The city of York, in the north of England, has had formal defences since at least Roman times. The earliest defensive structure around the settlement of York was probably a wooden fence, which the Romans replaced with a strong stone wall which circled the city and was so strong, it lasted until the ninth century.
York’s Medieval City Walls
Work on the city’s medieval walls began in the thirteenth century, at the same time as the city’s castle was being reinforced. The walls were built on top of the remains of the Roman walls and the new circuit of stone boasted four bars, or entrances: Bootham Bar, Monk Bar, Walmgate Bar and Micklegate Bar.
The name bar simply means a wooden bar which was raised and lowered to let inhabitants and visitors through after paying a tax, or receiving an exemption. These bars were the main entry points to the city, where taxes were collected, state entries made, and the gates were closed at night once the curfew had sounded. Anyone trying to gain entrance after curfew was treated as a potential enemy.
Micklegate Bar in York
Micklegate was the city’s main entrance, marked by a rectangular gatehouse, and it was this bar which received the main road from the south, which was the traditional entry point for a visiting monarch during the Middle Ages. In a ceremony dating back to a visit by King Richard II in 1389, any reigning monarch touches their sword of state before entering the city through Micklegate Bar.
More gruesomely, it was here that the heads of executed traitors were displayed, in a bid to deter others, and many of these heads were left to rot for several years. Famous heads which have been displayed here include those of Henry Percy, executed in 1403, and Richard Duke of York, who was executed in 1461.
Most of the oldest stonework on the wall is at Bootham Bar, with some sections dating to the eleventh century. Monk Bar is the most decorated of the entrances, at four stories high, with each floor acting as a separately defendable fortress.
King Henry VI’s Visit to York
In 1448, King Henry VI visited the city and was treated to a spectacular pageant constructed at Micklegate Bar, before he entered the city. A representation of heaven was created especially for the king, from which a crown of white and red roses descended, to be greeted by an audience of bowing trees and flowers.
Sources
Dean, Gareth Medieval York [The History Press, 2008]
City of York Council History of the City Walls
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