York City Walls 2000 years in 2 miles
MONK BAR
BOOTHAM BAR
YORK MINSTER
GROUNDS OF ST MARY’S ABBEY THE MULTANGULAR TOWER
LENDAL TOWER
BARLEY HALL
BARKERTOWER & NORTH STREET POSTERN
RAILWAY STATION
JORVIK MICKLEGATE BAR CLIFFORD’S TOWER
DAVY TOWER
VICTORIA BAR BAILE HILL
YORK CASTLE
MONK BAR
LAYERTHORPE POSTERN
DIG
THE RED TOWER
JORVIK
CLIFFORD’S TOWER WALMGATE BAR YORK CASTLE FISHERGATE POSTERNTOWER
FISHERGATE BAR
MONK BAR
BOOTHAM BAR
YORK MINSTER
GROUNDS OF ST MARY’S ABBEY THE MULTANGULAR TOWER
LENDAL TOWER
BARLEY HALL
LAYERTHORPE POSTERN
BARKERTOWER & NORTH STREET POSTERN
Route 1: Bootham Bar to Monk Bar Start your walk at Bootham Bar, an ancient gateway through one of the finest and most complete city walls in England.
The City Walls
There has been a walled defence around York since AD 71 when the 9th Roman Legion arrived en masse at the point where the Rivers Ouse and Foss met and built their standard defensive structure to protect themselves against the local populace.
first defences were very simple – soil, dug out of a LEGATE The defensive ditch, was piled up to form an earthen rampart, AR capped by a timber palisade. This palisade was completely
replaced by a stone wall by the 3rd century AD. These Roman fortress defences included four main gateways, and their location has influenced the street pattern to the present day. Very little is known about what happened to the walls in the DAVY Anglo-Saxon period, and whether or not they were maintained. TOWER More is known about the period after the great pagan army of the Vikings arrived in AD 866, when it is thought that two sides of the RomanVICTORIA defences fell out of use, but the remaining two BARwith new ramparts, timber palisades and sides were extended external ditches. By the 10th century, virtually all the remains BAILE of the Roman walls had been covered over by successive earth HILL ramparts. The Norman kings heightened the earthen ramparts again and built new gateways in stone. In 1266, the city was authorised to impose ‘Murage taxes’ on
DIG
goods brought into York to raise money for the upkeep of the city walls, and this allowed the walls, which you still see today, to be built. The defences first protected York from the Scots in 1319, when an army, led by the Earl of Moray, reached the gates hoping to capture Queen Isabella and keep her hostage, and then from the Parliamentarians, who besieged the city in 1644. The final threat to the city defences came in 1745 when the Jacobite army of Charles Stuart threatened attack; the walls were repaired, although the threat eventually came to nothing. By 1800, all these threats had passed and the walls became so little appreciated that York applied to Parliament to have them demolished. Some relatively minor damage was done, but luckily most of the walls, gates and towers still exist CLIFFORD’S today. TOWER
JORVIK
Bootham Bar
Bootham Bar stands on the site of the Roman porta principalis dextra. YORKBar the Romans From Bootham CASTLE would have marched north to Scotland to extend their territory, but the earliest parts of theFISHERGATE existing POSTERNTOWER gatehouse date from the late 11th century. Climb the steps up to Bootham Bar and then walk out onto the walls where, on your right, you can glimpse your first view of the magnificent York Minster. From this
FISHERGATE BAR
THE RED TOWER
of the west end, between which sits the ‘Heart of Yorkshire’ window. This section of walls skirts the Minster precinct, where people employed by the Minster would have traditionally lived. Carry on walking along this stretch of the wall and looking into the distance you will see Monk Bar – the next main gateway through the walls—and the tall chimney of the Victorian gasworks in the far distance. Keep walking down this stretch of the walls towards Robin Hood Tower, where the wall turns the corner. If you stop just before Robin Hood Tower you will be rewarded with a great view of the Minster, if the foliage allows.
