Medieval Walls in York Virtual Tour
A continuation of the Virtual Tour of the York Walls.
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From here the wall forms an odd angle, and doubles back to Fishergate Postern, which stood in the water. As previously mentioned, the supply of water to this area, the castle moat and the Kings fishpool was carefully regulated by the dam created in the river Foss. Fishergate tower and postern are an imposing feature to the end of this section of wall, but have very little of interest. The tower is a three storey structure, built around 1500 to replace an earlier building; it still has its 'garderobe' opening. From the toilet within the tower the waste would be deposited down this channel and into the Foss below. The postern gateway to the wall side of the tower is the only one remaining in York; it did have a portcullis, now gone. The defences from here to the other side of the river Ouse have all been demolished during the last 170 years, and much development has taken place. As the tower of Fishergate was immersed in the water of the Foss, it also lapped around the wall of the castle which continued the defences. The tower and postern of Castlegate stood roughly over the present Tower Street and the wall from here down to the river can still be seen. Always a low stretch of wall, it appears even tinier now because of the land across to the Georges car park being built up to prevent flooded. The wall ends at Davy Tower on the bank of the Ouse, (named after a medieval tenant). The wall picks up again on the other side of the river Ouse, but was originally closer to the river. Skeldergate postern was on the riverbank, but was demolished (illegally by the council) in 1807, and the tower and a section of wall was removed some 70 years later to give access to the new Skeldergate bridge. And so the wall now begins at Baile Hill. This is the sister to the mound on which the castle stands, both built by William the conqueror the Baile mound was also topped by a castle. This castle fell into disrepair and the mound became redundant. After a short stretch of wall the angle turns at a tower. This is Birchdaughter tower, built in 1645; it has a raised gun platform. A brick vaulted chamber below - complete with fireplace - was used as a guardroom. The wall from here is a pleasant walk to the main gateway, Micklegate, passing over Victoria bar - cut through in 1838 during development of the area. Micklegate is next on the tour. Back on the wall you will walk to the corner tower, Tofts tower, and will be facing the railway station. This replaced the old station inside the wall, the remains of sections of platform are still to be seen inside the wall as you leave Tofts tower. The walls were cut through for the railway lines. As the railway system grew it was necessary for the wider network that the station was outside the walls. The red brick building that is now offices was the old station hotel. Shortly after the hotel opened, Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and five of their children broke their journey to Scotland to have lunch here, and she resolved 'never to visit York again'! Just past the station, to the outside of the wall, is all that remains of the burial ground for victims of the cholera epidemic - it was demanded that they be buried outside the city walls. To the inside of the wall were the old train sidings, where trains and carriages were stored or repaired. This is another area where the walls have been cut through for traffic. The wall tails down gently to North street postern and tower. Originally Barker tower, it was also known as 'Dead House' because of its use in the late 19th century as a mortuary for bodies pulled from the river. The lovely conical roof was added, along with a second storey, in the 17th century. Until the building of Lendal Bridge, it was for many years leased to the ferryman who operated a ferry service to the Lendal tower on the other side of the river. Lendal tower, Originally a small water tower similar to Barker tower, it was almost entirely rebuilt in the 17th century to accommodate the pumping equipment, updated through the centuries, to supply the city with water. From the water tower the wall rises up and now stops at the new entrance to the Museum garden, originally it would have turned to join the Multangular Tower, and so complete the circuit of the walls. This area was also protected by the walls enclosing the Abbey of St Mary, best seen along Marygate. Finally, the obvious weakness in the defences would be the river, but this was not a problem. Between the towers of Davy and Skeldergate, and Barker tower and Lendal, chains lay on the riverbed in peace time; but could be raised as quickly as portcullis could be dropped to create a completely fortified City. |
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