Bootham Bar, York by fishers

Bootham Bar, York

After two days of rain or rain showers, yesterday was drier but cloudy, so I had a trip into York city centre.

Bootham Bar was one of the four main entrances to to medieval city. It was the only one to be built approximately above the ruins of a Roman gate, and High Petergate (the road where I was stood) is built on the route of a Roman road.

The archway itself dates from the 11th century and the rest of the structure is largely from the 14th century. In 1501 a door knocker was installed as Scots were required to knock first and seek permission from the Lord Mayor to enter the city.

The bar was damaged during the siege of York in 1644. Like Micklegate Bar, it was sometimes used to display the heads of traitors - the heads of three rebels opposing Charles II’s restoration were placed here in 1663.

It underwent major changes in Victorian times. It's barbican (on the far side) was demolished, stonework was restored and access to the walls walk was created.

Some of the changes are rather surprising. When the bar was built, would there really have been arrow slits looking into the city, when it's job was to protect the city from attack from outside?

Ian

Beautiful!
May 6th, 2021  
Bri
Great shot and narrative,
May 6th, 2021  
Great detail. Yes, the arrow slits are a surprise. A wonderful structure, nice to see.
May 6th, 2021  
wonderful capture, trying to find the knocker. Just thinking of all those heads at the bar
love your history and the tour
thanks for sharing
May 6th, 2021  
A super capture and great historical narrative
May 6th, 2021  
Good to see it so well preserved.
May 6th, 2021  
Very nice shot
May 6th, 2021  
Such history in these stones.
May 6th, 2021  
Fascinating history and capture, if walls could speak!!
May 6th, 2021  
Fascinating history, it makes me wonder how many people have walked through the arch way.
May 6th, 2021  
Beautiful capture of the historical inner city. Fav.
May 6th, 2021  
Lovely
May 6th, 2021  
Very interesting story and great shot!
May 7th, 2021  
Love the shot and the history!
May 7th, 2021  
Great stonework!
May 7th, 2021  
Beautiful York. I was there in 1997. The Minster was closed for restoration. We did walk on the wall.
May 7th, 2021  
Beautiful capture and city gate. You have made me regret the fact that I visited the U.K. many times and stayed at my son's during the three years he liked at Stoke on Trent and I never tried to convince him for us to spend a day or two on his free days while at the same time we toured most of the Midlands on his off work days.
May 7th, 2021  
wow, what a place sandwiched between buildings
May 7th, 2021  
@monicac @bybri @peadar @ninaganci @carolmw @busylady @bkbinthecity @sarah19 @craftymeg @yoland @pyrrhula @pdulis @dogwoman @djclow @kjarn @annette1963 @sangwann @pusspup

Thank you all for your lovely comments and favs, they are very much appreciated.

I feel very fortunate to live near all this history, and am pleased to be able to share it with you all.

Ian
May 7th, 2021  
@yoland

An interesting question. I have no idea, but it will be a very large number. York had around 7 million visitors each year before Covid-19, and quite a few of them will access the city walls walk here, so that gives an idea of the scale of the number.

Ian
May 7th, 2021  
@annette1963

It is a pity you were not able to look round the Minster when you were visiting York. It is unusual for it to be completely closed, since there is always some restoration work going on (it is the stained glass currently being worked on). There are a few shots I've posted of the Minster interior if you search for 'York Minster'

Ian
May 7th, 2021  
@sangwann

It seems that you need to visit the UK again and come for a look at York. Allow plenty of time, there is so much to see here! In the meantime there will be more shots of York and it's history in the comming days.

Ian
May 7th, 2021  
Interesting!
May 7th, 2021  
@vesna0210

Thank you Vesna - York city centre is full of historic buildings!

Ian
May 16th, 2021  
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