From the Irish Famine to the City Walls of York

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

To the accompaniment of traditional Irish folk music, see a display of historic maps and census records showing the arrival of Irish immigrants fleeing the Great Hunger in the 1840s and coming to settle by the walls of York in Walmgate.

See the official Heritage Open Days listing HERE

Come and see the original architecture of this 520 year old tower on York’s City Walls, complete with Tudor arches, intact spiral staircase and a complete garderobe still in place.

The displays will focus on the actual people who lived in the houses in Walmgate next to the City Walls, showing how their names appeared suddenly in the 1851 census, with their place of birth a named county in Ireland.

The display will tell the stories of case study families, following their descendants down the decades since 1851 to the present day.

There will be a launch event accompanied by traditional Irish folk music, and living descendants of the original Irish Immigrants will be invited.

The aim is to reach out to the community of residents in Walmgate, an area of underprivileged social housing, and very much a non-traditional audience for heritage, plus the wider community of people who have Irish backgrounds. The event will highlight the connection between the Irish immigration of the 1840s and the walls, introduce a new audience of local people to Fishergate Postern Tower and the heritage of the walls. The target is to introduce 500 new people from York to Fishergate Postern Tower, and raise their awareness of the heritage of the walls and ramparts, and the part their antecedents have played in the area.

Timings & Tours  =

Saturday 13 September:    From 10.00  to 16.00

Saturday 20 September:    From 10.00  to 16.00

Booking information

FREE entry and pre-booking not required.

Accessibility details

The building has a spiral staircase so no disabled access to the upper floors. Some of the display will be at ground floor level.

Additional information

Due to the size of the building, and restricted access on the stairs, the maximum mumber of people per tour will be limited to 24.

Press Release

Official Press Release is available  HERE.

Posted 5th Sept 2025  AF

Starting on Wednesday 10^th September 2025 the City of York Council (CYC) will be launching “tap to donate” on the city walls.   

Inside Bootham Bar there will be 2 tap to donate points, and a website at  https://www.york.gov.uk/form/YorkWallsDonate  where donations can be made.

CYC are responsible for the care and maintenance of York’s City Walls. It costs over £500,000 annually to fund the maintenance of the City Walls, keeping them free and accessible for visitors and residents alike. This cost is solely borne by the City of York Council and, given the well-publicised financial situation all local authorities face, any donations received will go towards ensuring the walls remain open and free to access, as well as improving interpretation and signage.

The Friends of York Wall support this initiative to ensure that York’s City Walls remain free and accessible for all enjoy.

Posted 4th Sept 2025   AF

Open Days for Fishergate Postern Tower – 2025

Located @  Junction of Piccadilly and Lead Mill Lane  YORK   YO1 9AF

Climb the spiral staircase of this early Tudor tower, work the model portcullis and find a remarkably complete garderobe, masons’  marks, re-used roof beams and our displays, including brand new replicas reborn from fragments found in our recent archaeological dig.

Disabled Access (Partial – ground floor only)

These events are provided by volunteers of The Friends of York Walls.  We are also looking for new Volunteers, new Committee Members and new Trustees.  There would be no pressure for you to devote any more time or effort than you feel comfortable with.  If you are interested, or would like to get involved, please pop along for a chat one open day or email  us at    friendsofyorkwalls@yorkwalls.org.uk

These opening dates of Fishergate Postern Tower are a part of our 2025 season.  Check back here to see any updates or last minute changes !

For all 2025 open days please see    HERE

Our 2025 Information Leaflet  (Issue 1  January 2025)  is available    HERE 

Updated 4th Sept 2025    AF

Fishergate Postern Tower was open on Saturday 31st May and on Saturday 7th June for two special bookable events as part of the York Festival of Ideas 2025

See York Festival of Ideas website and details HERE 

BOTH events at FPT were FREE – but each person had to book a ticket in advance via EventBright.

BOTH EVENTS HAVE NOW PASSED –

On Saturday 31st May – Event details were =

This event was designed for children and their families.

Adults wishing to explore the tower were encouraged to sign up for one of our ‘Medieval Masons’ Marks Tours‘ on Saturday 7 June. 

Come along and hunt for medieval masons’ marks in the 500-year-old Fishergate Postern Tower. We know there are at least 81, so why not see how many you can find?

With three floors, a spiral staircase and an unusually complete medieval toilet – known as a ‘garderobe’ – there’s plenty for all the family to explore. Then watch a professional stonemason cut a mark on stone and, if you like, design your own!

Workshops run every hour from 10am to 3pm, so please sign up for the session of your choice.

Hosted by Friends of York Walls, these sessions are suitable for families only. Every person attending (children and parents/carers) needs to book an individual ticket as numbers are limited.

On Saturday 7th June – Event details were =

Hosted by Friends of York Walls, these sessions are suitable for adults only.  (14+ ?)

Fishergate Postern Tower is unusual in having so many Medieval masons’ marks in good condition on its internal walls – 81 of them to date. Hear what current expert opinion is on their purpose and view them with torches on a guided tour.

Then watch a professional stonemason cut a mark on stone and, if you like, design your own!

Tours last one hour and will run between 10am and 3pm, so please sign up for the tour of your choice.

Hosted by Friends of York Walls, these sessions are suitable for adults only. Every person attending needs to book an individual ticket as numbers are limited.

Published 26 May 2025   / Updated  Sept 2025   AF