Category: Latest News

 

A  NEW  Friends of York Walls Audio Guide  = “York’s City Walls Audio Trail” – for SmartPhone / Tablet – is now available to download through your ‘app store’  by searching for the free Guide.AI  travel app.    “York’s City Walls Audio Trail”  is then = Guide ID Number 80.

Full details are HERE

It’s so easy. The Guide.AI app is free, and the York’s City Walls Audio Trail only costs £1.99 !    For this you get 27 map points, over 100 mins of audio & the full text.

“York’s City Walls Audio Trail” is based on the Walls Trail information and pages on the Friends of York Walls website, and the book “A Walking Guide to York’s City Walls” by Simon Mattam, produced for the Friends of York Walls.

In the Guide.AI app & Guide ID.80  the “York’s City Walls Audio Trail” is divided into sections, as indicated by the “Map Points”, and a “List View”, on a detailed map of York, and GPS links. This audio guide starts at Exhibition Square, by Bootham Bar, and is designed to help you enjoy a circular walk, with descriptions, and “Map Point” numbers, going clockwise.  However, The Walls can be walked in either direction. You can also select particular bits of The Walls to walk on, as there are about a dozen places where you can access the wall-walk. These are indicated by a Dark Red “title banner” on the apps “Map Point” images. This audio guide gives you an introduction to each section, with more details available on the Friends of York Walls website at yorkwalls.org.uk

The “York’s City Walls Audio Trail”  is initially released in English, but other languages may be added, if there is sufficient demand. Once the initial download fee of just £1.99 has been paid any updates to the app and the Walls Guide will be available to download without further payment.

Some user reviews have said =

“Good guide to walking York’s historic walls.”

“This has been a fantastic guide round this amazing place. It’s given us loads of information we wouldn’t have taken in had it just been there to read. Very well put together and I look forward to looking out others to listen too.”

“Excellent guide for a self guided walk around York’s City Walls. Lots of interesting facts and information.”

“Fabulous way to spend a morning. loved it. Informative and easy to use. Listened to commentary using headphones and walked the whole circuit. can recommend.”

 

Updated  20th June 2023   A F
Reposted 5th November 2023   AF

 

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Fishergate Postern Tower will be open from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 28th October and on Saturday 11th November.

Entry is FREE but any donations are welcome !

These will be the last planned opening days for the 2023 season.  FPT will officially re-open for York’s Residents Weekend at the end of January 2024. There may be additional occasional pop-up open days over the winter so watch this space.

Don’t miss the annual York Walls Twilight Walks – from Monday 30th October to Thursday 2nd November.   The Walls from Bootham Bar Gateway to Monk Bar Gateway, passing behind York Minster, will be lit by fairy lights, creating a unique atmosphere. The Walls close at dusk and are rarely open in the evening, so ‘Twilight Walls’ offers the unique chance to experience the Walls and the views from this vantage point at night.  This is a BOOKED event – with multiple half hour sessions each evening from 19:00.

For details and booking see example at =
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Published 17th October 2023   af
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“York Unlocked 2023” –

Fishergate Postern Tower and Tower 39 will be open on 7th & 8th October

On Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th October 2023 various places in York, not normally open to the public, will be “Unlocked” for you to visit.

Tower 39 on York’s City Walls is one of these locations.    See the York Unlocked Website details  HERE

‘York Unlocked’, in partnership with City of York Council, Friends of York Walls and York Walls Festival present an extremely rare opportunity to see inside one of the corner towers on York’s Bar Walls that is usually inaccessible to the public.

Booking for Tower 39 is via the Eventbright link and is ESSENTIAL before you visit.

Fishergate Postern Tower will be open 7th and 8th October from 10am to 4pm –  but NO BOOKING IS NECESSARY

Walking Guides to “York’s City Walls Trail” can be found HERE  and details of the “Walls Audio Trail”   HERE

 

Please read the conditions of entry for Tower 39 before reserving a ticket

Please note that there are strict conditions for entry, and by reserving a free ticket you acknowledge the conditions and agree to abide by them without exception. You also agree that you will unfortunately be refused entry if you do not adhere exactly to the conditions. The York Unlocked volunteer’s decision is final in all circumstances.

