We are not sure what happened between 400 and 1068.

Did any of the Roman walls survive through this period? A grant of land made during the seventh century refers to the "city wall towards the south and a great gate towards the west".

Alcuin, who wrote in the eighth century, talks of the high walls of the City of York. Asser, in his 'Life of King Alfred', written around 893, says that "the city did not possess strong and well-built walls" when describing York's capture by the Danes in 867.