Posterns were small gates protected by towers at five places around the York walls. These were at Skeldergate, North Street, Layerthorpe, Fishergate and Castlegate.

In the early 19th century the Council were determined to remove all the city walls and gates. They made a start by demolishing Skeldergate Postern in 1807 but a court action by the Archbishop (who was entitled to certain tolls collected at York's gates) stopped the Council and awarded damages to the Archbishop. The City's determination returned in the 1820s and Castlegate Postern (1826) and Layerthorpe Postern (1829) were demolished. North Street Postern, which could have escaped but for the coming of the railway, was rebuilt in 1840 to allow railway access to coal yards, leaving Fishergate Postern which alone escaped as, fortunately, it could be by-passed due to infilling of the river bank on which it was initially sited.

York Within the Walls: Ouse Walk

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