Robin Hood Tower
Robin Hood Tower, rebuilt in 1888, is a Victorian ‘restoration’ over medieval stonework. In the distance it is sometimes possible to see Rowntree chocolate factory (now Nestlé), where many of the famous chocolate treats, such as KitKat and Yorkie, were made. On a clear day, it is possible to see the chalk White Horse at Kilburn and the Howardian Hills. Continuing onward, you will pass York St John University on your left and the Deanery garden on your right. Keep your eye out for the plaque commemorating the restoration of the walls in 1889 by Edwin Gray, the Mayor of York at the time. Further along this section of the wall you will see the end of the Gray’s Court, now a hotel. It was commissioned by the first Norman Archbishop of York as the official residence for the Treasurers of York Minster. Close by is the Treasurer’s House, built in 1419, also as a home for the Treasurer of the Minster. As you are walking along this line of the wall, created in the medieval period, remember that beneath your feet, buried in the earthen rampart, are the remains of the Roman wall and gateway– one of the major entrances into the fortress. You can see where the Roman legionaries marched out if you look for a marker on the walls. Your walk will now take you past the site of St Maurice’s church on your left. Although the church no longer exists, some of the gravestones from
the churchyard remain. Just above the churchyard is a painted advertisement for Bile Beans. Bile Beans were a laxative, developed at the turn of the 20th century, and, although the product was being discontinued in the 1980s, Fisons paid for the York Arts Forum to restore the sign in 1986.
York Minster
You should now have sight of Monk Bar, and if you stop just before it, you will be rewarded with the best view of York Minster on this stretch of the walls. The Minster stands near the site of the original wooden church built for King Edwin of Northumbria’s christening in AD 627. The Normans built a new version of the Cathedral near the Anglo-Saxon church, which is the site of the present Minster, but the church we see today was actually built and embellished between the 13th and 15th centuries. The Minster took about 250 years to build and was finally completed, with the addition of the western towers, between 1433 and 1472. From this point on the walls you can see the very top of the Five Sisters Window in the North Transept, which is glazed with grisaille (monochromatic painted) glass.
Monk Bar
Looking towards Monk Bar again, you should be able to make out three arrow slit windows in the bar, as well as a figure atop this large and ornate gateway dating from the early 14th century. This figure is known locally as a ‘boulder thrower’, because he is doing just that. Once you descend the bar, you should be able to make out similar figures on top, poised and ready to throw missiles at their attackers. You have now reached the end of this stage of your journey. From here you can explore the vaulted roofs and portcullis of Monk Bar. Or you can continue your journey around the walls towards the King’s Fishpool, the Red Tower, Walmgate Bar and beyond, by crossing the road and climbing the stairs.
MONK BAR
BOOTHAM BAR
YORK MINSTER
GROUNDS OF T MARY’S ABBEY THE MULTANGULAR TOWER LENDAL TOWER
BARLEY HALL
LAYERTHORPE POSTERN
R
T
DIG
THE RED TOWER
JORVIK
CLIFFORD’S TOWER WALMGATE BAR DAVY TOWER
Route 2: Monk Bar to Walmgate Bar
VICTORIA BAR
YORK CASTLE
FISHERGATE
Start your walkBAILE at Monk Bar, the tallest and most fortified ofTOWER POSTERN York’s survivingHILL gateways.
Monk Bar
Monk Bar, which dates from the early 14th century, with a late15th-century top floor, contains a three-storey gatehouse over the archway. Its design meant that it could function as a self-contained fortress, with each floor capable of being defended; the staircase is not continuous, so an attacker would have to cross past the guard-room to reach the next flight. It is also the most elaborate and ornate of the surviving gates, as the passageway and two lower storeys have vaulted roofs. Inside the bar you can see the portcullis and winding mechanism; the portcullis was last lowered in 1953 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation. With the city centre behind you, climb the stairs on the right side of the bar and walk along the wall a short distance to the first set of steps. At the top of the steps look down over the wall on its outer side, to your left. The domed brick building is an ice house, which would have been used to store ice, so food could be kept cool during the summer months. The ice could be collected during winter, or might have been bought
FISHER from ice merchants. The GATE BAR
building consists of a deep, brick-lined pit with a domed roof, which was then surrounded by soil, with an enclosed access passage. Walking on further, to your right, across the street, is the area of York previously known as Bedern. In the Middle Ages, this area was occupied by the College of Vicars Choral of York Minster; remains of their chapel hall can still be seen. By 1800, however, this area had degenerated into one of the most notorious slum and vice areas in York. In the 1850s, Irish immigrants arrived in this area, still living in appalling conditions but driving out the vice. Analysis of environmental evidence from excavations carried out here by York Archaeological Trust hinted at crowded and unsanitary living conditions in what was described in 1851 as ‘a modern day black hole of Calcutta’. Walking on further you will come to a sign on your right about the remains of the eastern
corner tower of the Roman fortress, and the remains of an interval tower visible at this point.
