This tower is at the north corner of the walls of the precinct of St Mary's Abbey in York. Built sometime between 1318 and 1324 by Stephen de Austewyk, St Mary's tower has changed much over the years. It is a two storey structure, around thirty four feet in diameter, with an octagonal interior.
It was badly damaged during the 1644 siege of York, and subsequently rebuilt. The tower was mined by Parliamentarian forces during the attack, with an explosion beneath its foundations almost totally destroying it. The subsequent breach in the walls enabled Cromwell's army to gain access to the city. However the attack was soon repelled with many injured and killed. The tower was rather crudely rebuilt, with much thinner walls and some rather inexplicable external faults which are still visible today.
The precinct walls remain largely intact, and stretch from this tower some 150 metres south-east towards the city walls, and over 400 metres south-west towards the River Ouse.
This view of the tower has only recently become possible. A large area of the northern part of the abbey precinct was occupied until recently by the ruins of buildings created for military use during World War 2. As part of the renovation of York's art gallery, this land was cleared and a new extension to the Museum Gardens was created.
I suppose, like many who live in York, I've walked past the Tower upteen times (mostly on visits to the Tansy Beetles) and never paid much attention to it, neither did I consider its history.
Thanks for the lovely image and the lesson, greatly appreciated.
j
I have been to the UK many times, especially to the midlands and have often been close to York but have never managed to visit, something I still regret especially since I was infatuated by the Wars of the Roses of the 15th century. So I really enjoy seeing your pictures and the history that goes with them. Thank you.
Thank you for your comments and fav. Ian is visiting his mum today but he appreciates every comment made. It is lovely when work in an area of our beautiful city opens up new views and vantage points for us, and especially Ian, to go and photograph. Katharine
Thank you Bob. I think part of the damage here is quite old - the boundary wall used to reach to the height of the top of the upper window, and when reduced in height left much of this damage.
Ian
January 13th, 2017
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Thanks for the lovely image and the lesson, greatly appreciated.
j
Thank you for your comments and fav. Ian is visiting his mum today but he appreciates every comment made. It is lovely when work in an area of our beautiful city opens up new views and vantage points for us, and especially Ian, to go and photograph. Katharine
Thank you Bob. I think part of the damage here is quite old - the boundary wall used to reach to the height of the top of the upper window, and when reduced in height left much of this damage.
Ian