Fishergate Bar, York

Fishergate Bar is one of the smaller gateways in York’s historic city walls and stands on the southern side of the city. Like Victoria Bar, it is considered a minor Bar, consisting of a central archway flanked by two smaller pedestrian arches.

The gateway was first recorded in 1315 as Barram Fishergate. Its name probably refers to the nearby King’s Fishpond, a large flooded area associated with fishing. The present structure was built in 1487 under the authority of York’s mayor, Sir William Todd. A stone above the arch bears the York coat of arms and a Latin inscription recording that sixty yards of the wall, including the Bar, were built during his mayoralty.

Just two years later, Fishergate Bar suffered severe damage during the Yorkshire Revolt of 1489. Angry citizens protesting against heavy taxation under Henry VII burned the gateway following the murder of Henry Percy, 4th Earl of Northumberland. The fire left some of the stones reddened and cracked, traces of which can still be seen near the base. Rather than being repaired, the gateway was bricked up and remained closed until 1834, when it was reopened to provide access to the cattle market.

Today, a commemorative plaque recalls the events of 1489. Though smaller and quieter than York’s principal Bars, Fishergate offers a fascinating glimpse into the city’s turbulent past and provides access to a less crowded section of the York City Walls.