York city walls
York has, since Roman times, been defended by walls of one form or another. To this day, substantial portions of the walls remain, and York has more miles of intact wall than any other city in England. They are known variously as York City Walls, the Bar Walls and the Roman walls (though this last is a misnomer as very little of the extant stonework is of Roman origin, and the course of the wall has been substantially altered since Roman times). The walls are generally 13 feet (4 m) high and 6 feet (1.8 m) wide. They are the longest town walls in England.
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York Debtor's Prison
York Debtor's Prison is a former debtor's prison and Grade I Listed building located in York, North Yorkshire. Since 1952 it has been part of the York Castle Museum.
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Davy Tower
The Davy Tower is a feature of the York city walls in England.
The stone tower was built around 1250, probably at the end of a wall or earthwork leading to Castlegate, around the moat of York Castle. It was first recorded in 1315, and by 1424 the part of the city inside the walls was occupied by the York Franciscan Friary. Until 1553, a chain could be strung across the River Ouse from the tower to a now-demolished tower near Skeldergate. From 1607, a public toilet adjoined the tower, on the river side, known as the "Sugar House". In 1732, it was replaced by a stone arch, the Friargate Postern.
Around 1730, the tower was altered, when a summerhouse was constructed in its southern corner: the basement in stone, and the raised ground floor in brick. It was extended in about 1830, and has since filled all but the north-west corner of the tower, which has been demolished. The building was extended again in the 20th century, incorporating a coal store and a new concrete floor. In 1954, it was Grade II* listed.
The mediaeval stone wall is about 10 feet high and 1 foot 8 thick, and it retains two original windows: an arrowslit in a cross shape, and a musket loop. Some internal features survive from the 18th century, including a chimneypiece, window seats, a dado rail with panelling, and a cornice.
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York Franciscan Friary
York Franciscan Friary was a friary in York, North Yorkshire, England. It was located between York Castle and the River Ouse. In 1538, it fell victim to Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries. All that now remains of it is a stone wall on King's Staith, adjacent to the Davy Tower on the York city walls.
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