Merchant Taylors’ Hall
The building you are now approaching within the walls, with the timberframed end wall, is the Merchant Taylors’ Hall. This is a medieval guildhall constructed by the Fraternity of St John the Baptist (an organisation connected to the Taylors’ Guild) in the 14th century; it received new cladding in the 17th century. At the next small tower, called Harlot Hill Tower, which previously had a brick summer house built on top of it, you will get an excellent view of the Minster. You may see that the Minster has scaffolding around its eastern end. This is because the never-ending task of maintaining this remarkable building is currently concentrated on a major programme of restoration at the east end, including work on the great east window. Continue on along the wall until you reach the marker for Jewbury.
Jewbury
If you look over the walls, you will see the location of the 13th-century Jewish cemetery in York, excavated by the York Archaeological Trust in 1982-3. The burial ground was a garden-like enclosure, with a ditch and wall for security. There may have been a cottage for a warden and wash-house for the ritual cleansing of corpses. Continue to Layerthorpe Tower, where you will descend to street level.
Layerthorpe Postern
Layerthorpe Postern, or Peasholme Green Postern, was first mentioned in the Pipe Roll of 1280. It stood on the city side of the Layerthorpe Bridge to control the crossing of the River Foss. It was taken down in 1829 when Layerthorpe Bridge was widened. Cross over Peasholme Green and onto Foss Islands Road. For a distance of about one third of a mile between Layerthorpe Postern and the Red Tower (where you will pick up the wall again), there are no ramparts or walls. Instead, this area was defended by a large pool, called the King’s Fishpool. When the Normans dammed the River Foss at its juncture with the Ouse to create a water-filled moat around the castle, they also formed a pool that was up to a quarter of a mile wide. The area became a royal preserve for fish and waterfowl. Continue walking along Foss Islands Road, with the chimney of the Victorian gasworks on your left, until you reach the Red Tower.
The Red Tower
The ‘Rede Tower in the water of the Fosse’ was first referred to by name in 1511 when it was to be supplied with artillery. Unlike the rest of the defences it was built of brick instead of stone, which was cheaper, and there was a large medieval tilery near by. This angered the city’s stonemasons, however, who regarded the defences as their preserve and resented the work being taken from them. Various incidents occurred during the 1490s to underline this unrest, including a complaint by the tilers that their tools had been broken or stolen, leading to the appearance of the master mason and his fellows at the council chamber. They defended themselves in language regarded as unsuitable, and were committed to the kidcote (a temporary lock up). Rejoin the wall at the Red Tower and continue walking on towards Walmgate Bar. Beneath your feet, at the foot of the wall, a series of relieving arches were built into the foundations of the wall here, in order to strengthen them.
Walmgate Bar
Walmgate Bar consists of a passageway with arches at each end capped by a rectangular gatehouse of two storeys. At the back of the gatehouse is a timber-framed projection supported on two stone columns. This was probably added in 1584–6. Walmgate Bar is the only bar still to have its projecting outer defence, or barbican, as well as its portcullis and wooden inner doors. The first gatehouse was built in the mid-12th century, and the projecting barbican was added in the 14th century. The defences around the Walmgate area still had a timber palisade in 1315, and further work was done in the area in 1345, when an option was granted to a mason, Master Thomas Staunton, to carry out the work of replacing the palisade with a stone wall. Walmgate Bar was leased out as a house; in 1376 an annual rent of 10 shillings was paid. People were certainly living here before 1376, however, and they continued to live here until 1957! You have now reached the end of this stage of your journey. From here you can explore the barbican at Walmgate Bar and walk back into the city centre. Or you can continue your journey around the walls towards Fishergate Bar, York Castle, Clifford’s Tower, and beyond, by crossing the road and climbing the stairs.
BARLEY HALL
LAYERTHORPE POSTERN
DIG
THE RED TOWER
JORVIK
CLIFFORD’S TOWER WALMGATE BAR DAVY TOWER
RIA
YORK CASTLE FISHERGATE POSTERNTOWER
BAILE HILL
FISHERGATE BAR
Route 3: Walmgate Bar to Baile Hill Start your walk at Walmgate Bar, the most complete of the medieval gateways into York.