The conditions are in place for your own safety. ‘York Unlocked’ are responsible for this event. Please do not contact City of York Council or Friends of York Walls with any enquiries.

Contact: connect@york-unlocked.org.uk

Conditions of entry to ‘York Unlocked: Tower 39 on York’s Bar Walls’:

– By reserving a ticket you acknowledge that York Unlocked may unfortunately have to cancel your visit with no notice, This would happen if your safety could not be guaranteed due to unforeseen or unavoidable circumstances.

– All visitors must wear substantial footwear suitable for uneven floor surfaces. Bare feet, sandals, high heels etc. will not be admitted. Weatherproof clothing is also required.

– By reserving a ticket I understand that I am entering a small, dark, damp, dusty and dirty historic space. The approach to the tower is across sloping grass which may be damp and muddy.

– The venue is not suitable for young people under 10 years of age or people with mobility issues and disabilities.

– Large bags, backpacks and luggage will not be permitted inside the venue. There are no luggage, baggage or buggy storage facilities. There are no toilet or hand-washing facilities.

– By reserving a ticket I agree to follow the instructions of the York Unlocked volunteers immediately and without question, while on the site.

– COVID-19: there are no restrictions in place for visiting this location, but bear in mind you will be sharing your visit to this small space with four other people. You are welcome to take precautions.

– By reserving a ticket I agree to still or moving images of me being potentially used in online and printed articles, promotions and posts.

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To find Tower 39 please head to Fishergate Postern Tower at the south end of Piccadilly (YO1 9AF), opposite the ‘Postern Gate’ Wetherspoons public house. Please enter the grassed area inside the Walls and walk up to the inside corner where the Walls turn eastward and you will see our volunteers waiting to welcome you. Please feel free to ask a volunteer at Fishergate Postern Tower if you cannot find Tower 39.

Tower 39 is very close to Fishergate Postern Tower, another fascinating building on York’s Bar Walls, that is taking part in ‘York Unlocked’. Please leave additional time (around half an hour) to visit this tower as well. There is no need to reserve a ticket for Fishergate Postern Tower (open from 10.00 to 16.00 both days), but you may need to wait for entry if the maximum number of people allowed are already in the tower.

The Phoenix Inn is also extremely close-by, and is a wonderful historic pub situated just inside the Walls at Fishergate Bar. The Phoenix is taking part in ‘York Unlocked’ so please feel free to pop in and have a look around, even if you do not wish to have a drink. Please check opening times as they may not be the same as those for York Unlocked.

DOWNLOAD your York Unlocked programme via this link.

 

Published 3 Oct 2023     AF

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Fishergate Postern Tower be open for the “2023 Heritage Weekends”
On  Saturday 9th September from 10:00 to 16:00
and  Saturday 16th September from 10:00 to 16:00

See inside this watch-tower on York’s City Walls. Infrequently open to the public, our volunteers are on hand to show off the spiral staircase, Tudor toilet and timber roof. Find out about the history of the Walls and look out for any approaching invaders!    The Tower was built around 1504 where the City Walls ended on the banks of a swollen river Foss, with York Castle on the opposite bank.

This opening is part of the national 2023 Heritage Open Days events – details HERE  and  HERE

The Fishergate Postern Tower listing is HERE

No need to book but Max 24 people per tour/session.  Fishergate Postern Tower (FPT) is opened on other occasions by the Friends of York Walls. Visit the Friends website for more information about FPT and the Walls. Join Friends of York Walls, via the website (or just get our e-newsletter for free!), and find out about the Sponsor a Stone project, which allows members of the public to contribute towards the refurbishment and maintenance of FPT.    www.yorkwalls.org.uk

 

 

Published 1st Sept 2023  AF

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