York’s walls are spectacular. To live within their boundaries is something to brag about. There’s also no better way to see York than by walking its walls – affording views across most parts of the city. Few sights in York are lovelier than glimpsing the Minster through trees in Spring on the stretch of wall between Monk Bar and Bootham Bar.
York’s walls were first built by the Romans and some remains, such as the Multangular Tower, can still be seen. Successive settlement by Anglo-Saxons, Vikings and Normans saw the walls evolve: earth ramparts were expanded and new stretches added. Much of what remains is medieval, built for protection against Scottish raiders. York now has more miles of intact wall than any other city in England – roughly 2.5 miles in total.
The gateways through the defences in York are called ‘bars’. The name ‘bar’ has its origins in the bars, or simple gates, which were used to block the gateways to keep people out. Originally the bars were made of simple stone. Over the years they became increasingly more elaborate and complex. The bars also acted as control points and toll booths. People coming to York who were not residents or members of the various guilds had to pay tolls on items brought into the city. The gates were normally locked at 9pm and the keys were kept by the Mayor. The gates were not unlocked until 4am.
To find out more, pick a marker from the map above, or an item below, or just browse the list.
- York CastleYork Castle was originally a large fortified complex, comprising the keep of Clifford’s Tower, prisons ...
- Walmgate BarThis is the only gatehouse to retain its outer defensive barbican. The bar is largely ...
- Victoria BarLike Fishergate Bar, Victoria Bar is a secondary gateway amongst York’s walls. The current structure ...
- The Old BailleYork was one of the few cities in England that had two castles. The first ...
- St Mary’s TowerThis tower is part of the defences that surrounded St Mary’s Abbey, rather than York’s ...
- St Mary’s Abbey wallsThe walls along Marygate were built in 1266 as part of the defences for St ...
- St Mary’s AbbeyOriginally dedicated to St Olave in 1055, this Benedictine abbey was re-established shortly after William ...
- Roman CornerThe ruins of a small square tower and the top of a curving wall mark ...
- Red TowerThe Red Tower was built in 1490 by order of Henry VII. Controversially, the job ...
- Multangular TowerThe Roman Empire annexed Britain in 43AD. When the Romans arrived in York in 71AD ...
- Monk BarDating from the 14th century, this is the tallest and strongest of the four main ...
- Micklegate BarThis gatehouse was the traditional ceremonial entrance for royalty, who would typically approach the city ...
- Lendal TowerThis imposing tower was part of the medieval city’s river defences. A chain could be ...
- King’s ManorCurrently leased to the University of York, King’s Manor was built in 1270 as a ...
- JewburyJust outside the walls leading from Monk Bar to Layerthorpe was Jewbury, the site of ...
- Franciscan FriaryThe friary of York’s Franciscan monks, or Grey Friars, was located here, possibly adjacent to ...
- Fishergate Postern TowerThis tower was built between 1504 and 1507, replacing an earlier structure called Talkan Tower. ...
- Fishergate BarThis is one of the secondary gateways into the city. First recorded in 1315, the ...
- Dean’s ParkThis small, leafy park, along with the Minster and a number of surrounding buildings, were ...
- Bootham Bar Postern TowerResembling its sister building at Fishergate, it consists of a three storey tower, a portion ...
- Bootham BarBootham is a continuation of Petergate outside the city walls. There has been a gateway ...
- Barker TowerDating from the 14th century, this round tower, along with Lendal Tower on the bank ...
- Anglian TowerThe so-called Anglian Tower, only excavated in 1969, is a small, square tower, built into ...