Walmgate Bar
Walmgate Bar was the subject of some of the fiercest attacks during the Siege of York in 1644. The Parliamentarians set up five guns on the nearby Lamel Hill and in St Lawrence’s churchyard. From here they were able to pound the bar and the Walmgate area. Walmgate Bar was also mined; a tunnel was built underneath the bar and filled with explosives. This attempt to blow up the gateway was stopped by the bar’s defenders who dug a separate mine to cut off this tunnel. The city surrendered to the Parliamentarians on 16 July 1644. Walmgate Bar had been badly damaged. Work began on restoring the bar in October 1645. Heads were also displayed on this bar: the head of Robert Hillyard, who took part in the Yorkshire rebellions of 1469, and in 1663, the head of a Farnley Wood conspirator. With the city centre behind you, climb the stairs on the right side of the bar .Walk along the walls until you reach Fishergate Bar. Some of the embrasures on this section of the wall have
been made into gun loops. However, this stretch of the walls was largely rebuilt during the 19th century.
Fishergate Bar
The bar consists of a wide central arch, with a groove for a portcullis. The present structure dates from 1442-3. The bar was badly damaged by insurgents during the uprising of 1489 against taxes authorised by Henry VII and was blocked with bricks. The bar was not reopened until 1827. Continue along the walls. This section of the walls was built during the 14th century; the walls extend out westward, then turn back to the south-west, probably to defend a dam on the River Foss, then turn sharply to the north.
Fishergate Postern and Fishergate Postern Tower
Fishergate Postern is sometimes referred to as St. George’s Postern or ‘near the Skarletpit’, a pool in the River Foss. It consists of a 14th-century archway, which was reset when the adjoining tower was built in the 16th century. A slot for a portcullis suggests that there was originally a small tower to house the machinery. This is the only one of six original posterns constructed in the city wall to survive. Fishergate Postern Tower would have stood on the banks of the River Foss. The present tower dates from the early 1500s, and replaced the earlier Talkan Tower. Originally it had a flat roof, but by 1676 it had been replaced by a tiled roof like that which exists today. Nearby is the grave of Dick Turpin, the infamous highwayman hanged in York in 1739. To visit the churchyard, turn left up Lead Mill Lane. It is located at the back of the churchyard on your left. Return to Fishergate Poster Tower to continue the walk. The city defences stop at Fishergate Postern Tower. Cross Piccadilly, go over the bridge, and walk past the castle. The walls of York Castle provided the necessary fortification and the city walls would have restarted at Castlegate Postern, near the castle wall at Clifford’s Tower.
York Castle
York Castle occupies a strategic position between the Rivers Ouse and Foss and was first established in 1068, when William the Conqueror built and garrisoned the castle in York to subdue the northern rebellions. The motte and bailey castle was a timber construction, and remained so until the 13th century. The motte was topped by a tower, which was the stronghold and look-out post, surrounded by a ditch and linked to the bailey by a ‘flying’ bridge. The castle was protected on three sides by the Rivers Ouse and Foss and the King’s Fishpool, created by a dam constructed across the Foss. In the 17th century, the castle bailey became the site of the sessions house and the grand jury house. In 1773-7, new assize courts and, in 1780, a female prison replaced these earlier buildings. The prison was enlarged in 1835, with a circular governor’s house and four radiating prison blocks.
The whole was surrounded by a massive stone wall. In 1935, the gatehouse, outer wall and all post-1824 buildings were removed. In 1801 the gallows were moved from the Tyburn on the Knavesmire to the site outside the castle, between the assize courts and the surviving castle walls. This was the infamous ‘new drop’, which would attract crowds to St. George’s Field on execution day. In 1868, the scaffold was moved inside the prison yard, away from public view. Walk to the traffic lights by Clifford’s Tower and cross the road. Head through the gates, into the park, where the city walls begin again. Castlegate Postern would have stood near this site, but was removed in 1826. The section of wall running down to the River Ouse was never very high, but now appears lower, since the ground level has been raised to minimise the effect of flooding. Walk toward the river and the remains of Davy Tower.
