Cliffords Tower - In Hiding

I've just got back home from a trip into York city centre, my first this year. Since Covid-19 infection rates have dropped substantially since the start of the year I thought it was time that my daily exercise was a walk round the city centre. The weather is much warmer today, with some sunshine, so there were quite a few people out and about.

My walk seemed a bit like exploring a strange land. I was amazed at the amount of building work taking place, including here at Cliffords Tower. The work here has been involved in controversy for several years. The main argument was against a visitors centre built into the mound on which Cliffords Tower stands. That part of the scheme was abandoned. What remains to be created is a viewing platform built inside the tower and supported by timber columns. The platform will be built just below roof level to avoid affecting views of the tower, with lightweight walkways suspended from beneath providing visitors with access to previously unseen first-floor features. The current interior is essentially a hollow shell, the interior of the building being destroyed by an explosion in 1684. The tower was built between 1240 and 1275, and it replaced an earlier wooden tower.

Cliffords Tower is the main element of a large castle that has survived. Much of the rest of the area of the castle was the site of a large prison in Victorian times, and Cliffords Tower was within the prison walls.

To see what the tower looks like without the scaffolding, see http://365project.org/fishers/365/2020-12-30 which was taken from a simular direction.

[Yoland]

Interesting project, great to see the before pic.

[bkb in the city]

Nice shot

[Peter Dulis]

interesting to see it when its done :)

[Nina Ganci]

if only the tower could speak ..... It has stood the test of time
Glad to hear that the view of tower will not be affected

[Monica]

I've visited Clifford Tower, it looks so very different surrounded by scaffolding! Hope the renovation adds to the visit.

[gloria jones]

Super pov and what a history :)

[Margaret Brown]

Interesting tower , it looks a lot of work

[carol white]

An interesting capture, love the original photo

[Judith Johnson]

We were there a couple of years ago. Maybe they are taking the opportunity of doing some recovations while there are fewer tourists

[Pyrrhula]

Great capture of the Scaffolding around abnd the cabins needed. Hope the job will soon be done and the tower is visible again.

[Pat]

A good time to do renovation work at the moment I guess.
A great shot of all the action going on and the scaffolding makes an interesting shot, fav.

[Kathy A]

I hope they don't destroy the look of this glorious tower

[Casablanca]

Wow, Clifford's Tower under wraps! That is some serious looking work going on.

[Dione Giorgio]

Wow this must be a must for those visiting York. Even covered with scaffolding it looks amazing.

[Fisher Family]

@yoland @bkbinthecity @pdulis @ninaganci @monicac @seattlite @craftymeg @carolmw @busylady @pyrrhula @pattyblue @kjarn @casablanca @sangwann

Thank you all for your lovely comments and favs, they are very much appreciated.

The work on the tower is due to be completed by this summer, so I look forward to seeing the results. It is remarkable how long it has taken to get the appropriate permissions to do this work, with final approval given last September. The current work started in November.

Ian