6 stunning photos reveal York’s historic walls through the seasons
York's historic walls by the railway station
6 photos of York's historic bar walls through the seasons - by WILLIAM THACKRAY
IN early August The Press told the story of how as ten-year-old I came to York on a school trip from Rotherham in 1955.
And I was completely bowled over – “solid gone” with York just like Baloo was “solid gone” with the monkeys’ jazz music in “Jungle Book”!
Now a retired vicar in my eighties and living in Northallerton I’ve completed four photographic books about the history of York.
One of them is about the city walls so let me share a few of my pictures with you.
- Here is the wall across the road from York station. It’s a beautiful bright spring day and the daffodils and almond blossom are at their very best. The medieval wall here has the earlier Roman wall beneath it, adding to the deep sense of history.
York's historic walls by the railway station
- The walls are famous for their annual feast of daffodils – and how better to admire them than by looking back towards the Minster from Layerthorpe? The wall here has parted company with the Roman wall so it’s entirely medieval (unless there are any Viking bits underneath). One of my favourite spots along the walls.
Looking back from Layerthorpe
- Let’s enjoy a different season now. Here is Walmgate Bar as the cold of winter comes to York. Most of it dates from the 14th century, including that huge and magnificent barbican – although it would have been a thoroughly nasty place to get caught up in, like the Roundhead attackers did in the Siege of York in 1644. Rather them than me!
Walmgate Bar - photo by William Thackray
- Now it’s autumn in glorious colour and we’re on our way to Micklegate Bar along the southern stretch of the wall, just before it rejoins the Roman remains beneath us. Over the trees you can just see the beautiful little church of St Mary Bishophill Junior.
A view northwards at St Mary's, Bishophill Junior
- From the sublime to the ridiculous. Here’s one of the pictures I drew after my 1955 visit to York from Herringthorpe Junior School in Rotherham. Here we are at Monk Bar looking in from the outside and with a good bit of artistic licence! But don’t look at the structure: instead admire the squiggles. Definitely Rembrandtesque, wouldn’t you say?
William Thackray's schoolboy sketch of Monk Bar from 1955 from a memorable trip to York
- Finally one of the classic views of the walls, looking northwards from Toft Tower towards the Minster. More wonderful than ever in the depth of winter.
Wintry picture looking towards York Minster - by William Thackray
Recommended reading:
- 'My 70-year love affair with York – in 6 iconic photos'
- Before Primark and Sports Direct – 9 'lost' York shops we want back
- 127 years and still standing: the remarkable story of York's 'Morrisons chimney'
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If you love delving into York's past and seeing photos and reading stories from yesteryear then make sure you check The Press every day for its regular nostalgia stories. And don't miss our eight-page nostalgia supplement every Wednesday in the paper.
We also have more than 10,000 members in our online nostalgia group on Facebook, Why We Love York - Memories. It is free to join and you will find us at www.facebook.com/groups/yorknostalgia/.
It would be great to see your old photos of York - and they don't have to be from centuries ago. We all love seeing old photos from our recent past, and some of our more popular stories with readers date from the 70s, 80s and 90s.
If you have a nostalgia story for us, please email maxine.gordon@thepress.co.uk.