Category: Latest News

Friends of York Walls – Get-together and Talk on Wednesday 19th November at 19:30

Following our successful outing to Berwick-upon-Tweed, the next social gathering for FoYW volunteers will be on Wednesday 19th November at The Black Swan, Peasholme Green, York (near Layerthorpe Postern) at 19:30 to 21:30 in their upstairs room.

All FoYW volunteers and their guests are welcome to this event, which is FREE – but there is a room limit of 30 – so please get your ticket here – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/friends-of-york-walls-get-together-and-talk-tickets-14160122307

We will also be treated to a talk on the restoration of Howsham Mill by Ms Jen Wakefield, the Mill’s Events and Education Officer. Howsham Mill, on the River Derwent between York and Malton, was derelict in 2003 but has now been beautifully restored: www.howshammill.org.uk

The Black Swan has a car park and racks for cycles on site. The meeting room is free of charge – the management would just like you to buy a drink whilst you are there!

If you went on the FoYW Berwick outing and have photos to share – even on a USB stick – then bring them along for us to look at.

Get your copy of “A Walking Guide to York’s City Walls” – £6 at the event. An ideal Christmas present for someone ! We look forward to seeing you!

An article on Friends of York Walls is featured in the Dalesman magazine November 2014.

The Dalesman magazine has included a four page article on the Friends of York Walls in its November 2014 issue of the magazine. The article, entitled “A friendship built on solid foundations” is by
Andrew Gallon who meets the group preserving York’s Bar Walls.

The Dalesman is available for £2.80 at retail outlets, by subscription or online purchase.

A scan of the original article is available HERE

On 29th & 30th October Walk the Walls at night – from Bootham Bar to Monk Bar (One Way) open from 6:00pm to 9:00pm as part of the “Illuminating York 2014” festival.

This event is organised by the Friends of York Walls and will give you the opportunity to see night time views of floodlit York Minster from the walls, which are not normally possible. FoYW Guides will be on hand + Book Sales at Bootham Bar.

START at Bootham Bar – ONE WAY ONLY. Last entry 8:45pm. Normal wall walk restrictions apply. Opening subject to weather and safety conditions. Walk at your own risk. All children MUST be accompanied. NO pushchairs.

This event is FREE – no booking necessary. Donations to FoYW would be appreciated to cover expenses.

You can also visit the Richard III Exhibition at the end of your walk (Admission charges apply).

Red Tower and Fishergate Tower will both be open between 10am and 4pm on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th September 2014.

This event, managed by The Friends of York Walls, is part of Heritage Open Days – organised by English Heritage so that people can visit places not normally open to the public.

When Red Tower was first opened by FoYW in January 2014, for the York Residents Weekend, a gecko was found lurking in the building. The gecko’s gone to a good home now, but visitors will be able to see inside this quaint little red brick building on Foss Islands Road, opposite Waitrose.

Built in 1492, it was the cause of a murder when city stonemasons became angry that the new tower was ordered in brick. At first the bricklayers were threatened and their tools stolen, but soon a bricklayer was found dead and a leading stone mason was charged with the crime.

Fishergate Postern Tower, at the end of Piccadilly, will also be open. There you can visit the upper floors, buy the new book “A Walking Guide to York’s City Walls”, and “Sponsor a Stone”

The Friends of York Walls are looking for volunteers to help show visitors around both Fishergate Tower and Red Tower. Anyone interested should contact:- friendsofyorkwalls@gmail.com  or see the website at https://www.yorkwalls.org.uk/

For information about other buildings opening in York for the event go to the Heritage Open Days website:- http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/