Davy Tower
‘Davytoure’ is a 14thcentury tower, also known as the Tower of the Friars Minor, due to its proximity to the Franciscan Friary. From Davy Tower, a chain could be hung across the river to Skeldergate Postern, to prevent ships from sailing along the river. This would have stopped shipmasters trying to avoid tolls, but also served as part of the city’s defences. Walk across the park toward the bridge. Climb the stairs and walk over Skeldergate Bridge. Skeldergate Postern Tower, a circular tower with a conical roof, would have sat on the banks of the River Ouse. The short stretch of the wall from Skeldergate Postern to Baile Hill and the Skeldergate Postern Tower was removed in 1878 for the construction of Skeldergate Bridge. Cross over Skeldergate to the tower, which sits at the base of Baile Hill.
Baile Hill
Baile Hill is the only remaining evidence of the motte and bailey castle that stood on this site, built in 1069. The castle was probably not in regular use for long, and by 1200 the land passed to the Archbishop of York. The city obtained possession in the mid-15th century and, although it was defended by two cannons in the Civil War, it was used mainly for recreation and grazing. You have now reached the end of this stage of your journey. From here you can walk back into the city centre. Or you can continue your journey around the walls towards Micklegate Bar, and beyond, by entering the tower.
MONK BAR
BOOTHAM BAR
YORK MINSTER
GROUNDS OF ST MARY’S ABBEY THE MULTANGULAR TOWER
LENDAL TOWER
BARLEY HALL
LAYERTHORPE POSTERN
BARKERTOWER & NORTH STREET POSTERN
DIG
RAILWAY STATION
THE RED TOWER
JORVIK MICKLEGATE BAR CLIFFORD’S TOWER
WA DAVY TOWER
VICTORIA BAR
YORK CASTLE FISHERGATE POSTERNTOWER
BAILE HILL
FISHERGATE BAR
Route 4: Baile Hill to Lendal Tower Start your walk at the tower at the base of Baile Hill, the site of one of York’s castles.
Baile Hill
Like the bailey at York Castle, the ‘Old Baile’ was also the location of a prison. Built in 1802-7, the prison was only open until 1868 and was demolished in 1880. Walk into the tower and climb the stairs. This tower was constructed in 1878, after the removal of the wall up from the river. Continue along this section of the wall, built between 1317 and 1340 by Archbishop Melton. At this time, the Old Baile was in the possession of the Archbishop of York. A number of masons’ marks on this section are similar to those found in the nave and chapter house of the Minster, which would suggest that the Minster masons worked on this section of the wall.
Keep walking along the walls, to the tower on the corner. This is the interestingly named Bitchdaughter Tower, written as ‘le bidoubtre’ in the mid-15th century. It was used as a prison and later as a cowshed. Carry on until you reach Victoria Bar.
Victoria Bar
Named after Queen Victoria, this bar was built in 1838, to allow access to the city for the ever-growing Nunnery Lane area. During its construction, it was discovered that there had been an earlier archway, which had been hurriedly blocked by large stones set on edge, wooden piles and a mound of earth. This was probably the 12th-century gateway known as Lounelith, or ‘secluded gate’. Although there are no records of the gateway being blocked, it is possible this was done to strengthen the city’s defences during the Northern Rebellion in 1569. Walk along the walls until you reach the marker for St Mary’s Church Bishophill. There were originally two churches called St Mary’s in the Bishophill area of York, St Mary’s Bishophill Senior and St Mary’s Bishophill Junior. St Mary’s Bishophill Junior is still in use today as a parish church and is probably the oldest church in York as it almost certainly pre-dates the
Norman Conquest in 1066. St Mary’s Bishophill Senior fell into disrepair in the 1930s and was demolished in the 1950s. Before demolition many of the monuments were removed and relocated to St Clement’s and to the new church of Holy Redeemer, Boroughbridge Road. Amongst those items relocated to St Clement’s was a remarkable Saxon or preConquest grave cover belonging to the first half of the eleventh century. Carry on walking, passing Sadler Tower. This tower is thought to be one of the oldest surviving interval towers along the walls. The walls and towers in the section show signs of damage by cannon shot. Continue on toward Micklegate Bar.
Micklegate Bar
Serving as the principal entrance to the city, Micklegate Bar is the strongest gateway, flanked by the highest and strongest walls. First documented in the 12th century, as Micklelith, the bar has served as backdrop for the arrival of royalty and the display of traitors’ heads. The structure contains a Norman arch, which, in the 14th century, was extended with a barbican and heightened to house a portcullis. In 1826-7, the barbican and the timber extension (like the one at Walmgate Bar) were removed. If you would like to learn more about the pageantry and barbaric history that has unfolded between these walls through the centuries, visit Micklegate Bar Museum. You do not need to descend from the walls, but can walk through the bar towards York Railway Station.
