Clifford's Tower seen from Piccadilly, York.
The motte, or mound, was first built in 1068 as William the Conqueror stamped his authority on York, the former seat of a Viking kingdom, by building a motte and bailey castle by the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss. In 1069 a Danish army sailed up the Rive Ouse once again, gaining support from the population of northern England. The orginal motte supported a timber tower. In 1190 this was destroyed by fire after the notorious mass suicide of Jews. Although rebuilt in timber, this was replaced by Henry III, by the present stone tower of four lobes. Extensive building work on other parts of York Castle took place at the same time, massive expenditure taking place between 1246 and 1262. The tower is thought to have been named after Roger de Clifford was executed in 1322 but it was held for the king by Constables who often came from the Clifford family. Today there is a large car park at the foot of the mound which can be seen beyond the fencing and rubble of a building in the process of being replaced by a hotel on Piccadilly. Drawn with a Derwent Graphik 01 pen in a Moleskine sketchbook.
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