Photo of the collapsed Roman column as found by archaeologists beneath the Minster

Opposite the south door of York Minster there stands a great Roman column nearly 8m high. It was found by archaeologists digging in 1967 - 72 underneath the Minster tower. The column had originally been one of sixteen supporting the roof of York's greatest Roman building, the basilica of the fortress headquarters. The basilica was about 70m long and stood as high, perhaps, as the Minster nave. This is where a legionary commander, or even an emperor, could address his troops and it is quite likely that in this very hall Constantine the Great was proclaimed Emperor in the year 306. In the Minster Undercroft you can see the base of another column still in its original position along with other finds from the excavations.