York Castle

York Castle stands on the north-west bank of the River Foss in York. It began as a wooden motte and bailey built in 1068 by William the Conqueror. The site later became a stone keep with a unique quatrefoil design under Henry III in the 13th century. Clifford’s Tower survives as the most visible medieval ruin. The castle also includes law courts and a museum in later buildings. Water defences once surrounded the complex, fed by the King’s Pool. After a gunpowder explosion in 1684, the military use ended but the site remained a prison until 1929. The castle’s history reflects power struggles across nine centuries. In 1190, 150 Jews died in Clifford’s Tower rather than surrender to a mob. During the English Civil War it was refortified for the Royalist defence of York in 1644. By the 18th century the bailey became a neoclassical centre for county administration. A new prison in Tudor Gothic style opened in 1825 before demolition in 1935. Clifford’s Tower became a national monument and tourist site in the 20th century. Visitors walk through Clifford’s Tower to see the ruined keep and panoramic views over York. The York Castle Museum occupies other buildings on the site. The Crown Court still functions within the complex. The museum displays recreated Victorian streets and historic interiors. The remaining motte at Baile Hill marks the original Norman position. The King’s Pool site shows where water once defended the castle. The ruins and exhibits tell the story of York’s changing role from Viking stronghold to royal fortress.