166 - This tower formed the western corner of the Roman fortress in York, and is thought to have been built around 200-250AD. But this was only the beginning of the story of this tower - the upper part with the larger stones was added in medieval times as part of the medieval city wall, so this tower played a significant part in the defence of York for over 1000 years!
Its style, protruding from the fortress wall rather than sitting behind it, was a development designed to enable defenders to fire down on anyone attacking the wall itself.
The brick layer is a Roman decorative feature, and there would originally have been a second brick layer at a higher level.
The exterior view (top) faces into the Museum Gardens, while the interior view (below) faces the library, and as can be seen is used to store some of the Roman stone coffins discovered in York.
From here, the Roman wall ran south-east towards the current central shopping area, while the medieval wall follows it for a short distance before turning south-west towards the river and Lendal Tower (see http://365project.org/if1/365/2012-07-24)
Thank you Tony - we almost have too much history sometimes! Whenever a new development takes place in or around the city centre, the archaeologists are there! I think it was only a couple of weeks ago when a piece of Roman mosaic was found when a new service pipe was being laid.
Thank you Junan, glad you like it. There are a lot of those coffins around, and last year some were installed as features in flower beds in the Museum Gardens.
Thank you Brian. The tower is at the corner of the Museum Gardens, which is a lovely park. see http://365project.org/if1/365/2012-03-12 for a spring shot of the gardens.
Thank you! The brick course was weaker than the stone, and the top of the Roman part of the tower is where the upper course of brick would have been. It's weakness is why the upper part collapsed.
Thank you Bruni, glad you like it!. If you are interested, the tour of the walls began with http://365project.org/if1/365/2012-07-30, although I do sometimes get sidetracked by other things of interest along the way!
Thank you Mary - I don't think you would see a massive difference in the city centre, except for their being even more visitors now. and more coffee shops and restaurants to meet their needs!
August 25th, 2012
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It's a fascinating area, and it is at the edge of a lovely park
Thank you - it's a place of some fascinating history!
Thank you Bob - I'm not sure the buildings we put up now will last anywhere near as long!
Thank you Caren, glad you like it!
Thank you Paula, glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you Tony - we almost have too much history sometimes! Whenever a new development takes place in or around the city centre, the archaeologists are there! I think it was only a couple of weeks ago when a piece of Roman mosaic was found when a new service pipe was being laid.
Thank you Junan, glad you like it. There are a lot of those coffins around, and last year some were installed as features in flower beds in the Museum Gardens.
Thank you Marie, glad you like it!
Thank you Howard!
Thank you Roslyn - it is amazing that parts of this have lasted almost 2000 years
Thank you Brian. The tower is at the corner of the Museum Gardens, which is a lovely park. see http://365project.org/if1/365/2012-03-12 for a spring shot of the gardens.
Thank you Ruth, glad you like it!
Thank you! The brick course was weaker than the stone, and the top of the Roman part of the tower is where the upper course of brick would have been. It's weakness is why the upper part collapsed.
Thank you Bruni, glad you like it!. If you are interested, the tour of the walls began with http://365project.org/if1/365/2012-07-30, although I do sometimes get sidetracked by other things of interest along the way!
Thank you Mary - I don't think you would see a massive difference in the city centre, except for their being even more visitors now. and more coffee shops and restaurants to meet their needs!