Monk Bar - York

There are for main gates (bars) into York, this is Monk Bar. Odd to draw because the turrets are not symmetrical: there's a bulge on the right hand turret and not on the left; the shadows don't fall as you would imagine. I've drawn it honestly rather than adjusting the building to compensate for the oddness. Notice the young girl, bottom left, Pat has christened her, 'Priscilla'. She wants her in all the York scenes!

Usual thing, the picture is about 30% lighter than the original and therefore very two-dimensional - if you click on it, the picture is enlarged and marginally darker.

I'm just starting the Minster now (gulp)   

Monk Bar, York, England 1895     10" x 8"        John Simlett 2012
Pen & Ink  on 300 gsm Snowdon Cartridge Paper

Monk Bar is at 63 feet, the tallest of York's bars and is the north eastern gateway to York's city walls. It lies at the northern end of Goodramgate, a street which becomes Monkgate on the other side of the gateway. Its is not known who the monks were who gave Monkgate and Monk Bar their name. Monk Bar has four storeys - the first three floors being 14th century and the upper floor being fifteenth century. Each floor could be defended like an independent fort, even when other floors had been captured. In the sixteenth century the bar was used as a freeman's prison. Monk Bar's barbican was removed from the gateway in 1825.