Anglian Tower (tower 19) York

The Anglian Tower (Tower 19)
York
Yorkshire

There is a short portion of Roman wall, topped with Medieval masonry, that sits between the South Eastern extremities of the ruined St Mary’s Abbey, and the Museum gardens. Here, tucked between the base of the wall and the Museum the Anglian tower hides. It is a small square tower, with two narrow doorways, and until about 1839, was buried beneath the ramparts of the inner part of the old Roman walls. It was ‘rediscovered’ when the ramparts were dug away, but only excavated in 1969.

Above. A view along the base of the old Roman wall.

It appears that the tower was built to block a breach in the old Roman walls, and to this day, dating it seems to be a difficult question to answer.

Above. The front of the tower.

It appears that the tower was built to block a breach in the old Roman walls, and to this day, dating it seems to be a difficult question to answer. It is built of poorer quality stone than the surrounding Roman walls, perhaps suggesting that it is older than the surviving Roman remains. Some historians think it could be late Roman in date, but even to this day, it’s age has not been satisfactorily ascertained.

Above. A view of the outside face of the tower.

It lays only a few yards from the interior of the Roman Multangular tower, and forms an interesting section of the early defences of the city of York.