England: North Yorkshire : York : Clifford's Tower

Clifford's Tower, together with a part of the original curtain wall, is all that remains of York Castle. The tower is a striking sight in the centre of York and holds significant importance to the Jewish community of York. In 1190 a large number of Jewish residents were forced to take refuge in the, then wooden, tower of York Castle following an outbreak of violence directed towards them. Even though the county militia were called out the tower was set on fire killing some of those inside. Others chose suicide rather than surrender to the mob and those that did surrender were killed anyway. Although it is estimated that some 150 people died some believe that the number could have been closer to 500. It is therefore not surprising that when an attempt was made to develop the site a strong objection was raised by the current Jewish community and many other groups, eventually some elements of the plans were thankfully dropped.

York Castle History

Town, Postcode, Attraction

From the time of the Roman occupation York was an important site and when they left in 415 the city became the Angle capital of Northumbria. When, in 866, it was captured by the Vikings it became the capital of a much larger kingdom covering much of the North of England. During the Norman Conquest of Britain, William I had a simple wooden motte & bailey castle built on the site. Following much local opposition William built another castle on the west bank of the Ouse (Baile Hill).

In 1244 King Henry III visited York and ordered that the wooden castle be torn down and rebuilt in stone as York was under continual threat of the Scottish. Construction began the following year and took nearly 25 years to complete and in 1298 King Edward I was sufficiently confident in the building to use it to keep his treasury while he campaigned in Scotland. As the wars with Scotland continued King Edward II also used the castle to keep his treasury and following the Battle of Boroughbridge (1322) amny of the rebel leaders were brought to the castle. The rebels included Sir Roger Clifford and all were executed and their bodies hung from the keep in chains. By 1536, when the political leader Robert Aske was executed above the keep, it had gained the name of Clifford's Tower.

Throughout the 17th Century the castle featured heavily in the battles with the Scottish and many of the buildings around Clifford's Tower were either destroyed or severely damaged. In 1684 a massive explosion utterly destroyed the interior of the tower rendering the building useless.

During the 18th and 19th centuries various buildings appeared around the tower for use as County Gaol, Assize Courts and Female Prision. From 1835 until 1929 the whole castle area served as a prison but in 1935 all of these buildings were demolished leaving the site much as it is today.

In many ways Clifford's Tower is unique and although many historians believe that the design was based upon a French model only a few such buildings exist. A similar castle can be found nearby (Pontefract Castle) which features the distinctive multilobed design but historians point to the Château d'Étampes in France as an almost identical design upon which Clifford's Tower is most likely based.

CONTACT
Clifford's Tower
Tower St
York
YO1 9SA

Tel: 01904 646940

Opening Hours

Opens: 10am
Closes: 1 Apr-30 Sep 6pm, 1 Oct-1 Nov 5pm, 2 Nov-31 Mar 4pm
CLOSED: 24-26 Dec and 1 Jan

