I. WALMGATE BAR

We begin our walk at Walmgate Bar, the original gatehouse, which was built in the 12th century. On the barbican, added to the Bar in the 14th century, heads of executed criminals were displayed. Not far from this place, on Green Dykes Lane stood St Leonard’s Gallows until its removal in 1700. While at Walmgate Bar we consider the history behind the Rook and Gaskill pub, which was named after the last two men to be hung at St Leonard’s Gallows. Turning our attention to more recent history, the Red Shoe Murder of four-year-old Norma Dale in 1946 occurred near here. Her body was found less than 60 yards from her home on Rawdon Avenue. Despite an extensive investigation, the murder was never solved. Finally, here at our first stop, we turn our attention to York’s first purpose built Mosque. It made headlines in 2013, when a protest to its construction was planned by a British far-right group.