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Plaques help visitors enjoy city's wall treasures
FINDING your way around one of York's frequently overlooked treasures – the 2,000-year-old city walls – is set to become child's play with the launch of a new family-friendly trail.
Retrace York is a trail of nine rubbing plaques positioned at key points around the city's two-mile long walls.
Each rubbing builds into a complete map of the walls which circle the city's historic core.
The Visit York project, devised with the help of local children, has been supported with a 16,000 grant from the Your Heritage part of the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Visit York chairman John Yeomans said: "The medieval walls which encircle York's historic core, are some of the finest, best-preserved and most intact town defences anywhere in Europe.
"After the Minster they are recognised as being York's most memorable feature, yet only 22 per cent of visitors say they plan to visit the walls.
"Thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund this fantastic new children's trail will encourage many more families to experience the excitement of the walls-walk and the unique perspective they provide into the heart and history of York.
"The nine rubbings are designed to build into a complete map of the city walls, which Visit York hopes will encourage families to do a complete circuit – helping to raise awareness of some of the lesser known parts of the city.
"The panels work in either direction and can be started at any point.
"They are designed to inspire children to walk around the walls, and the completed rubbing makes a great souvenir of their day."
Local children attended workshops at the Space 109 community arts centre in Walmgate to tell designers from York's Bright White design agency which buildings and historical features they would like included.
Children's artwork is also featured on the panels.
The nine rubbing plaques have been sited at child's eye height next to existing interpretative panels.
They are at street-level where the city walls can be accessed.
The plaques are tactile to improve access to visually impaired visitors.
Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Yorkshire and the Humber, Fiona Spiers, said: "By involving young people throughout the project, they have created a fascinating way of exploring the city that appeals to a wide range of audiences."
Free activity packs containing a rubbing device, tracing paper and an information leaflet are available free from the Visitor Information Centres at the De Grey Rooms and York railway station.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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