reflects the conservation philosophy used by York Minster’s stonemasonry team, where original carvings are repaired and consolidated wherever possible rather than replaced entirely,\u201d the Make it York spokesperson said.\n<\/p>\n