To cement his rule William erected motte and bailey castles as he marched. In he built a motte and bailey fortification overlooking the River Ouse. The castle had to withstand more rebellions and a Danish attack, but as Norman rule spread the situation in York became more peaceful. The timber and earthwork defences were repaired, but as far as we know they were not rebuilt in stone during the 12th century.
Some of them practised money-lending, which was forbidden to Christians. The new Norman rulers of England needed money to strengthen their hold on the kingdom, so they protected the Jews. Many settled in York, where a sizeable community developed. Anti-Semitism grew during the 12th century, fuelled in part by the propaganda of Crusaders, who spread slanderous tales not only against the Muslims who occupied the Holy Land, but against Jews.
Stories spread that the Jews practised ritualistic killing of Christian children. Aside from religious propaganda, there was a practical side to growing anti-Semitism; many English Christians owed money to Jewish moneylenders.
Riots broke out in after Richard the Lionheart's coronation, and an untrue rumour spread that the new king had ordered English Jews to be massacred. The Sheriff of York left his post to go on Crusade, and in the power vacuum that followed riots broke out, Jewish houses were burned and looted, and several Jews were killed.
Jews led by a man named Joceus took refuge in the royal castle, which stood on the site now occupied by Clifford's Tower. The castle was attacked by the angry mob, joined by royal soldiers.
Knowing that they could not hold out, many of the Jews committed suicide rather than allow themselves to be captured by the bloodthirsty mob outside. More died when the building was set on fire, and the remainder were slaughtered by the mob.
Around people are thought to have died in the attack. After the attack on the castle, the rioters went to York Minster and destroyed records of all debts to the Jews. Each year the castle mound is planted with daffodils, whose six-pointed shape resembles the Star of David, in remembrance of those who died in the massacre. Another wooden castle was built to replace the burned building, but this blew down in the 13th century.
In Henry III decided to build a new stone castle on the earlier motte. Construction was directed by 'Master Henry', possibly Henry of Reyns, who served as the master mason on Westminster Abbey. The castle was designed in a quatrefoil shape, influenced by French architecture. Construction was intermittent and the castle was probably not complete until around York Castle was a royal fortress but was not used as a royal residence. Instead, it was used as an administrative centre, a prison, storehouse, a royal mint, and for holding court sessions.
In the tower gained its present name when Roger de Clifford was executed by Edward II for treason. Clifford was hanged in chains from the tower walls, and ever after the building has been popularly known as 'Clifford's Tower'.
The castle was allowed to decay in the Tudor period. Defences were neglected and many castle buildings were used as gaols. In the gaoler was accused of trying to tear down the decaying tower and sell the stone for lime-burning. This event was the first recorded use of 'Clifford's Tower'. The castle was garrisoned by Royalist soldiers in the Civil War.
The plans include internal walkways and a roof viewing platform. Image source, City of York Council. Clifford's Tower was built in the s. Clifford's Tower. The stone tower was built in the s replacing an earlier wooden structure It sits on top of a castle mound created by William the Conqueror in It was the site of a major attack on the city's Jewish community in The stone tower was reduced to a shell by a fire in the s It is the only remaining structure of the city's castle.
Most of the buildings were destroyed in the 18th and 19th Centuries when the city's court and prison were built The tower was surrounded by the Victorian prison until the s. Image source, English Heritage.
Plans to build a visitor centre at the site were dropped in Related Topics. Published 7 June Published 17 April It is really quite a remarkable sight. Throughout the later middle-ages, York Castle went through a number of changes. Initially used as a Northern Power base to keep the Scotts in check, the castle was later used to house important visitors to York. The tower itself has been used to house the royal mint, and has even served as the exchequer and treasury. Sadly, following the civil war York Castle fell into decline.
Like many other fortifications in England, York Castle failed to serve as a military stronghold, and although it largely survived dismantlement, In a fire pretty much destroyed the tower, rendering it useless for military use. The rest of the castle was eventually broken up and sold off, and following the construction of the prison and court buildings in the Eighteenth Century, all that remained of the original castle was Cliffords tower and a small section of the original gatehouse — which is situated behind the Crown Court building.
You can read my review on York Castle Museum here. Initial frustrations aside, I showed my English Heritage membership card and we made our way through the small reception hall and into the keeps vast open space. Sadly, none of the original interior walls exist today, but this means you can really appreciate the massive scale of the place.
Back in the castles heyday, the tower would have housed two floors, and each of the four lobes would have contained different rooms serving different functions. I took notice of a large fireplace situated within one of the lobes, and pondered who might have stood here in the past, warming their hands on a cold winters day.
Other than the small gift shop, and a scale model reconstruction of the castle, the ground floor is completely devoid of any obstructions. Actually, this means you can really take a step back and appreciate the internal features of the structure. I took notice of a large fireplace situated within one of the lobes, and pondered who might have stood there in the past, warming their hands on a cold winters day. Evidence of the fire that destroyed the tower in the Seventeenth Century can still be seen today in the pinkish colouration of the brickwork.
Little things like this are always fascinating to me as it really brings the history of a place to life! Before I knew it, Oaklie had gravitated to a box containing toy swords and shield. The entrance lobby is situated within the bottom of a tower that also serves as a spiral staircase servicing the first floor.
Just before you emerge on to the first floor walkway there is an enclosed room which once served as an intricately decorated chapel. I seem to recall being able to enter this chamber in the past, but sadly on this occasion it was closed off. Finding ourselves on the first floor walkway, I found it hard to imagine how the upper floor would have once looked.
Although this once contained the Royal apartments, today there is no floor at all and the only evidence of the upper floor ever existing can be found in the windows and latrines that line the external walls.
The views from the first floor walkway however are exceptional. You can see right the way across the city. From up here you can also really appreciate the shape and structure of the tower.
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