Micklegate Bar Museum

Micklegate Bar Museum

The term bar is simply an old Viking word for gate. There are three bars (or gates) in York. Bootham Bar to the North, Monk Bar to the East and of course the grand Micklegate Bar which you see before you. I wanted to bring you to Mickelgate particularly as it is the only one of the three that still has a working portcullis. Did you know that if the Queen wants to visit York then she must stop right outside Mickelgate Bar and wait until the Lord Mayor grants her permission before entering? This is a tradition that 6 previous monarchs have respected as historically the impressive Micklegate was the main entrance into the city from anyone coming from the South. Monarchs must also touch the State sword before entering the city. The name Mickelgate derives from the term Micklelith which means great street or mykla gata (the Norse word with the same meaning). In the medieval era there were four main gates, but Mickelgate was always considered the most important and was always used for large scale events, parades and festivities. Up until the late eighteenth century, the area above the gate was used to display the severed heads of traitors and rebels.
Our next part of the tour will take us round the city walls which are such an exciting and interesting part of York. Since Roman times the city of York has been defending these very walls in one way or another. In the past it was common for English cities to rely on walls as a means of defence, but nowadays it is rare to find an English city with much remaining city wall. In fact, York is the English city which has the most miles of intact city wall!
The top portion of the bar was used as living quarters until very recently. Nowadays it is used as a museum. It displays the popular Henry VII Experience, which history buffs may choose to visit while they are in the area.
Next stop the York Memorial Gardens!

Photo:File:Micklegate Bar York England.jpg Author:Snapshots Of The Past Licensed under: CC-BY-SA-2.0