Bootham Bar York England UK
This is the only gate of York that was built where a roman gateway once stood. Bootham bar, the name is recognized as early as 1150 in the form of Buthum; meaning 'at the booths', probably referring to the fair and market held in the street. The main north-west gateway to the legionary fortress, it protected the road from the north.
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Because of continued feuding with the Scots, this bar was always heavily guarded. It has been repaired many times through the centuries because of damage during raids. Long after the times when York needed guarding, a Scotsman was required to announce his arrival by using the rapper at the gateway. Otherwise he could be arrested and imprisoned. The remains of the portcullis, the heavy wooden grille with spikes at the bottom, are now fixed in place and can be seen within the arch.
Many changes were made in York in the early to mid 19th century, and this bar narrowly escaped demolition. Its barbican was not so lucky, and was removed in 1832. Each of the main bars had a barbican, a structure built outside the bar to add to defences. After the barbican was removed, first one side archway was added; and then one to the other side was cut through in 1861. Finally the steps to the outside were built in 1902.
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