Bootham Bar is a gatehouse in York city wall, the present gatehouse dates from the 14th century with the arch dating from the 11th century. The gatehouse stands on the site of an earlier gatehouse dating from Roman times. The west towers of York Minster can be seen in the background.
When SE6052 : York. located at SE603520 is moved to this square, the story is that "Mad Alice" was hanged here in 1825, apparently only guilty of being 'mad'. The ghost of Alice reputedly drifts along the lane which once was named after her and features in the city's ghost tour industry.