YORK CASTLE AND WALLS

The Romans built one of their three permanent legionary fortresses at York or (Eboracum) on the banks of the River Ouse in AD71 on a 50 acre site now mainly occupied by the cathedral. At the end of the 2nd century they encircled the town with stone walls, parts of which still remain near the early 4th century ten-sided Multangular Tower. The Danes occupied York in 867 and as the Roman defences were in poor repair they demolished all the towers save the Multangular Tower and repaired the walls. The majority of the remaining walls date from the 12th - 14th century, with some reconstruction carried out in the 19th century. The walls are punctuated by four main gates, or 'bars' - Bootham Bar, Monk Bar, Walmgate Bar and Micklegate Bar.

Bootham Bar	This is the northern entrance to the city and stands on the site of a previous Roman gate. The lower part of its structure dates from the 12th century, the upper storeys being added in the 14th century. The barbican was demolished in the 19th century.
Robin Hood Tower	Circular in design, it was built in 1888\89 on the site of an earlier tower.
Monk Bar	Built in the 1300's, it is the most ornate of the gatehouses. The lowest floor was built in the 1300's, the second story being built in the 15th century. From 1577, the gatehouse was used as a prison. The Barbican was removed between 1815 and 1825 but it still retains is original portcullis.
Red Tower	It was built in 1490 of red brick and its walls are four feet thick in places. It was damaged during the 1644 siege.
Walmgate Bar	Walmgate Bar has an unusually well preserved barbican.
Fishergate Bar	Fishergate Bar was the entrance to the city from Selby, and the walls from this Bar to Fishergate Tower commanded the narrow approach to the castle. The Bar consists of a round arch between two wide buttresses, each with passage through. Adjoining the eastern buttress was a rectangular guardroom. T
Fishergate Postern/Tower	The original tower on this site was built in 1440, and was replaced by the Fishergate Postern, between 1504 and 1507 to defend a gateway in the city walls at the junctions of Paragon Street, Fisher Gate and George Street. In 1489, the gateway was bricked up.
Birchdaughter Tower	Built in 1645, it has a raised gun platform.
Victoria Bar	It was opened in 1838 to provide direct access between Nunnery Lane and Bishophill.
Micklegate Bar	Originally a small gate into the city of York built between 1100 and 1132. In 1333 a large barbican was built, and a portcullis was added. The barbican was removed in 1826 and the gatehouse has been modified extensively since then.
Toft Tower	A corner wall tower.
Barker Tower	North Street Postern andTower, originally known as Barker tower. The conical roof and a second storey were added in the 17th century.
Lendal Tower	Originally a small water tower similar to Barker tower, it was almost entirely rebuilt in the 17th century.
Multangular Tower	Built as part of a series of eight defensive towers in AD 210. It has ten sides and is almost 30 feet tall but only the lower part is the original Roman stonework - the upper course with arrowslits is a later medieval addition.
St Mary's Tower	Part of the wall of St Mary's Abbey, it was built in 1324 as a tall, circular tower, 10 metres in diameter and over 10 metres high. In 1644 it was the subject of a heavy attack by the Parliamentarians. After the Civil War the tower was rebuilt with thinner walls on the outside but kept the octagonal shape on the inside. The tower has since been restored.

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