Cheap Hotels in York

York Castle

York Castle was first constructed during 1068, built by William I, during the Norman Conquest, in the city of York.  It was situated between the River Foss and the River Ouse and a second castle was soon constructed nearby to add strength to Williams' defences.  He appointed William Malet to command the castles.  Shortly after in 1069 the castles and the Normans occupying them came under attack from marauding Viking Fleets and during the ensuing melee the surrounding houses and the castles were burnt down.  The castles were rebuilt by the Normans and this time of wood.

The castles have seen many historic events and been occupied by various land owners and religious groups.  One such group took refuge in what is known as today as Clifford's Tower.  This was a group of 150 Jewish men and women, local residents of York, fleeing the harassment of a local mob. 

The mob were seeking revenge flowing a fire in the city which they had been led to believe was connected to an influential Jewish banker, Aaron of Lincoln.  The banker was owed sums of money by Richard de Malbis and it was he who directed the mob to turn on the banker's family killing them all.  The banker himself had however, recently passed away and the leader of the Jewish community, Josce of York decided it would be safer for the Jewish community seek the safety of the tower for protection. 

However, the protection was short lived after a fierce battle between locals and the sheriff's militia and the 150 Jews took their own lives or burnt to death during the raging fires of the battle.  Today a plaque stands on Clifford's Tower and it reads: "On the night of Friday 16 March 1190, some 150 Jews and Jewesses of York, having sought protection in a Royal Castle on this site from a mob incited by Richard de Malbis and others, chose to die as each other's hands rather than renounce their faith."

The castle has since been rebuilt several times each time stronger than the last, by different kings of England and has served various purposes for different monarchs.  King Richard II ordered parts of the castle to be demolished due to its poor condition, but not all of his orders were carried out before he was killed at the Battle of Bosworth.  Once again rebuilding began, this time during Charles II reign and the last occupation of the castle was by the Earl of Cumberland, Henry Clifford whose name some historians say the tower is named after.

Clifford's tower is now a historical site visited by many thousands of visitors each year and is owned by English Heritage.