Fishergate Postern Tower

The Tower was built around 1505 where the City Walls ended on the banks of a swollen river Foss, with York Castle on the opposite bank. The narrow, 500 year old stairs twist to the right as you go up, making it difficult for a right-handed attacker to use a sword (or any weapon) as effectively as a defender facing him from above. The stairs take you up to the first floor room, which has a small twisted corridor off it leading to the garderobe, for human waste to drop straight into the river. The Foss had been made very broad by the building of a dam in the time of William the Conqueror, which raised the level of the river so it flooded the land between the Tower and the Castle, where the modern road called Piccadilly is.

You can see the modern lie of the land if you continue up the spiral staircase to the top floor (look out for masons’ marks on your way) and look through the windows, which were the open embrasures of battlements for the first few years of the Tower’s life. The roof beams may be older than the Tower itself: the roof was added in the late 1500s, using second hand timbers that carry obvious signs of their earlier uses.

Timings & Tours

Saturday 07 September:

1000-1600

Saturday 14 September:

1000-1600

Location & directions

Fishergate Postern Tower, Piccadilly, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 9AF

Directions:

Junction of Piccadilly and Lead Mill Lane, in front of the Postern Gate pub/Travelodge. (w3w: "debate.stops.harp")

Contact on day:

Bill Hill

Telephone number:

+447810833625

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking not required

Accessibility details

Wheelchair access to the ground floor only. Access to the upper floors is via a narrow spiral staircase, probably not suitable for anyone with mobility limitations or fear of confined spaces. Volunteer guides are on hand outside and on the top floor to answer questions and to help visitors if needed. Virtual tour available on the ground floor.

Additional information

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.

Max no of people per tour:

24

Est. tour duration:

0 hour(s) 15 minute(s)

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