Barker Tower

Dating from the 14th century, this round tower, along with Lendal Tower on the bank opposite, would have controlled river-based access to the city. A chain was slung across the river and loaded boats were charged four pennies to enter York. Its name was derived from the ‘barkers’ who would extract tannin from oak bark in order to turn leather brown. Tanner Row is a nearby street, suggesting this area was the location of tanner and leather industries in the Middle Ages.