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Cliffords Tower


Clifford's Tower - The Chief Fort in York : thundered against the foe and rained flying cannon balls on the enemy's entrenchments.

By 1643 the Tower was in a sorry state of repair but with the onset of the Civil War it was imperative to rebuild and fortify this defensive structure to keep the Parliamentary armies at bay.This was possible in 1643 with the Queen returning from Europe with cannon and other arms.Amongst other features a drawbridge and deep moat were installed.A platform was erected on top of the Tower on which pieces of cannon were mounted.The appointed Governor was Colonel Sir Francis Cobb who along with the garrison, which included his Lieutenant Colonel,Major and Captains, had their lodgings there during the siege.Clifford's Tower was so pivotal to the Royalist defences that on 29th January 1644 a request was made to the city authorities to make provision for 200 soldiers to keep the Tower for 3 months - the cost to be approx. £500.
Initially held for the king the Tower fell into Roundhead hands after the city surrendered on July 16 1644 as a result of the defeat of the Cavaliers at Marston Moor.Heavy bombardment during the siege inflicted serious damage and further remedial work did not take place until after the Restoration in 1660 when Charles II was invited to the throne.There are now two panels over the archway carved with the Royal arms and those of the Clifford family beneath.
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