York Historic Environment Record

NMR:
It is possible that an earthern mound was constructed in the 11th or 12th cent., these defences being strengthened in 1215. The erection of stone walls began c.1250.

In 1644 the walls were much shattered during the siege, but have been restored and are complete except in three short stretches, along the front of Museum Gardens, S.W. of Bootham Bar, and between the Old Baile and the river.

The stretch between Fishergate Postern and the present bank of the foss wass filled by the river until 1793. The wall, gates, etc are scheduled. (2,3)

Published survey (OS 1:1250 1961/62) of earthworks revised. (4)

Approximately 25 ft of low wall to north of No 9 (St Leonard's Place) (west side). Grade I. Roman. A low wall of restored heavy masonry approximately 25 ft in length which is a fragment of the south-west wall of the early C4 Roman Fortress.

Wall to south of footpath running from No 9 to Tower Street. (Tower Place). Grade II*. Late medieval appearance, the east part possibly a fragment of city wall. (5)

City wall, gates, posterns, moat and mounds incl. Bayle Hill - Scheduled York SE 601524 - 605524. (6)

The gunports in the walLs are of five clear types, and date to the second half of the 15th century. (7)

Full architectural description of the Mediaeval defences. Three types of interval tower are present, the semi-circular dating to 1266-1318, the rectangular from circa 1300-1349, and the demi-hexagonal from 1300-1449. (8)

CBA research reports 58-9 14 - 1975 Medieval Towns in England and Wales. Council for British Archaeology

Sources:
1 Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date) OS 1:1250 1961/2
2 A history of Yorkshire: the city of York 510-4 1961 (Tillott) edited by P M Tillott
3 Scheduled Monument Notification List Anc Mons 1961 106 (MOW)
4 Field Investigators Comments Emsley, R W 06-Jun-63 RCHME Field Investigation
5 List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest DOE (HHR) City of York N Yorks June 1983 289 and 354
6 List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest DOE (HHR) AMs Eng 1 1977 64
7 Fort : the international journal of fortification and military architecture 85 4, 1977 Fortress Study Group
8 An inventory of the historical monuments in the City of York. Volume II: the defences Royal Commission on Historical Monuments, England

NMR Related Objects

AF1189556 RCHME: Vale of York NMP, SE 65 SW
BF061946 CITY WALLS, YORK
BF061947 CITY WALLS, YORK
BF061948 York City Wall, York
OP07537 The city walls in York looking north-east towards York Minster

RCHME, 1972, An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in the City of York, Volume II The Defences (Monograph). SYO63.

1980, Who saved York Walls? The roles of William Etty and the Corporation of York (Article in serial). SYO3089.

City of York Council, 1991, 1991 City Walls Structural Survey (Unpublished document). SYO2265.

PLB, 2004, York City Walls Conservation Management Plan (Unpublished document). SYO1733.

PLB, 2004, York City Walls Interpretation and Access (Unpublished document). SYO1734.

NMR, 2019, NMR data (Digital archive). SYO2214.

Donald Insall Associates, 2021, York City Walls Conservation Management Plan (Unpublished document). SYO2629.