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Hotels In York

Cheapest hotel first
		Brentwood Guest House, York 54, Bootham Crescent, York, YO30 7AH 4 star Rooms from: £35.00*
		Carlton Tavern 140 Acomb Road, York, YO24 4HA 2 star Rooms from: £35.00*
		Grange Lodge, York Bootham Crescent, York, YO30 7AH 3 star Rooms from: £35.00*
		Elmbank Hotel and Lodge The Mount, York, YO24 1GE 3 star Rooms from: £37.00*
		Burton Villa Guest House 24 Haxby Road, York, YO31 8JX 3 star Rooms from: £39.00*
		Heworth Court 76-78 Heworth Green, York, YO31 7TQ 4 star Rooms from: £39.50*
		Beckett Guesthouse 28 Clifton, York, YO30 6AE 3 star Rooms from: £40.00*
		Blossoms York, York 28 Clifton, York, YO30 6AE 3 star Rooms from: £40.00*
		Newington Hotel 147-157 Mount Vale, York, YO24 1DJ 2 star Rooms from: £40.00*
		Park View Guest House 22 HAXBY ROAD , YORK, YO31 8JX 3 star Rooms from: £40.00*
		Sidings Hotel & Restaurant, York Station Rd, York, YO30 1BT Rooms from: £40.00*
		Bootham City Centre Guest House 56 Bootham Crescent, York, YO30 7AH 4 star Rooms from: £45.00*
		Dalescroft, York 10 Southlands Road, York, YO23 1NP 3 star Rooms from: £45.00*
		Galtres Lodge, York 54 LOW PETERGATE , YORK, YO1 7HZ 2 star Rooms from: £45.00*
		Stanley House Stanley Street Haxby Road, York, YO31 8NW 3 star Rooms from: £45.00*
		The Apple House 74-76 HOLGATE ROAD , YORK, YO24 4AB 4 star Rooms from: £45.00*
		The Groves 15 St Peter's Grove , York, YO30 6AQ 3 star Rooms from: £45.00*
		Holgate Hill Hotel 122-124 Holgate Road, York, YO24 4BB 2 star Rooms from: £47.00*
		Blossoms York 28 Clifton , York, YO30 6AE 3 star Rooms from: £47.50*
		Astley House 123 Clifton , YORK, YO30 6BL 3 star Rooms from: £48.00*
		Heworth Guest House, York 126 East Parade Heworth, York, YO31 7YG 4 star Rooms from: £48.00*
		Blue Bridge Hotel 54 LOW PETERGATE , YORK, YO1 7HZ 2 star Rooms from: £49.00*
		Ibis York Centre 77 The Mount , York, YO24 1BN 2 star Rooms from: £49.00*
		Knavesmire Manor Hotel 302 Tadcaster Road, York, YO24 1HE 2 star Rooms from: £49.50*
		Tree Tops Guesthouse York 21 ST. MARYS , YORK, YO30 7DD 3 star Rooms from: £54.00*
		Ashbourne House, York 139 Fulford Road, York, YO10 4HG 4 star Rooms from: £55.00*
		Hilton Lodge 44 WIGGINTON ROAD , YORK, YO31 8HT 3 star Rooms from: £55.00*
		The Park View 34 Grosvenor Terrace Bootham, York, YO30 7AG 4 star Rooms from: £55.00*
		The Sycamore Guest House 19 SYCAMORE PLACE , YORK, YO30 7DW 3 star Rooms from: £55.00*
		St Paul's Lodge 120 HOLGATE ROAD , YORK, YO24 4BB 3 star Rooms from: £59.00*
		The Black Bull Inn 79 Main Streeet , York, YO19 6JP 3 star Rooms from: £59.00*
		Aaron Guest House 42 BOOTHAM CRESCENT , YORK, YO30 7AH 3 star Rooms from: £60.00*
		Hotel Noir 3-5 CLIFTON GREEN , YORK, YO30 6LH 3 star Rooms from: £60.00*
		Masons Arms 6 Fishergate, York, YO10 4AB 3 star Rooms from: £60.00*
		Bishops, York 135 Holgate Road, York, YO24 4DF 5 star Rooms from: £65.00*
		Bowen Guest House 4 Gladstone Street,Huntington Road, York, YO31 8RF 4 star Rooms from: £65.00*
		Jorvik Hotel, York 50-52 Marygate , York, YO30 7BN 3 star Rooms from: £65.00*
		Midway House 145, Fulford Road , York, YO10 4HG 4 star Rooms from: £65.00*
		Novotel York Centre Fewster Way , YORK, YO10 4FD 3 star Rooms from: £65.00*
		Old Granary House YORK ROAD Green Hammerton, YORK, YO268EZ 4 star Rooms from: £65.00*
		Ramada Encore York Micklegate, York, YO1 6JG 3 star Rooms from: £65.00*
		St George's 6 St. Georges Place , York, YO24 1DR 3 star Rooms from: £65.00*
		The Newington Hotel, York 147 Mount Vale, York, YO24 1DJ 2 star Rooms from: £65.00*
		The Willows Willow Close on A59 near Hessay, YORK, YO26 8JU 4 star Rooms from: £65.00*
		Warrens 30-32 Scarcroft Road, York, YO23 1NF 4 star Rooms from: £65.00*
		Lady Anne Middletons Hotel 55-57 Skeldergate , York, YO1 6DS 2 star Rooms from: £67.00*
		Hotel 53 York City Centre 53 Piccadilly, York, YO1 9PL 3 star Rooms from: £66.50*
		The Queens Hotel Skeldergate, York, YO1 6DH 2 star Rooms from: £67.50*
		Gregorys Guest House 160 Bishopthorpe Road, York, YO23 1LF 4 star Rooms from: £69.00*
