English: York City Walls Looking south along the stretch of wall between The Red Tower and Walmgate Bar. In 1855, the Board of Health Committee in York proposed to remove "the whole or such part of the city walls between Walmgate Bar and Red Tower as may be considered requisite to improve that locality". They argued that the walls here had "no particular historic interest about them and had been little noticed until the proposed improvement had been projected". The committee apparently thought the walls were a cause of ill-health as they obstructed the free circulation of air. The committee's proposal was rejected.

This was not the first threat by local councillors to demolish the city walls at York. In 1800 the corporation applied for an Act of Parliament to improve the city by tearing down all of its towers, turrets, walls and bars (or gates), as they were not prepared to pay for their preservation. Despite opposition from King George III and a campaign by many people to raise money and restore the walls, the corporation managed to destroy three walled fortifications, four gates and some small sections of wall at St Leonard's Place and Skeldergate, and went through with the demolition of the Layerthorpe Postern even after agreeing to let the campaigners restore Micklegate Bar and North Street Postern in 1831.

The city walls at York are now a scheduled ancient monument and a Grade One listed building.