Fortress · England · Restored

York city walls

The York City Walls are the medieval and Roman-era curtain walls that encircle the historic centre of York, England. Large stretches survive as a continuous, walkable circuit punctuated by towers and four principal gatehouses (Bootham, Monk, Walmgate and Micklegate), and the walls are a scheduled monument and Grade I listed structure.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1400

Today

Restored

As it stood in 1400

What York city walls looked like in its prime.

A continuous crenellated curtain of magnesian limestone and medieval brick about 4 m high and 1.8 m thick, with a broad stone wall-walk behind regular merlons. Interval towers and larger gatehouses punctuate the line — some round, some rectangular — with narrow slit loops and portcullis slots visible in the masonry. Rooflines of timber-framed and stone buildings sit just inside the walls; stretches step up and down with stone steps to the rampart and occasional brick repairs from later work.

Step inside

9 places to explore in 1400.

The record describes 9 distinct spots at York city walls, including 3 interiors: multangular tower — interior space, monk bar — interior chambers and stair, micklegate bar — inner passage and upper living floors. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more photos, more angles and more of the immersive experience.

Approach from the tree-lined path beside the wall (Tower Gardens / Museum Gardens approach)On the northern wall-walk looking towards the cathedralMultangular Tower — exterior projectionMultangular Tower — interior spaceMonk Bar — forecourt and façadeMonk Bar — interior chambers and stairMicklegate Bar — inner passage and upper living floorsLendal Tower on the River Ouse bankRed Tower — wall endpoint by the Foss

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