YORK, England, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- A medieval window from one of England's most historic cathedrals narrowly escaped a fire that broke out in the stoneyard where it was being repaired.
The Great East Window in York Minster, which dates from the early 15th century, is 76 feet high and the largest medieval stained-glass window known.
The window's panels were hastily moved from the stoneyard during the fire Wednesday, the Yorkshire Post reported. They were immediately under the offices where the fire, believed to have been caused by an electrical problem, was burning.
Canon Glyn Webster said that when the woman fire officer in charge at the scene realized the window was at risk "her stomach turned over."
"When we took it out we just leaned it against walls or benches," he said. "We had to hurry because the fire service was very bothered the ceiling would collapse."
On New Year's Day, Webster and a team of glaziers began moving the 311 glass panels into a temporary storage place in a chapel in the cathedral.
Restoration of the east window began in 2008. The project involves re-leading and repainting each panel.
