WALMGATE Bar was lifted by around one centimetre, as part of a delicate restoration and protection procedure.

On Tuesday afternoon, for the first time in its history, the timber-framed rear extension at the Bar was hoisted slightly by using a ‘sophisticated jacking system’, in order for important works to be carried out.

The immensely slow and careful process took several hours. The ancient timbers were lifted a millimetre at a time, with a team of builders and architects checking the progress of the lift at every stage.

By the end of it however, a thin sliver of daylight could be spotted between the timber and the stone walls it had been resting on.

City archaeologist John Oxley tweeted this picture from the scene:

 

The work, which went off incident-free, was carried out in collaboration between council masons, Hydra-Capsule heavy duty jacking systems and structural consultant Robert Thorniley-Walker.

York Press:

Colin Davies from Hydra-Capsule controls the jacking system

City of York Council has been working on the Bar since last December, although the work has overrun after it emerged timbers were more severely rotted than expected, and following the decision to expand the project.

The lifting of the Bar marks a key milestone in the £100,000 project. Forthcoming work will involve replacing the tops of the two supporting columns and shifting the weight of the structure on the stone columns.

Other significant restorations on parts of the gatehouse started last year. These include installation of a system which will support the timber-framed extension should either column be struck by a vehicle, repair works to the roof and thermal insulation using a lime and hemp render.

York Press:

>>> FLASHBACK: Walmgate Bar barbican to be opened to the public - with video and photos

Earlier this summer, it was discovered that one of the key timbers lying across the two columns was slowly tipping, leaving the Bar at risk of collapse.

The restoration team also discovered mistakes and shortcuts by previous restorers, including one example of domestic skirting board having been used as makeshift rendering on top of the bar.

The first gatehouse in York was built in the mid-twelfth century and the barbican was added in the fourteenth century.

Walmgate Bar was leased out as a house and in 1376 an annual rent of 10 shillings was paid. People were living there before 1376 and they continued to live there until 1957.

Following executions, heads were also displayed on this Bar. The head of Robert Hillyard was displayed there in 1469.

York Press:

These pictures from July show opposite ends of the horizontal beam that rests on the stone columns. At the southern end, pictured right, the beam remains mostly on the stone. At the northern end (nearest Foss Islands Road), pictured left, the beam now overhangs the stonework. At both ends, the beam has also begun to tilt, no longer lying flush on the stone.

Ahead of the work, Mr Oxley said: “The repair and restoration work at Walmgate Bar has turned out to be much more complicated than we envisaged when we commenced work earlier this year.

"Once we had stripped all the render from the building, we realised that important original features were no longer supporting the structure adequately.

"This has meant that we have had to carefully reassess parts of the restoration proposals. We have had great support and assistance from experts at Historic England. We are all now very pleased that this essential work can now be completed.”

The restoration work has included installing a hidden steel system to safeguard the gatehouse, in case either of the columns is again hit by a vehicle, as has happened several times.

The work also includes repairs to the roof and new insulation. The barbican walkway has already been opened to the public, and the current occupants of the building, the Gateheuse cafe, hope to add a roof terrace.

York Press:

Some of the rotted timbers that are being replaced or repaired

Walmgate Bar was lived in 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.

York Press: The illumination of Walmgate Bar, York, to celebrate the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary on June 22, 1911 (12364425)

>>> 9 fantastic old photos of Walmgate Bar

Cllr Nigel Ayre, the council's executive member for culture, said: "Over a million people a year take a walk through 1,900 years of history on the city’s Walls and we hope through this investment many more visitors will continue to enjoy them.”

For more information on the project, visit www.york.gov.uk/citywalls