York Railway Station
In the 19th century, part of the walls was rebuilt to allow the railway lines to pass through to the station. Before you turn the corner, it is possible to glimpse the two arches built to accommodate the railway line. Walk along until you reach the marker indicating the Old Signal Box. In 1839, a temporary station was built outside the walls, but was replaced with the permanent one within. If you look over the wall, you will see a small house-like structure built around 1841. This was called the ‘Archway Box’ and was used to control traffic entering York Station (built inside the walls). Despite the addition of platforms, this station soon couldn’t handle increasing railway traffic. If you look to the right, you can see the back of the New Station, a stone building, which now has a modern brick extension. Look outside the walls to see the second permanent station, built in 1877; this was the largest station in the world at the time it was constructed. To provide access to the site, two more arches were added to the walls.
Barker Tower
Carry on walking and in front of you lies the most famous views of the city. From the northern road arch, the wall drops gently towards the river. Before you reach street level, look over the walls toward the river. You will see 14th-century Barker Tower, or the North Street Postern Tower. Until Lendal Bridge was constructed, the tower was let to the ferryman who operated between here and St. Leonard’s Landing. From Barker Tower, a chain could be hung across the river to Lendal Tower, to prevent ships from sailing along the river. This would have stopped shipmasters trying to avoid tolls, but also served as part of the city’s defences. The tower has had several other uses, including, during the 19th century, a mortuary for bodies pulled from the river. Walk along the walls until you reach street level. Turn left and cross Lendal Bridge toward Lendal Tower.
Lendal Tower
Originally very similar to Barker Tower, Lendal Tower was entirely rebuilt in the 17th century to accommodate pumping machinery for York’s water supply. The original pump was powered by waterwheel and then horse power, but was replaced in 1756 with a steam engine. The pumping engine would supply half the subscribers with water on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, while the other half received water on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. It has been estimated that half of the households in York subscribed to the scheme. In 1846, York’s waterworks were moved to Acomb Landing, and Lendal Tower was returned to a more ‘medieval’ appearance. You have now reached the end of this stage of your journey. From here you can walk into the city centre. Or you can continue your journey around the walls through the Museum Garden.
MONK BAR
BOOTHAM BAR
YORK MINSTER
GROUNDS OF ST MARY’S ABBEY THE MULTANGULAR TOWER
LENDAL TOWER
BARLEY HALL
BARKERTOWER & NORTH STREET POSTERN
Route 5: Museum Garden Start your walk at the gates to the Museum Gardens.
RAILWAY STATION
Roman Defences
As you stand in front of the gates, looking towards the Minster, you will see that there is no sign of the Roman fortress wall that once stood here; it was demolished in the Middle Ages. The only trace now left is the outline of a Roman defensive interval tower, excavated by York Archaeological Trust in the 1970s. Its plan is laid out in the flooring of a service yard/car park behind the shops across the street. When this Roman wall became redundant and was demolished, a new short length of defences was built to connect Lendal Tower, behind you at the riverside, to that part of the Roman defensive line that was left intact. You can see that rampart, crowned by a wall, behind you.
MICKLEGATE BAR
The River Ouse
In Viking times, the river would have been important for trade and communication, linking the city to the coast through the Humber, and, for smaller boats, to the south and west through its tributaries. Navigators would have made use of the tide to travel upstream, although sometimes they might have had to resort to rowing. The river also had shoals that required careful navigation. In CLIFFORD’S TOWER the longer term, the demands of military and ecclesiastical building in the city increased the river traffic. Stone was shipped up the Rivers Wharfe and Ouse, roofing lead came downstream from Boroughbridge, and some window glass came from the continent. Over the succeeding centuries, York DAVY merchants came to dominate the region’s trade, exporting TOWER YORK wool (later replaced by cloth) and lead, via the river network, to CASTLE the Netherlands, Germany and the Baltic, along with smaller amounts of farm produce, such as hides and butter.
