18 A MEDIEVAL CITY

by solid wood) that could be lowered or raised at
will in grooves at the sides of the entrance opening.
The ends of the vertical posts at the bottom formed
a row of spikes which were shod with iron. The
points of these spikes entered the ground when
the portcullis was lowered. Beyond, there were the
wooden gates of the inner opening.

The city Walls, of which the present remains
date from the reign of Edward III., were broad,
crenellated walls of limestone, on a high mound
which was protected without by a parallel deep
moat. At the north, east, south, and west corners
there were massive bastions, and between these,
at short intervals, smaller towers. Besides being
crenellated the raised front of the wall itself was
often pierced with slits shaped for the use of long or
cross-boxvs. The bowmen were very well protected
by these skilful arrangements. Some of these slits,
shaped like crosses, were of exquisite design
architecturally.

The continuity of these mural fortifications was
broken only where swamps and the rivers made them
unnecessary and where roads passed through them.
The four principal entrances along the main high*
roads were defended by the four Bars, or fortified
gateways. These, with their Barbicans, three of
which were so needlessly and callously destroyed
in the last century, were magnificent examples of
noble permanent military architecture. The outer
facade of Monk Bar to-day, spoiled as it is, expresses
a noble strength. There was formerly only the
single way, both for ingress and egress.1 The Bar
was supported on each side by the mound and wall,

1 The view to-day from Petergate towards Bootham Bar
gives a good impression of a narrow main street, with gabled
houses, leading to the single fortified opening provided by the Bar.