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TimeRef.com
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    Kings and Queens of England Kings of Scotland Kings of France Kings of Denmark Emperors of Byzantine Popes and Antipopes Crusader States and their Rulers
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  1. Home
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  3. York Castle (Clifford's Tower)
Castle
Castle
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York Castle (Clifford's Tower)

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 County

North Yorkshire (11 castles) 

 Categories

Motte & Bailey / Stone

 Remains

Not complete but much survives

 Access

Only open at certain times

 Location53.95605,-1.077984 (Google Maps) DirectionsDirections via Google Maps
 County

North Yorkshire (11 castles) 

 Categories

Motte & Bailey / Stone

 Remains

Not complete but much survives

 Access

Only open at certain times

 Location
53.95605,-1.077984
 Directions
Directions via Google Maps
ll that remains of York Castle is the shell of the stone keep on top of the motte. This keep is known as Clifford's Tower. The tower is constructed from four semi-circular lobes and would have had a roof supported by a central column. The roof and interior have long since disappeared.

Location

See Also

People

  • Edward (II, King of England 1307-1327)
  • Mortimer, Roger (of Wigmore)
  • A .. Z List of Medieval People

Other

  • York

Related Information

  • Why build and live in castles
  • Castle development timeline
  • Keep and bailey castles
  • Castles of William the Conqueror
  • Motte and bailey castles
  • Shell-Keeps
  • Square keeps
  • Polygonal Keeps
  • Castles of Edward I
  • Parts of a castle
  • Location of lots of castles
  • Castle construction timeline

Related Maps

  • Map of Castles

Related Episodes

Edward II and Piers Gaveston (click here)

Edward II and Piers Gaveston (click here)

Timeline

1069

September

York captured by the Danes

An army sent by Sweyn of Denmark landed in the north and captured York. Local rebels joined the Danes and attacked the two castles within the city. A fire lit by the Normans in an attempt to prevent the Danes attacking the castles got out of control and a large part of the city was destroyed including the cathedral. The confusion aided the Danes in capturing the castles and killing most of the Normans in the city.

1190

March

Massacre of Jews at York

Even though the Jews were under special protection from King Richard I, because of their wealth that could help pay for the Crusades, the mob attacked 150 Jews hiding in the castle at York. Most committed suicide rather than be attacked by the mob, but the rest believing promises that they would be spared if they came out left the castle and were promptly massacred. ¹

1312

Quarter 1

Edward looks to Scotland for help

Gaveston's return to England forced the Archbishop of Canterbury to honour his threat of excommunication and the Earls to prepare for civil war against the king. Edward and Gaveston travelled to Scotland to seek help from Robert the Bruce but were not welcome. ¹

1312

May 19

Gaveston surrenders

While the Earl of Lancaster set up camp midway between York and Scarborough to prevent Gaveston and the King rejoining, the Earls of Pembroke and Surrey besieged Scarborough castle. The castle was not prepared to withstand the stand-off and Gaveston surrendered after a couple of weeks. The terms of his surrender were generous and Pembroke gave his word that Gaveston would not be harmed until he was presented to Parliament. ¹

1319

September 20

Battle of Myton

While the best of the English army were at Berwick, a Scottish army led by Sir James Douglas invaded Yorkshire. With an untrained army the Archbishop of York, William Melton, tried to fight off the Scots but was defeated at Myton-in-Swalesdale. With the Scots threatening their lands in the north the earls, with Edward at Berwick, abandoned the siege and returned to their homes. Queen Isabella who was in York at the time managed to escape to safety at Nottingham.

1322

May

Parliament at York

Edward was now back in control of the country and at the Parliament held at York the rebels who had fought against him were punished, many being executed for treason. The Ordinances against Edward were repealed and those who had supported Edward through the bad times were rewarded. The elder Hugh Despenser was made Earl of Winchester. The younger Despenser was given large amounts of land forfeited by the rebels. ¹

1323

May

Treaty signed

A thirteen year peace was signed at York between Scotland and England. ¹

3D Virtual Reconstructions

Transport yourself back up to a thousand years and explore historical buildings as they may have appeared in the past. Built using the popular game development tool Unity 3D, these reconstructions will run in the most of the popular web browsers on your desktop or laptop computer.

Medieval people

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Selection of references used:

  • 1. John Gillingham, The Life and Times of Richard I, 1974
  • 2. Caroline Bingham, The Life and Times of Edward II

    Location

    See Also

    People

    • Edward (II, King of England 1307-1327)
    • Mortimer, Roger (of Wigmore)
    • A .. Z List of Medieval People

    Other

    • York

    Related Information

    • Why build and live in castles
    • Castle development timeline
    • Keep and bailey castles
    • Castles of William the Conqueror
    • Motte and bailey castles
    • Shell-Keeps
    • Square keeps
    • Polygonal Keeps
    • Castles of Edward I
    • Parts of a castle
    • Location of lots of castles
    • Castle construction timeline

    Related Maps

    • Map of Castles
    3D/VR

    Virtual Buildings

    Transport yourself back up to a thousand years and explore historical buildings as they may have appeared in the past.

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