York's Bootham Bar donation scheme raises over £8,600 for city wall conservation
Large single donations boost maintenance fund as pilot scheme proves successful
A trial donation scheme at Bootham Bar, York, has successfully raised over £8,600 for the city's historic wall upkeep, prompting plans for a broader implementation along the city walls. The pilot, launched in September last year, allowed visitors to contribute through electronic points and QR codes leading to custom online donations.
The City of York Council revealed the scheme’s success, with the single-largest donation of £400 indicating substantial public willingness to support the conservation efforts. A contactless donation setup was installed, facilitating contributions of £3, £5, and £10, alongside QR codes for custom amounts.
Despite a quiet January with just £105 in donations, July proved the most successful month, generating £1,295. The scheme, costing around £10,000 to set up, aims to offset a portion of the annual £500,000 maintenance costs for the walls, dating from the 13th to 14th centuries.
Liam Dennis, the City of York Council’s lead on ancient monuments, expressed satisfaction with the pilot’s reception, noting the importance of the walls to both residents and visitors. Plans are underway to install additional donation points over the next six to 12 months, though electrical installation challenges remain.
Cllr Pete Kilbane noted the ongoing cost challenges, with the council maintaining an in-house team of skilled stonemasons to preserve the iconic walls, the longest surviving town walls in England.