Year: 2019

The 2019 season of Open Days at Fishergate Postern Tower has now come to an end.  The next FPT opening, to start the 2020 season, will be The York Residents Weekend on 25th & 26th January 2020.

The planned open days for 2020 are available  HERE

Thank you to all the FOYW volunteers for all the time that you have put in during the year.  A summary of visitor figures for the tower is available  HERE
We need a new “Volunteer Co-ordinator”,  as Martin Hetherington, who has performed the role for over five years,  is to move on to new things.  Nearly 40,000 visitors have been to Fishergate Postern Tower since 2014, and the list of volunteers has changed somewhat since then.  Thank you to Martin for all your hard work.

If you would like to be the FOYW  Volunteer Co-ordinator please send an email to  friendsofyorkwalls@gmail.com

 

Share

It is with the greatest sadness that The Friends of York Walls have  to report the death of Christine (Chris) Dowell – a founder member and Trustee of FOYW.

Christine Jennifer Dowell passed away on Tuesday, September 24th 2019.  She died peacefully at home in the loving care of her family following a brave journey with motor neurone disease.  A wonderful wife, mother, grannie, friend and mentor to many.  Her knowledge, wisdom and guidance will remain with us all.

Chris Dowell and husband John, with a small group of friends, were founder members of The Friends of York Walls in 2011. They worked tirelessly for a number of years to build up the group  and promote York’s City Walls. Chris was Committee Secretary and later a Trustee. They took a very active part in the early days of openings at Fishergate Postern Tower until poorer health forced them to take a step back. Chris will be fondly remembered by all her friends and colleagues at FOYW,  and we pass on our deepest sympathy and condolences to John and to all of her family.    Rest In Peace,  Chris.

First FOYW Press Article published in 2011

3rd October 2019     A F

Share

Fishergate Postern Tower will be open from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 14th & Saturday 21st September as part of the national Heritage Open Days Festival. See more information  HERE 

The tower will then be open on Saturdays 5th & 26th October + Saturday 2nd November.  The tower is open on each date from 10am to 4pm.  These dates are part of our 2019 season of Open Days, and as always it will be FREE entry.

Do come along and see us, and have a chat.  Explore this unique 500 year old building,  now with a NEW display of the 2018 Archaeological Dig  +  improved lighting.

Share

The York Walls Festival 2019 has been a great success and will spur us on to make it into an annual event.  It will return on August 15th & 16th 2020.   Congratulations and well done to all those who gave their time and expertise to make the event happen.

Ebor Morris at Fishergate Bar on Sunday 11th August – part of York Walls Festival 2019

The 2019 event legacy has resulted in a number of things which will continue to be available beyond the festival.

At Fishergate Postern Tower we now have an excellent display of the December 2018 Archaeology Dig. This display will continue to be a major new feature of the tower and will be available to view at all future FPT open days.  The original of  “the comb” will unfortunately not be available,  but we hope that suitable replicas of the finds will continue to be exhibited.

The new lighting installed in FPT will continue to provide an enhanced visitor experience, and will form the basis for future plans to improve all aspects of the tower displays and interior features.

The Sharpstick Films recorded for FOYW and the 2019 Festival were shown at The Red Tower.  These are now available to watch via the following links:-

“Around the Walls in 14 minutes”  is available HERE

“Excerpts from Richard III” filmed inside FPT are available HERE

If you have any good walls related photos taken during the festival please share them with us on our Flickr page HERE  and at  and via our Twitter and Facebook accounts.

Share