arch, not used till about the latter monarch. In the siege of York, 1644, the bar and barbican received considerable injury, as the parliamentarians planted their cannon on the hills a short distance beyond the walls; but in 1648 it was thoroughly repaired. On the front of the bar, are the royal arms of Henry V.; and on the front of the barbican are represented the arms of York. The old door, wicket and portcullis still stand, and add much to the value of the bar.

Bootham Bar.

It

This bar stands on the north-west side of the city, and formed the approach from Edinburgh, Newcastle, Durham, and towns of the North-Riding of Yorkshire. is built of grit stone and is in shape like the other bars. The barbican was taken down in 1831; and but for the remonstrance from a public meeting of the citizens, held the 16th of February, 1832, the bar would have been removed. In the June of that year, the corporation voted £100. towards the repairs of the bar, provided the inhabitants of York would raise £200. The money was subscribed, and the bar was repaired. At the same time the street, at the west-side of the bar, was widened, and a new and excellent approach to the city formed. On the outer front of the bar, are two shields with the arms of the city; over which is a shield within a garter, greatly defaced. On the turrets are placed figures, similar to those on Micklegate Bar. The portcullis still retains its ancient position.

Monk Bar.

One who was well acquainted with the architectural treasures of England,* gave it as his opinion, that Monk bar is the most perfect specimen of this sort of architecture in the kingdom, and added, that every succeeding age will enhance its worth and curiosity. It forms the ap

• Britton.

proach to York from Scarbro', Malton, &c. It is said formerly to have been used as a prison for freemen of York; and there are two stories of vaulted chambers in the tower, which probably were used for that purpose. The archway is round, and the roof of it is beautifully groined; the foundation of the bar being like the others, of grit. On the exterior of the bar, beneath a gothic canopy, are the arms of old France, quartered with those of England, placed there when France was a tributary province of England; and on each side the city arms. From the top of the bar a splendid view of the Cathedral and the surrounding scenery, is obtained. The old portcullis is yet in existence, and can be examined from the first chamber within the bar.

Fishergate Bar.

This bar was blocked up from the reign of Henry VII. until the year 1827, when, inconsequence of the formation of new and capacious cattle market, on the ground without the residents of Walmgate and the adjoining districts, petitioned the corporation for its re-opening. On the centre of the bar, is an ancient stone with the city arms and an illegeble inscription beneath.

Victoria Bar.

This bar, leading from Bishophill to Clementhorpe, was erected, by voluntary subscriptions, in 1838, in the first mayoralty of George Hudson, Esq. It is a plain and neat structure; and forms a decided improvement to the property within and outside the walls, in that quarter. On opening the wall, a small gateway was found to have been anciently in the same place.

Fishergate Postern.

This is the only one of the old posterns now standing, and is well worthy of preservation. It is a solid building in the form of a square, and adjoins the walls, the restoration of which we have already mentioned.

The Red Tower.

The Red Tower,-generally neglected, is an object of peculiar interest. Its situation is remote; and the exterior can only be seen from fields out of the common road, at the north side of Walmgate Bar. As we have already noticed, this tower forms the termination of the walls in this part of the city; the base of it being washed by a small lake, formed by the Foss, now, by an impropriety of speech, called Foss islands, much frequented by skaters when the waters are frozen; formally an artificial dock, constructed by the Romans for the accommodation of their shipping, &c. The present tower is built of red brick and stands on a stone foundation, the same as the walls.

POPULATION OF YORK.

The population of York has increased rapidly of late years. In the year 1801, it was 16,145; in the year 1811, it was 18,217; and in 1821, it amounted to 20,787; and in 1831, it reached 26,320, not including the parish of St. Olave, Marygate, which is in the north-riding. We take the return of the population of 1831, from the report of the Poor Law commissioners for 1837, which was as follows:

Adding St. Olave, Marygate,* to this number, the population of York was, in 1831, 26,945 souls. Assuming that the population has continued to increase in the same • The parish of St. Olave, Marygate, not including Clifton, was 625, in 1831.

277

Liberty of Mint Yard,

166

Total 26,320