Chronological Table

An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in City of York, Volume 2, the Defences. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1972.

'Chronological Table', in An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in City of York, Volume 2, the Defences, (London, 1972) pp. 56. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/rchme/york/vol2/p56 [accessed 25 April 2024]



71–2	Roman fortress built.
107–8	Fortress rebuilt in stone.
c. 650	Tower 19 built.
867	York captured by the Danes. Earth ramparts added.
c. 930	Athelstan razes a Danish fort.
1068	William I builds two castles.
1069	William I restores castles after damage.
c. 1100–1200	Stone gates erected, replacing timber gates.
1190	Castle burnt in anti-Jewish riot.
1215	Geoffrey de Neville strengthens city defences on E. and S.W.
1245–70	Henry III rebuilds castle in stone, including Clifford's Tower.
1250–70	Stone walls built in central and Micklegate areas.
1266	St. Mary's Abbey walls begun.
1315–40	Archbishop Melton fortifies Old Baile.
1318–c. 1325	St. Mary's Abbey walls heightened and strengthened with towers.
1345	Citizens contract with Thomas de Staunton to build walls from Fishergate Bar to Foss.
c. 1350	Monk Bar built.
1380	Tower 32 described as new.
1463	City's guns first mentioned.
1466	Old Baile in hands of citizens.
1483–5	Richard III dismantles castle preparatory to rebuilding.
1487	Sir William Todd restores wall near Fishergate Bar.
1489	Rebels burn Walmgate and Fishergate Bars. Latter blocked until 1827.
1490	Red Tower being built.
1502	Wall between Walmgate Bar and Foss rebuilt.
c. 1505	Fishergate Postern Tower built.
1511	Twelve guns delivered for city defences.
1569	Walls prepared for siege.
1581–6	Rear façades of Bootham, Micklegate, and Walmgate Bars rebuilt.
1596–7	Robert Redhead partially demolished Clifford's Tower and castle outer wall.
1616	Lendal Tower first used as waterworks.
1642	Walls prepared for siege. Clifford's Tower restored by Earl of Cumberland.
1644	Siege by three Parliamentary armies. Walmgate Bar damaged.
1645–69	Walls restored.
1667–8	Grand Jury House in castle rebuilt.
1674–5	Moothall or Sessions House in castle built.
1677	Lendal Tower leased for 500 years as waterworks.
1684	Clifford's Tower gutted by fire.
1701–5	Debtors' Prison in castle built.
1719	Rear façade of Bootham Bar rebuilt.
1731	New postern made at Davy Tower.
1745	Walls prepared for siege.
1753	New passage made at Micklegate Bar.
1771	New passage made at Bootham Bar.
1773–7	Assize Courts in castle built, replacing Grand Jury House.
1780	Female Prison in castle built, replacing Moothall.
1800	City council resolves to demolish walls.
1807–8	Skeldergate Postern demolished.
1808	Archbishop awarded damages against city for demolition of Skeldergate Postern.
1811	Archbishop and Dean and Chapter seek injunction to prevent demolition of walls.
1825	Monk Bar barbican demolished and new passage made there.
1826	Castlegate Postern and Micklegate Bar barbican demolished.
1826–35	New outer wall and prison built at castle.
1829	Layerthorpe Postern demolished.
1831	St. Leonard's Place pierced through walls. Bootham Bar barbican partly demolished.
1831–2	Walls in Micklegate area restored.
1834	Walls, Fishergate Postern to Fishergate Bar, restored.
1835	Bootham Bar restored.
1838	Victoria Bar pierced through walls and Lounlith gate discovered.
1839	Railway arch pierced through walls.
1840	Walmgate Bar and barbican restored. North Street Postern rebuilt.
1845	Monk Bar restored and another passage made there.
1864	Walls, Walmgate Bar to Red Tower, restored.
1871–2	Walls, Layerthorpe Postern to Monk Bar, restored.
1874	Road arches to new station pierced through walls.
1878	Walls, Baile Hill to Ouse, demolished.
1878	Walls, Layerthorpe Postern to Monk Bar, restored.
1886–9	Walls, Bootham Bar to Monk Bar, restored.
1914	Monk Bar restored.
1950–5	Bootham, Monk, and Micklegate Bars restored.
1969–70	Bootham Bar restored.
1970–1	Tower 19 restored.