JORVIK
Enter the Museum Gardens and at the first fork in the path VICTORIA turn left so that you walk around the gardens in a clockwise BAR direction. This path will take you down a slight slope towards Hospitium the River Ouse, which can be seen on the other side of the With the river on yourBAILE left walk towards the Hospitium and HILL railings. down the small set of steps, turning right to go through the arch in the wall. This half-timbered building from the 14th century is one of the oldest surviving timber-framed structures
in York and served as the guest hall for pilgrims and other visitors to St Mary’s Abbey. The stone-built ground floor dates from 1310, while the timber framing above was added a hundred years later. The building has been heavily restored and a new roof was erected in 1930. Follow the path up from the Hospitium, towards the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey; go straight across at the cross roads and through the walls of the abbey, with the main ruins on your left.
The Abbey of St. Mary
The Abbey of St Mary was a Benedictine establishment, founded by King William II of England in 1088, when he laid the foundation stone of a Norman church, which no longer remains. Following a dispute and riot in 1132, a party of reform-minded monks left St Mary’s to establish the Cistercian monastery of Fountains Abbey. The surviving ruins of the monastic church date back to a rebuilding programme begun in 1271 and finished by 1294. In 1539, the Dissolution of the Monasteries led to the closure of the abbey, which quickly fell into disrepair and stonework was taken to be reused in other York buildings.
Multangular Tower
Turn right at the fork in the path and walk to the remains of the Multangular Tower on your left. It has been called the Multangular Tower since 1683; between 1315 and 1683 it was called Elrondyng. However, the tower is much older than its first mention in the records. It was built as part of the Roman stone defences that replaced the earlier timber stockade and towers here in the early 3rd century AD. This south-west wall of the Roman fortress overlooked the River Ouse and the civil town (called the colonia) on its opposite bank. This wall has been described as one of the grandest examples of military architecture of its age. There was a multangular tower at each end of the wall. The Multangular Tower in Museum Gardens is one – the other is buried underneath the street called Feasegate. There were six other towers, three on either side of a central gateway that guarded the entrance to the fortress. The centre of the wall’s facade and the cornices (mouldings at the top) of the towers were decorated with thin red bricks. The corner towers were at least 10m high. You will see the inside of the Tower shortly, but for now carry on walking back towards the entrance to the Gardens.
St. Leonard’s Hospital
Just before you reach the Museum Garden gates, take the left-hand path, into the site of St Leonard’s Hospital, one of
the largest hospitals in medieval England. Walk through the vaulted passageway, then take an immediate left through the door. You are now under a vaulted ceiling, which is probably a part of the hospital’s infirmary, built at the expense of John Romanus, Treasurer of York Minster in the earlier 13th century. The rear of the Roman fortress wall, stretching away, to the left of you, towards the corner tower, was never meant to be seen; it would have been covered by the earthen rampart that buttressed the inside of the defences. Walk on and you will find yourself inside the ruins of the Multangular Tower. The Multangular Tower and the lengths of wall to either side of it are the only sections of the Roman fortress wall that have survived above ground. It was probably built during the reign of the Emperor Severus who was in York between 209 and 211 AD. The tower has ten sides and is now 9m high. Originally there would have been three floors on the inside and a roof on top. Only the bottom 6m of this surviving masonry is Roman. The tower and wall continued as defensive features long after the Romans had left, and the upper part of the tower is late medieval in date. Turn right as you reach the wall to find the remains of a structure known as the Anglian Tower, and you will also be able to examine evidence of how the city wall was built up over the centuries. You will see that the medieval city wall is slightly beyond the line of the Roman fortress wall – as the defences were successively heightened with rebuilt earth ramparts in the Anglo-Saxon, Viking-Age and Anglo-Norman periods, the line of the defences gradually shifted outwards until the medieval wall came to be built. Some of the stages by which this happened are represented in the successively higher ramparts shown in cross-section beyond the Anglian Tower.
The Anglian Tower
The Anglian Tower is a square tower with two narrow doorways. Its front projects slightly from the front of the Roman wall, but its two sides would mostly have been obscured by the Roman rampart that also covered the back face of that wall. It was covered by medieval ramparts until it was rediscovered in 1839, and excavated in 1969. It had been built in a breach in the Roman wall, although there is no evidence for the exact date of its construction. All the Roman and later ramparts which originally covered the remains of the Roman wall between the Multangular Tower and the Anglian Tower were removed in the 1970s. Retrace your steps to the doorway through the wall and at the path turn right. Follow the path past the King’s Manor. You emerge at Exhibition Square. You have now reached the end of this stage of your journey. From here you can explore King’s Manor and walk back into the city centre. Or you can continue your journey around the walls towards Bootham Bar, Monk Bar, and beyond, by crossing the road and climbing the stairs.
