York Historic Bar Walls And York Bar Museums
Bootham Bar
Bootham Bar, at the west end of High Petergate, was the site of one of four gateways that where used by York’s Roman legions to defend the city. At the time it was known as 'rima Porta Dextra'. It was the main medieval entrance into the city. To the north was the Forest of Galtres. The building that we see today was built upon the foundations of the original gateway in the eleventh century but most of what we see in the present dates back to the fourteenth and nineteenth century when repairs and rebuilding took place. Unfortunately the barbican which was a large outbound extension of the bar, was demolished in 1832 as with all of the bars apart from the Walmgate Bar.
Monkgate Bar
Most of Monkgate Bar was built in the fourteenth century consisting of three floors however a fouth floor was added in the fifteenth. It is believed that in the sixteenth century it was used as a Free masons prison. Each of the floors could be individually defended even if the other floors below had been captured. The barbican was removed from the bar in 1825. Today Monkgate houses the Richard III museum where you can watch a present day trial of the King which leaves you to decide whether he was guilty of the murderer of the two Princes in the Tower.
Micklegate Bar
Micklegate Bar was one of the most important bar of York as suggested in its name (Mickle meaning of great importance). It was built in the early twelfth century and comprises of three storeys. The Micklegate Bar was updated to include a portcullis in the fourteenth century and a barbican was also built to strengthen its defences. It was where all royals from the past to present where greeted and pass through with Micklegate being historically the gateway from the road to London. Many traitorous heads have been displayed on the bar from Richard Duke of York in 1461 to four of the members of the Farnley Wood Conspirators in 1663. Today it is home to the Micklegate Museum which casts its eyes on the Bars history.
Walmgate Bar
Walmgate bar is the only of York’s bars to retain its barbican fortification which was added to the bar in the fourteenth century. The Bar itself was greatly damaged by fire in 1489 during the rebellion and today you can still see the bullet holes that where left after the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644..