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Summary

An early 4th century rebuilding of the West angle tower of the legionary fortress' defences, reused as part of the Medieval city wall. The Medieval work has nine faces, each of which has a cruciform arrow slit, and previously to the restoration of 1960 the slits had been hacked out, presumably for gun loops. Includes a length of 4th century town walling to the south-west of the South-West multiangular tower of Eboracum later incorporated into the Mediaeval wall.

Monument Type(s)

• TOWN WALL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• ANGLE TOWER (c300 Roman, Roman - 280 AD to 320 AD)
• WALL (c300 Roman, Roman - 280 AD to 320 AD)
• ANGLE TOWER (Late C13, Medieval - 1267 AD to 1299 AD)
• ANGLE TOWER (1831, Early 19th Century - 1831 AD to 1831 AD)
• ANGLE TOWER (1960, 20th Century - 1960 AD to 1960 AD)

Protected Status

• Listed Building
• Conservation Area
• Scheduled Monument

Full description

Defensive tower and length of wall approximately 25 metres long forming west angle tower and south-west wall of the Roman legionary fortress of Eboracum; incorporated later into the defences of the medieval city. c300 AD; tower raised in late C13; excavated 1831; restored 1960. Roman masonry in small limestone blocks laced with bonding courses of red tile; tower raised in larger ashlar blocks. Tower is approximately 9.5 metres high, on battered plinth. Upper stage is faceted, each of 8 faces having a cruciform arrow slit. At former parapet level, stub of water spout projects. On inner side slits are set in pointed arched recesses. Wall approximately 5.5 metres high and contains a number of blocked recesses on the inner side. (An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in the City of York: RCHME: The Defences: HMSO: 1972-: 110).
Listing NGR: SE6001252072

Derived from English Heritage LB download dated: 22/08/2005

An early 4th century rebuilding of the West angle tower of the legionary fortress' defences, reused as part of the Medieval city wall. The Mediaeval work has nine faces, each of which has a cruciform arrow slit, and previously to the restoration of 1960 the slits had been hacked out, presumably for gun loops.

NMR Information:

Multangular Tower or West Angle Tower. Located in the Museum Gardens and surviving to a height of 19 feet and capped by a Medieval super-structure. Excavated in 1831 and 1927. This projecting polygonal tower is part of the 4th century remodelling of the SW defences. It had a rectangular rear compartment and was divided by a spine wall. (1)

Multangular Tower Grade 1. (2)

SE 600520 West angle tower of Roman fortress, scheduled. (3)

Listed Grade I. (4)

The Mediaeval work has nine faces, each of which has a cruciform arrow slit, and previously to the restoration of 1960 the slits had been hacked out, presumably for gun loops. (5)

1 The City of York. Volume 1: Eboracum: Roman York: Addendum 13-14 Royal Commission on Historical Monuments, England
2 List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest DOE (HHR) City of York, North Yorkshire, 24 June 1983, 250
3 VIRTUAL CATALOGUE ENTRY TO SUPPORT NAR MIGRATION English Heritage SAM List North Yorkshire 31.3.94 p80
4 Register of parks and gardens of special historic interest in England Part 32 North Yorkshire (May 1987) English Heritage
5 An inventory of the historical monuments in the City of York. Volume II: the defences 111 Royal Commission on Historical Monuments, England

Length of 4th C walling to sout-west of Multiangular tower:

[SE60025206] Roman Wall [GS]. (1)

Between the W angle tower and interval tower SW6 the 4th century fortress wall stands to nearly its full height, and at SE60015209 is exposed for about 35 feet. A furter fragment, 20 feet long stands 3.5 above the ground at SE60085217.

From SE60575223 to SE60625218 the inner face of the Severan wall is visible. The outer face also emerges at the East angle, and the wall here survives to full height with the rampart and its walks intact behind it. (2)

Currently described. (3)

Defensive tower and length of wall approximately 25 metres long forming west angle tower and south-west wall of the Roman legionary fortress of Eboracum; incorporated later into the defences of the medieval city. c300 AD; tower raised in late C13; excavated 1831; restored 1960. Roman masonry in small limestone blocks laced with bonding courses of red tile; tower raised in larger ashlar blocks. Listed Grade I. (4)

1 Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date) OS 1:2500 1962
2 An inventory of the historical monuments in the City of York. Volume I: Eburacum: Roman York 21,28,33 Royal Commission on Historical Monuments, England
3 Field Investigators Comments F1 RW Emsley, 07-Jun-1963
4 List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest City of York, 14-Mar-1997

Article in Yorkshire Archaeology Today 2010: https://issuu.com/york_archaeological_trust/docs/yatmag17-web

City of York Council, 1991, 1991 City Walls Structural Survey (Unpublished document). SYO2265.

PLB, 2004, York City Walls Conservation Management Plan (Unpublished document). SYO1733.

PLB, 2004, York City Walls Interpretation and Access (Unpublished document). SYO1734.

Sources and further reading

Related records

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