York City Walls (St Mary's & St Leonard's)

The St Mary's and St Leonard's section of York City Walls covers the main city defences in the St Leonard's area, plus the defences for St Mary's Abbey.

The standing remains of York City Walls and St Mary's Abbey defences have been designated Scheduled Ancient Monuments and are Grade I listed.

From circa 1354 to the end of the 17th century, a wall ran parallel with the bank of the River Ouse from a point a few yards to the southwest of Tower A (which was part of St Mary's Abbey defences) towards Lendal Tower (which was part of the main city defences). However, all traces of this river-facing wallhad been completely removed by 1736, as recorded in the following contemporary account:

The foundations of the wall which faced and ran parallel with the river, were of late years dug up, which I my self saw run very deep in the ground, and all ashler stone. The stone was carried to build the Staith, or Key, on, which is now at Lendal-ferry. The kitchens and other offices of the abbey have been built near this wall; some vestiges of them do yet appear.

Source: Drake, F., Eboracum: History and Antiquities of the City of York (1736), p577.

General views of the Walls

Image 1

Photo as per caption. Opens larger version. — The outer face of the defensive wall for St Mary's Abbey on either side of 29 Marygate. Interval Tower C is visible in the distance (left).

Image 2

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Image 7

Key locations associated with this section of the City's defences

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Map

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1	Water Tower The Water Tower (aka Marygate Landing Tower) was built beside the River Ouse circa 1320 - 1324 during works to strengthen the defences of St Mary's Abbey. Read more
2	Esplanade Access Arch The pedestrian arch beside the Water Tower in York was inserted into the defensive wall of St Mary's Abbey in 1836 to facilitate construction of the Esplanade.
3	St Mary's Abbey Gatehouse The external arch and adjoining side-walls are all that remains of the main gatehouse of St Mary's Abbey. The arch has been dated to the late 12th century.
4	St Mary's Tower St Mary's Tower was built circa 1324. It was damaged during the Civil War, then partially repaired. The damage and the repairs are still evident today. Read more
5	Postern Tower The rectangular Postern Tower (aka Bootham Tower) was built in 1497 to protect St Mary's Abbey and to control access via the adjacent postern (gateway). Read more
6	Queen Margaret's Arch Queen Margaret's Arch (aka Bootham Postern) was built in 1497 to provide a more convenient entrance for the Abbot’s house (now known as the King’s Manor). Read more
7	Cross-sections through Defensive Bank (Rampart) This set of four of cross-sections through the ramparts show how this section of the city's defences evolved over a period of more than thirteen centuries. Read more
8	Multangular Tower The Grade I listed Multangular Tower incorporates the base of the second century* western angle tower of the Roman legionary fortress of Eboracum. Read more
9	Lendal Tower When Lendal Tower was built in the early 14th century, it was a small drum tower (similar to Barker Tower, on the opposite bank of the river). Read more

York City Walls (St Mary's & St Leonard's)

General views of the Walls

Key locations associated with this section of the City's defences

Map

Further reading