Walls & Gates of York, England

Monk Bar was primarily built in the 14th Century, however the top storey was added in 1484. When it was first built it had a gated barbican and a roofless walled enclosure, similar to Walmgate, however this was unfortunately removed in 1825. This meant that to enter the city, you would pass through the first gate and stay in this enclosure until you were allowed to proceed into the city.  Once inside you could not escape, you were either allowed through or taken away.

Monk Bar contains a gateway with portcullis, which still remains in place.  It also has a series of ‘murder holes’ overhead, these allowed missiles to be dropped onto any attackers. 

Monk Bar has also been used in more recent times as a temporary prison and police house.  It still retains two of its medieval toilets, or garderobes.  The figures on top of the bar represent men hurling boulders down in protection of the city.  The Bar now contains a small museum called the Richard III Experience.

Walmgate is the most complete and possibly least known Bar in York.  It still contains its defensive barbican, portcullis and oak doors but most importantly it has not been made smaller but is still its original size, making it easier for the viewer to understand how it worked to keep the city safe. It is the only town gate in England to still contain its barbican.

Fishergate Postern Tower is a 14th Century archway, with a 16th Century tower.  The original medieval tower would have stood on the banks of the River Foss, the current tower is its replacement.  The roof dates from the 17th Century.

There has been a walled defence around York since AD71, when the Roman 9th Legion arrived here. Early defences were simply soil dug out of the defensive ditch, which was piled up to form an earthen rampart and timber palisade. In the 3rd Century the palisade was replaced by a stone wall.  

In the mid-13th Century, the city was authorised to impose a ‘Murage tax’ on goods brought into York, in order to raise funds for the building and upkeep of the city’s walls.  

The medieval city walls had 4 main gates or bars, these are Bootham Bar, Monk Bar, Walmgate Bar and Micklegate Bar.  There were also six postern or smaller gates and these were protected by 33 towers.  The defensive wall’s perimeter was over 2 miles long. 

By the late 18th Century the walls were in a state of disrepair and the Corporation of York applied for an Act of Parliament to demolish them. The walls were a hindrance to the city’s expansion and many other cities, like London, had demolished their medieval walls.  York did lose some of its walls at this time but the opposition from citizens stopped the worst of the damage.