WALMGATE Bar has been fully revealed again today, after being clad in scaffolding for more than a year.

City of York Council has spent 12 and a half months at the ancient structure, strengthening and insulating it and repairing damaged timbers.

The project was originally due to last only until April, but when rendering was removed the restoration team discovered erosion was far greater than feared.

They decided also to expand the project, to improve access to the Bar's barbican.

York Press:

John Oxley at the Bar in December 2014

Although such structures are fairly common at castles, the one at Walmgate Bar is the only one left in England that forms 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 rooms inside Walmgate Bar are currently used by the Gatehouse coffee shop, and a safety rail has been added to allow customers and sightseers to safely walk out on to the barbican. A roof terrace is also being added.

The barbican work was completed earlier this year and the most recent work has centred on the structure on the Walmgate side of the Bar.

York Press:

Some of the rotted timbers that had to be restored

Contractors removed most of the scaffolding on Thursday and are completing the clear-up today.[Friday]

John Oxley, city of York archaeologist, told The Press earlier this year: "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.

"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."