York’s Red Tower finds new life supporting the community

The late 15th Century Red Tower was so named as it was the only one built of brick in the city walls

BBC/Tim Dale York's Red Tower is a small building or tower of red brick with arrow slit windows and a sloping roof with small dormer windows in it. — The late 15th Century Red Tower was so named as it was the only one built of brick in the city walls

“This is probably the most constructive use of this place in 530 odd years,” says volunteer Ian Tempest.

He had first heard of the Red Tower – located on a stretch of the famous city wall north of Walmgate Bar – a decade ago when a group of people started a pop-up cafe.

“We just had tea and coffee on the lawn,” he said.

Trustee Mike Calvert said at that point the building was just “being used by the council for storage”.

He said that initial effort gave a “spark of an idea” to turn it into more of a community centre or hub.

That hope was nearly derailed by the Boxing Day floods of 2015 when the tower was inundated with water.

However, those pioneers formed a Community Interest Company (CIC) with director Simon Perry and secured a lease on the building.

“They managed to get grant funding to do out this place,” Ian said.

The £100,000 raised went to put in a toilet, electricity, water and stairs to the first floor and it was designed to be flood resistant.

Mike Calvert says the tower makes a real difference to a small number of people

BBC/Tim Dale Mike Calvert has short grey hair and is wearing a dark burgundy coat and grey scarf. He has black framed glasses on and is standing outside a door to the Red Tower in York. — Mike Calvert says the tower makes a real difference to a small number of people

Mr Calvert has been involved since 2018 at a time when many of those originally involved had left and then, in 2020, Mr Perry, described by Mike as “Mr Red Tower”, died from a sudden illness.

“We had to keep things going because by then the pay-as-you-feel cafe and the food distribution was essential for local people,” Mike said.

Perhaps the tower’s most important role is the food bags it offers weekly.

“It’s £2 a bag, but if they haven’t got any money it doesn’t matter, they still get the bag,” volunteer Mo Gott said.

The food is donated by local supermarkets through the FareShare scheme and collected by volunteers like Ian over the weekend.

Mo and her friend Martina O’Dwyer then sort it all out ready to be given out on a Monday.

Mo Gott is in charge of bagging up all the food for those who need it

BBC/Tim Dale Mo Gott stands on the left wearing a white apron next to her are tables laden with food stuffs. — Mo Gott is in charge of bagging up all the food for those who need it

She believes at the present they have at least 15 to 20 regulars coming on a Monday to collect a bag.

“They do like to come and sit in the garden and have a cup of tea because a lot of them live on their own in the flats round here and they come for the company.”

Mr Calvert highlighted how one woman had moved into a flat nearby and had told Ms Gott she had a bed but no bedding, so they went and purchased the essentials for her.

“It’s because of the Red Tower that one is able to do things like that,” he said.

“I like to think it made a hell of difference and Mo does that all the time.”

Martina O’Dwyer is another of the volunteers who along with Mo helps make sure people’s food bags are ready to go on Monday morning

BBC/Tim Dale Martina O'Dwyer is wearing a headscarf and a grey long coat and stands in York's Red Tower surrounded by tables with food on them — Martina O’Dwyer is another of the volunteers who along with Mo helps make sure people’s food bags are ready to go on Monday morning

The tower was built in the 1490s and is the only part of York’s city walls to be built in brick.

Originally the tower would have looked out on King’s Pool, a large lake created when the River Foss was partially dammed at Fishergate to create a moat for York’s castle in the 11th Century.

Over the centuries the pool stagnated and filled with silt and in the 19th Century, the swamp was drained, the River Foss canalised and Foss Islands Road created.

A scheduled monument and Grade I listed, the building was renovated in the Victorian period when it gained its sloping roof and arrow slit windows.

A walk along York’s walls will eventually bring you to a full stop at the Red Tower

BBC/Tim Dale York's white stone medieval walls coming to an end against a red brick tower with steps leading down from the walls — A walk along York’s walls will eventually bring you to a full stop at the Red Tower

Run as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) it needs about £3,000 a year to cover costs and still help a small number of people each week.

“We can always feed whoever comes,” said Mr Calvert.

The building also acts as an unofficial referral point for people needing help.

The council’s local area co-ordinator drops in and can “pick up on any issues” and meet people at the tower.

A neighbourhood police officer also visits and the volunteers are able to offer a “listening ear” and point people to organisations who can offer more formal advice and support.

Whatever the future holds, the Red Tower is continuing to offer support, help and a welcoming space for people living in the area and the wider city.

“We don’t want to overtalk the impact of the Red Tower,” Mike says.

“It’s just a piece in the jigsaw which has a disproportionate effect on a very small number of people.”