Change of use for York medieval landmark
An application has been made to City of York Council for the 12th century Micklegate Bar to be used as an art gallery and retail space.
Currently leased from the council by the Archaeological Trust, it was previously used as a City Walls Experience museum, which closed last year.
It has also been used to display the severed heads of traitors, including Richard, Duke of York, in 1460.
The gateway is one of four that leads into the city, with Micklegate Bar considered the most significant as it is used by visiting monarchs to enter York.
The grade one-listed landmark was put up for rent in July and, if approved, may now be used to display work by local artists.
It would also shine a spotlight on York’s printing heritage, with a mini-exhibition of the city’s history in this department neatly tying into demonstrations of the printing process, which would then be sold in the shop.
The Design and Access statement stressed that there will be no structural changes made, with any internal interventions reversible.
