Year: 2020

FISHERGATE POSTERN TOWER –

will re-open with restricted numbers from Saturday 4th July with measures in place to comply with the latest Government Guidelines regarding the safety of our visitors, our volunteers, and members of the general public.  See separate posting for more details and the COVID19 risk assessment

YORK’S CITY WALLS –

are managed by the City of York who have announced that from Saturday 4th July all of the city walls will be open with signage indicating a ‘one-way’ clockwise system. These restrictions may well be changed if Coronavirus circumstances change.

The Walls will be open daily in a CLOCKWISE direction ONLY.  Information about the new one way system, including an “annotated zoomable map” is available at =  www.york.gov.uk/CityWalls 

ENTRY and EXIT ONLY points for the Elevated Wall Walk sections are as follows =

BOOTHAM BAR = ENTRY ONLY towards Monk Bar
MONK BAR internal steps = NO ENTRY = EXIT from Bootham Bar direction (except for access to Richard III Museum)
MONK BAR external steps = ENTRY ONLY towards Layerthorpe Bridge
LAYERTHORPE BRIDGE = NO ENTRY = EXIT from Monk Bar direction
RED TOWER = ENTRY ONLY towards Walmgate Bar
WALMGATE BAR north side = NO ENTRY = EXIT from Red Tower direction
WALMGATE BAR south side = ENTRY ONLY towards Fishergate Bar
FISHERGATE BAR east side = NO ENTRY = EXIT from Walmgate Bar direction
FISHERGATE BAR west side = ENTRY ONLY towards Fishergate Postern Tower
FISHERGATE POSTERN TOWER = NO ENTRY = EXIT from Fishergate Bar direction.
BAILE HILL = ENTRY ONLY towards Victoria Bar / Micklegate Bar
VICTORIA BAR = NO ENTRY = EXIT ONLY
MICKLEGATE BAR (SE side) = ENTRY ONLY towards Lendal Bridge (and access to Henry VII Museum)
MICKLEGATE BAR (NW side Bar Lane) = NO ENTRY = EXIT from Victoria Bar / Micklegate Bar
STATION RISE = NO ENTRY = EXIT ONLY
LENDAL BRIDGE / BARKER TOWER = NO ENTRY = EXIT ONLY from Micklegate Bar direction.
NOTE there is NO ENTRY at LENDAL BRIDGE / BARKER TOWER going towards Micklegate Bar.

This system is being undertaken as a trial, and will be monitored for comprehension and compliance,  with revision if necessary.

STAY AT HOME – and visit York’s Walls and Fishergate Postern Tower on-line –

York’s City Walls are CLOSED until further notice.

Fishergate Postern Tower is CLOSED until further notice.

The 2020 “York Walls Festival” organisers released the following statement on 24th March  2020 =

Statement – York Walls Festival 2020

“Like all groups organising events this summer, we are faced with the realism that ordinary life will be on hold for many months. Only yesterday the Bar Walls themselves were closed to help reduce the spread of Covid-19. Given it is nearly five months until the festival though, on August 15 & 16, there is also a hint of optimism that the worst may be over by then. Even as a small festival, the uncertainty over whether government restrictions will be in place makes planning difficult.

We will therefore keep the situation under review, but certain events due to take place outdoors like an archery event at Baile Hill and a theatre piece between Red Tower and Fishergate Postern Tower will be cancelled. Talks may be postponed or delivered as online videos. Indeed, the festival committee will see what activities we can take forwards online (at www.yorkwallsfestival.org and via Social Media), and look at developing resources to share our wonderful heritage more widely.

During the planning so far for this year’s festival, the committee have agreed on our vision and noted the audiences we are looking to attract. This will be posted on Twitter (@WallsYork) shortly.

As we scale back our 2020 plans, at least we can confirm our dates for 2021: Aug 14 & 15 next year. Updates regarding festival plans will be shared online. Finally, may the festival committee wish everyone well for the months ahead. Times will be hard, but everyday life will eventually resume, and we look forward to enjoying the City Walls with you when it does.

In line with Government Coronavirus Guidelines the planned OPEN DAYS at Fishergate Postern Tower are now CANCELLED until further notice.

You can still visit the interior of Fishergate Postern Tower in a safe and virtual way using our new FPT VR Tour  available  HERE

The FOYW  AFM will  be postponed to a later date, and our “committee meetings” will be conducted  electronically.

The City Walls are controlled and managed by the City of York Council (CYC) who have announced   “The City Walls will be closed until further notice to ensure we are supporting the government’s social distancing messages.”