Fishergate Postern Tower

Updated April 15, 2024

Fishergate Postern Tower, York, England | “York has, since R… | Flickr

# Fishergate Postern Tower (York): the “end-of-the-walls” tower most visitors walk past

Fishergate Postern Tower sits at the Piccadilly end of York’s City Walls, right where the medieval defenses once met water and marshy ground by the River Foss. It’s not as famous as Micklegate Bar or York Minster—but if you care about how York actually defended itself (and how those defenses evolved), this is one of the most revealing spots on the circuit. Walls

## What Fishergate Postern Tower is (and why it’s here)

A “postern” is essentially a secondary gate—smaller, more controlled access than the main city bars. The current tower was built in the early 1500s, replacing an earlier 14th-century structure (often referenced as the Talkan Tower in local records). The rebuild is typically dated to roughly 1504–1509, with the York Historic Environment Record giving a tighter build window of 1505–1507. Walls

The location isn’t random. Historically, water separated this tower from York Castle, and the “gap” between fortifications was part of the defensive logic—wet ground and water barriers reduce the number of practical attack routes. One local-history summary notes that water once filled the space between the tower and the castle area, shaping why the walls effectively “end” here. Walls

## Architectural details that are easy to miss

From the outside, Fishergate Postern Tower reads as a solid, plain block of stone—built for function, not display. The more interesting details are about how it was used and adapted:

– Four floors and a spiral staircase: This is not a token turret—it’s a multi-level defensive building with internal circulation built in. Walls
– Masons’ marks: If you enjoy “human fingerprints” in historic buildings, this tower is known for having many. Walls
– A notably complete Tudor toilet: It’s a small detail, but it’s unusually specific—and it tells you the tower wasn’t just a perch; people spent time here. Walls
– Roof and top-floor changes: The York Walls Trust notes the roof was added in the late 1500s, turning open battlements into a ring of square openings around the top. The city record adds that timbers in the roof structure have been dated to roughly c.1600–1636, and that the battlements/embrasures were converted into unglazed windows when the pitched roof arrived. Walls

That last point matters: it shows how York’s defenses shifted over time—from active military architecture toward mixed-use civic structures, storage, and later preservation.

## How to work it into a York City Walls walk

Most people experience Fishergate Postern Tower as a “marker” on the wall circuit rather than a destination. If you want it to make sense, approach it as part of the wider defensive landscape:

### A short, high-impact route (great if you’re time-limited)
1. Start near Clifford’s Tower / Tower Gardens (for the castle context).
2. Walk toward Piccadilly and the Fishergate Postern Tower area to see where the walls meet the former wet defenses. Walls
3. Continue via Fishergate Bar onto the wall-walk, heading either:
– west toward Fishergate Postern / Piccadilly end, or
– east toward Walmgate Bar. | AccessAble

### Practical note about wall gates (time-sensitive)
The City of York notes that the wall-walk gates close at dusk, and the locking process runs anticlockwise starting from Fishergate Postern Tower, taking about an hour. Because seasonal schedules change, treat any specific closing times as perishable and confirm on the council page before you go. of York Council

## Accessibility & inclusivity: what to expect on the ground

York’s walls are historic infrastructure—meaning access varies dramatically by entry point.

– Stepped access at Fishergate Bar: AccessAble documents 16 steps leading toward Fishergate Postern (from Fishergate Bar), with approximate step height around 19cm and depth around 28cm, and steps not clearly marked. If you have limited mobility, balance concerns, or are traveling with a pushchair, that’s useful reality—not a footnote. | AccessAble
– Plan an accessible alternative: Even if you don’t go up onto the walls here, you can still appreciate the tower from street level and stitch together a mostly level route around the nearby streets and riverside paths.

If you’re writing this up for readers, it’s worth framing it clearly: Fishergate Postern Tower is a strong “street-level history” stop even if the wall-walk isn’t feasible for everyone.

## What to look for when you’re standing there

This is the quick “make it meaningful” checklist:

– Orientation: Notice you’re at a defensive edge—this is the end of the wall circuit near Piccadilly. Walls
– The tower-to-castle relationship: The historic record emphasizes the earlier water separation between this point and York Castle defenses. Imagine a wet buffer zone instead of today’s dry, urban streets. Walls
– Top-floor alterations: Those square openings near the top aren’t just aesthetic; they reflect a structural change from battlements to a roofed, windowed top floor. Walls

## Tips for photographers (without overpromising)

– Best angle for scale: Step back along Piccadilly so you can frame the tower with the adjacent wall line—showing it as part of a system, not a standalone building.
– Texture shots: The stonework is the story here; details like tooling marks and transitions between wall sections photograph well in side light.
– Low light: If you’re out near dusk, remember the wall gates close at dusk and the locking starts here—don’t get caught planning to exit later via the wall-walk. of York Council

## Quick fact recap (grounded)
– Built in the early 1500s (often cited ~1504–1509; city record 1505–1507), replacing an earlier 14th-century tower. Walls
– Known for four floors, spiral stair, masons’ marks, and an unusually complete Tudor toilet. Walls
– Later roof/top-floor changes likely date to the late 1500s / early 1600s, converting battlements/embrasures into a roofed, windowed upper level. Walls
– Nearby wall access via Fishergate Bar involves steps; toward Fishergate Postern is documented as 16 steps. | AccessAble

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