Clifford's Tower

Clifford's Tower is all that remains of York's medieval castle, which was once the main northern stronghold of the kings of England. At first, there was a timber tower here, where one of the most notorious events in the history of the castle took place in 1190, when the Jews of York, who had taken refuge in the tower, died in tragic circumstances. The stone tower was built soon afterwards and was used as a treasury and royal exchequer. In the 17th century, a fire destroyed the interior of the tower and the building was reduced to a shell. Many of the remaining castle buildings were swept away in the 18th and 19th centuries. This guidebook contains a tour of the tower and the other remains of York Castle, together with a history of the site, illustrated with new reconstruction drawings, photographs, plans and historical images.