10 
JOHN BROWNE. 
alive with good anecdotes. To persons of tastes similar to his 
own he was ever a delightful companion, and his excellent memor}^ 
served him well in discussion. His erect and commanding figure 
was conspicuous. In his later days he was the teacher of drawing 
at the Mechanics’ Institute in St. Saviourgate. He drew on the 
blackboard his subjects, and these were copied by the pupils on 
slates and paper. He regularly wandered to the Minster to sell 
his instructive guide and to talk to strangers about the noble 
edifice, of which he was never tired. When sitting in the Minster 
he placed a piece of wood under each foot to protect them from 
the cold stone pavement. He died in 1877 at the age of 85, and 
was buried in the cemeter3c A sister, Mrs. Cattle, lived to be 
above 100. His eldest son, William Gill, was I understand, 
apprenticed to Keux, the well known engraver, and helped his 
father with the etchings for the History. I think he died during 
his father’s lifetime. Another son, Henr}^, was a photographer at 
21 Blake Street, and did a number of photographs of the Minster, 
amongst which may be mentioned the three upper panels of the 
Bellfounders’ Window. He joined the York Rifles, becoming 
Colour-Master Sergeant. This son died recentl3c 
John Browne was a real York worth3c He was born and bred 
and worked in the cit3" all his life, educating his fellows- to 
appreciate the beauty of the artistic hand-work of the old men of 
York. Their work in the Minster reached a high state of excellence; 
it is an inspiration, incentive, and challenge to the sons of York 
to preserve their high ideals b3" always doing their best. Although 
there is no tablet to his memor3^ his life was not spent in vain. 