Continue your exploration of York’s history… Micklegate Bar Museum Situated on the route of York’s famous walls walk, Micklegate Bar has stood sentinel to the city for over 800 years. As York’s most important gateway, the bar has served a number of important roles since its construction in the 12th century, including being the main point of entry through which a reigning monarch enters the city. Visit the ancient gateway to explore the pageantry and barbaric history that has unfolded between these walls through the centuries. Open daily February to October from 10am to 3pm
www.micklegatebar.com
JORVIK Viking Centre Discover Coppergate Take hold of the past and explore the excavations which first unearthed the Viking-Age city in our exhibitions. The remains of 1,000-year-old houses are revealed beneath your feet, objects taken from the excavations are explored, and Viking-Age timbers are brought before your eyes. New audio-visual displays help you to investigate all of the information gathered from the five-yearlong dig at Coppergate and piece together the jigsaw of where the Vikings came from, why they came here, how they lived and died, and where they travelled to. Open daily from 10am to 5pm (summer) or 4pm (winter) Jump the queue by booking online at www.jorvikbookings.com
www.jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk
DIG – An Archaeological Adventure What will you find? Discover the story of York’s history by digging through the layers of this authentic archaeological adventure! Rediscover and handle some of the artefacts that archaeologists have uncovered under the streets of York and understand how these finds explain how people lived in Roman, Viking, medieval and Victorian times. DIG is an interactive and innovative attraction that allows you to explore archaeology and the rich history of York’s past, but don’t worry – the soil is not real so you don’t need to bring a change of clothes. Open daily from 10am to 5pm Booking is essential – but you can book and visit on the same day.
www.digyork.com
Barley Hall Barley Hall is a stunning medieval townhouse, once home to the Priors of Nostell and the Mayor of York. Until the 1980s the house was hidden under the relatively modern façade of a derelict office block. Only when the building was going to be destroyed was the amazing medieval building discovered and its history revealed. The building has now been lovingly restored to its original splendour with stunning high ceilings, beautiful exposed timber frames, and possibly the only horn window in England. It has been decorated to replicate what it would have looked like as the Snawsell home around 1483 and boasts a magnificent Great Hall. Visitors to Barley Hall can make themselves at home, sit on the chairs, handle the objects and experience what it would have been like to live in medieval England. Open daily from 10am to 4pm (summer) or 3pm (winter)
www.barleyhall.org.uk
Opening Times The walls open every day from 8.00am to dusk, except when there is a risk of ice resulting in slippery conditions or in the event of bad weather. The closing process starts at Fishergate Postern travelling anticlockwise. Closed on Christmas Day.
Safety Warning
Please take care on the City Walls, there are steep steps and unguarded edges. Children should be closely supervised. • Guide dogs only • No cycling • Unsuitable for wheelchairs
YORK ARCHAEOLOGICAL TRUST York Archaeological Trust unearthed the Viking-Age city of Jorvik during the five-year excavation on this site from 1976 to 1981. The results of the archaeological discovery are presented to you in the form of JORVIK Viking Centre. York Archaeological Trust continues to explore our heritage and use modern techniques to explain its discoveries. Focusing particularly on Yorkshire, the Trust aims to ensure that everyone fully appreciates our cultural heritage. See how you can get involved with our training seminars, outreach programmes, excavations, and working with community groups.
Visit www.yorkarchaeology.co.uk for details. York Archaeological Trust is an educational charity (Number: 509060).
Events throughout the Year Throughout the year York Archaeological Trust also stages a programme of original and innovative events at all four of its attractions and at selected partner sites. Drawing on the expertise of its highly skilled events team, the Trust provides activities for groups of all ages and backgrounds, covering 2,000 years of history, including talks, guided walks, themed evening visits to our attractions, drama, re-enactments and arts and craft activities.
To stay up to date on forthcoming events and to join our mailing list that grants you discounts and priority ticket bookings, please visit our website www.jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk.
YORK ARCHAEOLOGICAL TRUST Registered Charity No. 509060