Paving Works at Walmgate Bar

Approaching Walmgate bar I could see a yellow JCB working next to the bar and wondered what was going on. When I got to the bar there was a lot of activity with new paving stones having been laid and distinct cycle track visible going through the barbican.


The work also includes a light controlled pedestrian crossing by the bar so that walkers do not have to divert a couple of hundred yards along Walmgate to cross from one side to the other.

Ebor Morris tour the city walls

The subtitle to this piece could well have been "Ebor Morris tour the Bars and Bars of York".

The musicians by Monk Bar.

Inside the walls at Walmgate bar.

The dances have been around for a long time so the sign is probably appropriate!

Sherrif's ride performed outside Walmgate Bar and then time for a beer, but what a shame that the Rook and Gaskill didn't open at 12:00 as shown on the list of opening times on the door.

Oh dear, no drink here so we did a dance without music as a requim for a pub we have enjoyed in the past!

After refreshing ourselves in the Swan we returned to the walls to perform at the corner by Baile Hill that overlooks the Swan.

Time for another break at the Golden Ball in Bishophill.

I'm going to count to ten and when I open my eyes I am going to make this nasty brown stuff dissappear!

Interruption to the tour as the section f walls from Micklegate to Station Rise were closed. Although the notice said Monday to Friday and it was now Sunday the gate was locked. Looks like the work overran by a few days! This was an opportune time to go and do our half hour session in King's Square

King's Square brought out loads of photographers as a half hour session was performed for the York Carnival. After a short refreshment stop in the Blue Bell a few stalwarts continued the tour and headed off towards Bootham Bar to continue the last section of available wall.

More tourists taking photos in the rain as Stu gets ready to do a solo jig by York Minster.

The lad does a solo jig outside the Minster.

The hardest part of touring the city walls is getting the sticks up and down the steps. A short video clip of the survivors dancing at Robin Hood Tower can be seen on UTube http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=50-MeI0Wf1Y

The lad does another solo jig, where does he get the energy?

With much ceremony the sticks were dropped at the bottom of the stairs at Monk Bar to mark the end of the tour at the point that it had begun in the morning.

Well, another round on the bag didn't do us any harm (well not too much). The survivors relaxing at the Tap & Spile in Monkgate.

Walmgate Bar

To my mind Walmgate Bar is probably the most dramatic of the gates into York simply because it still retains a barbican. At one time traffic used to pass into the city centre through the arch but as lorries became bigger and wider carrying heavier loads it became a frequent occurence for lorries to get stuck and damage the stonework of the bar. As a result traffic has been re-routed to the right where it can pass through a broader arch in the wall next to the bar. Cyclists as you can see in the above picture can still pass through the central opening.