		St Denys Hotel 51 St. Denys Road, York, YO1 9QD 3 star Rooms from: £69.00*
		Beech House Guest House 6-7 Longfield Terrace, YORK, YO30 7DJ 4 star Rooms from: £70.00*
		CHURCH VIEW B&B and Cottages 87 THE VILLAGE , YORK, YO32 9UP 3 star Rooms from: £70.00*
		Claxton Hall Cottage Malton Road , YORK, YO60 7RE 4 star Rooms from: £70.00*
		Georgian House 35 BOOTHAM , YORK, YO30 7BT 2 star Rooms from: £70.00*
		Harmony House THE GREEN Stillingfleet, YORK, YO19 6SH 4 star Rooms from: £70.00*
		Alcuin Lodge 15 Sycamore Place Bootham, York, YO30 7DW 4 star Rooms from: £72.00*
		Amber House 36 Bootham Crescent , York, YO307AH 4 star Rooms from: £74.00*
		Best Western Kilima Hotel York 129 Holgate Road , York, YO24 4AZ 3 star Rooms from: £74.50*
		Best Western York Pavilion 45 Main Street Fulford, York, YO10 4PJ 3 star Rooms from: £75.00*
		Hedley House Hotel 3 Bootham Terrace , York, Y030 7DH 2 star Rooms from: £75.00*
		Holiday Inn York Holiday Inn Tadcaster Road, YORK, YO24 1QF 3 star Rooms from: £75.00*
		The Acer 52 Scarcroft Hill, York, YO24 1DE 4 star Rooms from: £75.00*
		The Waterfront, York 5 kings staith , york, y019sn 3 star Rooms from: £75.00*
		Park Inn York North Street , York, YO1 6JF 3 star Rooms from: £78.00*
		Holmwood House Hotel York 114 Holgate Road , York, YO24 4BB 4 star Rooms from: £79.00*
		The Royal York Hotel & Events Centre Station Road , York, YO24 1AA 4 star Rooms from: £79.00*
		The Saxon House 71-73 Fulford Road , York, YO10 4BD 3 star Rooms from: £79.00*
		Barbican House 20 Barbican Road , York City Centre, YO10 5AA 4 star Rooms from: £80.00*
		Marmadukes Boutique Hotel 4-5 St. Peters Grove , York, YO30 6AQ 3 star Rooms from: £80.00*
		The Windmill HULL ROAD , YORK, YO19 5LP 4 star Rooms from: £80.00*
		Best Western Dean Court Hotel Duncombe Place, York, YO1 7EF 4 star Rooms from: £85.00*
		Best Western Monkbar Hotel St. Maurices Road , YORK, YO31 7JA 3 star Rooms from: £85.00*
		Lamb and Lion Inn High Petergate , York, YO1 7EH 4 star Rooms from: £89.00*
		Ramada York, Fairfield Manor Shipton Road,Skelton , York, YO30 1XW 4 star Rooms from: £89.00*
		Airden House 1 St. Marys , York, YO30 7DD 4 star Rooms from: £90.00*
		Guy Fawkes Inn 25 HIGH PETERGATE , YORK, YO1 7HP 4 star Rooms from: £90.00*
		Hilton York hotel 1 Tower Street, York, Y01 9WD 4 star Rooms from: £91.00*
		Crossways Guest House 23 WIGGINTON ROAD , YORK, YO31 8HJ 4 star Rooms from: £95.00*
		Marriott York Tadcaster Road , York, YO24 1QQ 4 star Rooms from: £95.00*
		Parsonage Country House Hotel Main Street,Escrick , York (Escrick), YO19 6LF 3 star Rooms from: £95.00*
		The Apartments @ No 22 45 Main Street , York, YO10 4PJ 4 star Serviced Apartments from: £99.00*
		THE GRANGE HOTEL 1 Tower Street, York, Y01 9WD 4 star Rooms from: £99.00*
		Victoria Cloisters Fetter Lane , York, YO1 6FD 3 star Rooms from: £100.00*
		Minster Hotel 58-60 Bootham, York, YO30 7BZ 3 star Rooms from: £109.00*
		Tower Guest House 2 Feversham Crescent , York, YO31 8HQ 4 star Rooms from: £110.00*
		Burn Hall Hotel Tollerton Road,Huby , York North, YO61 1JB 3 star Rooms from: £119.00*
		Monkbridge Court Self Catering Monkbridge Court Monkgate, York, YO31 7PA 4 star Self Catering from: £120.00*
		York Luxury Apartment 3 The Tannery Lawrence Street, York, YO10 3WF 4 star Serviced Apartments from: £120.00*
		Goodramgate Apartments 4 GOODRAMGATE , York City Centre, YO1 7LQ 4 star Serviced Apartments from: £125.00*
		Reubens Court-Luxury 2 bed city apartment Prospect Terrace , York City Centre, YO1 6LU 4 star Serviced Apartments from: £125.00*
		The Music House by York Minster (luxury apartment) Cafe Concerto 21 High Petergate, York, YO1 7EN 4 star Serviced Apartments from: £155.00*
		The Churchill Hotel 65 Bootham, York, YO30 7DQ 3star Rooms from: £159.00*
		Express By Holiday Inn York-East 262 MALTON ROAD , YORK, YO32 9TE Budget Hotel AA Assessed Rooms from: £160.00*
		Hotel du Vin and Bistro York 89 The Mount York , York, YO24 1AX 4 star Rooms from: £160.00*
		Hotel du Vin and Bistro York Middlethorpe, York, YO23 2GB 4 star Rooms from: £190.00*