York
York Castle (Clifford's Tower)
s part of the Norman conquest in 1068 and 1069, under William the Conqueror, two wooden motte-and-bailey castles were constructed in the city to assert Norman control over former Viking York (then called Jórvík). The original wooden tower became infamous in 1190, during a wave of anti-Jewish violence when many of York's Jewish community took refuge in the castle when mobs attacked. Many of the Jews died, some by suicide, but others in a fire that destroyed the wooden structure. In response, in the mid-13th century (from roughly 1245 to 1272), the existing tower was rebuilt in stone under the orders of King Henry III. The rebuilt keep, now called Clifford's Tower, is unusual in plan being quatrefoil-shaped (a four-lobed/clover-like layout), rising on a conical motte about 15 metres high. Access was via a buttressed forebuilding (on the south side), which originally contained a chapel and a spiralling stone staircases inside the thick walls leading to upper floors and wall-walks. Over the centuries the tower had many functions, including fortress; royal treasury / mint; administrative centre; gaol/prison; and seat of royal authority in the north of England. By the 15th–16th centuries the tower began to deteriorate and by 1596 parts of the upper structure were dismantled. During the English Civil War (1642–1651), the castle was garrisoned, and the tower refortified. It saw damage during the 1644 siege of York, then suffered from further neglect. Since 2022, following a £5 million restoration by English Heritage, the interior has been enhanced with a sensitive timber structure, hanging walkways, and a new roof-deck that provides panoramic views over York. Hidden rooms and historically significant features like a garderobe (medieval toilet) used by Henry III have been revealed.
York Minster
efore Christianity arrived York had an important part to play in the history of Britain. For the Romans, York was the capital city and many important buildings were built on the site of the current minster, including a cathedral. A stone building was built around 627 by Edwin the King of Northumberland and rebuilt again after a fire in 741. In 1069 the church was destroyed and when Thomas of Bayeux the first Norman Archbishop arrived in 1070 he found the church in ruins. Thomas built a new cathedral which lasted until the middle of the twelfth century at which point Archbishop Roger reconstructed sections in the new Transitional style. In 1230 the Normans started rebuilding the cathedral in the Early English style beginning with the transepts which can still be seen today. The south transept is the work of archbishop Walter de Gray who held the position at York from 1215 until 1255. He is buried in the eastern aisle of this transept. The north transept is the work of John Romanus who was the Treasurer at York and the work on the north transept was completed just after the south. Unusually the transepts have their own aisles. The south transept has a door with three very steep gables above it, lots of lancet windows and a circular window in the roof gable. The north transept is much simpler, consisting of five very tall lancet windows known as the 'Five Sisters', which could be the tallest medieval lancet windows in England. The chapter-house at York is unusual in the fact that it has no central column. The roof of the chapter-house being made of wood that has been designed to look like stone. Apart from the two towers, the West front was complete by around 1345. The front has a huge window containing a heart shaped from the Flowering tracery. Fire damaged sections the cathedral in the last century.
Timeline
A large number of Vikings landed in East Anglia and gathered horses and supplies from the surrounding areas in preparation for their assault on Northumbria. Their leaders were Ivar the Boneless, son of Ragnar Lodbrok, and possibly Anlaf (Olaf) Cuaran, the King of Dublin. [1]
The 'Great Army' moved north from their original landing site in East Anglia and into Northumbria where it split into two. One section took boats up the coast and sailed into the Humber while the other section went overland. York was captured and renamed Jorvik. [1]
Armies from Northumbria led by the two kings Aella and Osberht attacked the Danes at York but were defeated. The two kings were killed after gaining access to the city. After the battle the Danes moved south attacking Nottingham and taking control of it. The king of Mercia asked Ethelred and Alfred for assistance and an army from Wessex was sent to help. [1]
Moving south again from York, The Danes entered East Anglia, attacking and destroying the many religious buildings in the area including the monastery at was what to become Peterborough. The King of East Anglia, Edmund raised an army to attack the Danes but was captured and killed. [1]
Led by Halfdan the Danes moved north to attack the Picts and the area of Strathclyde. The Danes divided Northumbria taking York for themselves and creating the area known as Danelaw. A second Danish King called Guthrum took his army back south to Cambridge where he prepared plans to attack Wessex. [1]
To help consolidate his links to the North Athelstan married his sister to Sihtric, the Norse King of York. A condition of the marriage was Sihtric should become a Christian. The marriage was short-lived as the Norse King died in 927.
Eadred defeated Eric Bloodaxe the Dane that had ruled the kingdom of York on and off for several years. Eric was killed and Eadred took control of the kingdom of York. Eadred nominated Oswulf as the new ruler of Northumbria. [2]
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.
A Group of monks from St. Mary's in York Arrive at Ripon. They go on to found Fountains Abbey as well. [3]
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. The castle, made only of wood at this time was destroyed by fire during the disturbances. [4]
The Scottish king, Alexander agreed to peace with King Henry in exchange for 200 pounds to per paid per year from the northern counties.
King Edward I held a Parliament at York to discuss the situation in Scotland. It wasn't long before an English army was prepared to go into Scotland. [5]
King Edward summonsed a council to meet at York, but several barons refused to attend due to Gaveston's attandance. Since he had returned from exile Gaveston had returned to his old ways trying to alienate the barons from the King.
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. [6]
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. [6]
During the absence of King Edward III while he was on campaign in France the Scottish king David II was approached by the French King Philippe VI to invade England. David II did so and advanced south. On the way to Corbridge the army captured Aydon Castle, allowing the inhabitants to leave safely if they handed the castle over. At Neville's Cross the Scottish were defeated by a band of monks, priests and land workers led by the archbishop of York, William Zouche. David II was captured and sent to London to be held at the Tower. [7]
Under the direction of Archbishop Thoresby the eastern end of the building was extended elongating the choir. The architectural fashion of Decorated Gothic was changing to Perpendicular Gothic as this construction work was undertaken. [8]
After the city of London refused to give King Richard a loan of 1,000 pounds its Charter was removed and given to York. Removal of the Charter was a serious punishment as the king's court would spend money providing much needed jobs.
Anglo-Scots truce signed at York. [9]
Reports of a large earthquake near York. This could be the same event that occurred in April of 1580. [10]
Prince Rupert and his army had crossed the Pennines and was heading for York to rescue the city from the Parliamentary siege. [11]
After the Battle of Marston Moor the Royalists abandoned York and the Parliamentarians resumed the siege of the city. A couple of weeks after the battle the city surrendered and opened it's gates. [11]
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