150 - After our Olympic break yesterday, we continue our look at the City Walls of York with a shot of the Red Tower, a most unusual building, since most of the walls are built of limestone, while this is built of brick.
The Red Tower was built in 1490. It was used as a watchtower to strengthen the City Walls in the vulnerable area around the King’s Fishpool – a lake formed by damming the River Foss. This watery defence meant that no walls were needed between here and Layerthorpe Bridge.
Unusually, the Red Tower was built from brick, hence its name. The choice of building material caused friction between the bricklayers and the stonemasons responsible for the rest of the walls, who resented work being taken from them. In 1491, two masons were implicated in the murder of a bricklayer named John Patrick but were later acquitted.
At other times the Red Tower has been used for a variety of purposes – as a stable, a cow-house and as a brimstone factory for making gunpowder, when the tower was known as Brimstone House.
I love reading the history you give with your shots. It's so interesting! This is a great old building. Fantastic shot! I enlarged it to see the door. Very cool!!
Thank you Lydia - more history to follow!
Thank you Junan, the tour continues...!
Thank you Louise - I'll try and find you some more surprises!
Thank you Caren, glad you are enjoying the history!
Thank you Brian - the tour continues...!
Thank you Roslyn - we still have a few more old buildings to go!
Thank you Marie - there are more to come!
Thank you Tin, glad you like it!
Thank you Bob - you can tell these bricks are very old because they are so thin.