Walmgate Bar barbican to be opened to the public - WITH VIDEO & MORE PICTURES

For the first time, people will be free to walk out to the turrets at the front of the structure. Access is currently limited and with permission only.

>>> FLASHBACK: 7 striking pictures from 900 years of Walmgate Bar

Archaeologists and architectural experts say the job has grown since they began at the start of the month.

They had intended to repair damaged stonework and to protect the Bar, which has been struck by vehicles numerous times over the years, but they have now widened their remit.

John Oxley, city archaeologist, said: "As we developed the site, we realised we had the opportunity to open up another part of the Bar Walls. We thought, let's take the opportunity to do something exciting, increasing public access to the barbican."

Above: Mr Oxley looks out from an upstairs window in the Gatehouse.

Below: The view from the same window, looking towards Lawrence Street and Barbican Road

A metal rail will be fitted to part of the Barbican, to comply with safety regulations.

Eventually, it is hoped there may also be occasional access to the roof of the timber-framed gatehouse, and the workers on site are also planning to assess whether the ancient doors can be operated again.

"Walmgate Bar is really interesting - it's the best preserved gateway," said Mr Oxley. "It has everything - the gatehouse, the barbican, the doors. It was state of the art at the time."

The current scene in the barbican, where work is continuing

Mr Oxley said similar barbicans were not uncommon at castles, but said Walmgate Bar's was the only one left in England as part of city walls. Parts of Walmgate Bar date to the 12th century, and the gatehouse and barbican were added in the 13th and 14th centuries respectively.

The principal part of the project is to prevent damage to the Bar if it is struck again. New bollards will be installed in Walmgate to minimise the risk of a collision from that side, and a discreet cantilever metal system will be installed to ensure that if one of the 16th-century columns were ever badly damaged, the structure would not collapse.

Scaffolding on the barbican

At the same time, new insulation has been added for the main section of the Bar, which houses The Gatehouse cafe, and the team hope to restore the heraldic sign above the archway and replace the wooden balustrade, which was removed from the top of the gatehouse several years ago for safety reasons.

The work has all been planned in consultation with English Heritage, and is likely to last until April.

On the walkways on the barbican, stonework is being replaced to improve drainage and overcome historic water damage.

The Gatehouse cafe, within Walmgate Bar

The bar was inhabited until 1956, when a policeman and his family moved out. The city corporation of the time sought to restore the Bar, but in doing so gutted the inside of the gatehouse, removing the fireplace and partitions.

Mr Oxley below the gatehouse (above), and surveying the barbican (below)

>>> FLASHBACK: 7 striking pictures from 900 years of Walmgate Bar