Baile Hill

Baile Hill. . York's Lost Castle , Baile Hill is all that remains of a Norman motte and bailey castle built as part of a system of defences intended to control the south west of the city following a rebellion in 1069. The artificial mound or motte was built by order of William the Conqueror. Originally, a deep water-filled ditch surrounded the mound and a wooden fortified tower stood on top. This castle was built a year after the one on the opposite bank of the river where Clifford's Tower is now visible. Together, these twin castles protected the city and controlled traffic on the River Ouse., The drawing on the right, based on a scene from the Bayeux Tapestry, shows workmen building a castle on a motte at Hastings for William the Conqueror., The Harrying of the North , The rebellion, which led to the building of Baile Hill castle, was led by York's Anglo Scandinavian elite against William the Conqueror's Norman invaders. William's response was so forcible it came to be known as the 'harrying of the north'. Much of the north of England was systematically ravaged. William allegedly ordered his troops to slaughter every living thing between York and Durham. Much of the city was burned and farms, stock and crops were destroyed. Sixteen years later the Domesday Book record that 940 of the city's 1400 houses were still derelict., Why have York's City Walls survived? , In 1807 Skeldergate Postern shown above in 1718), a large gateway next to Baile Hill was removed due to an increase in horse-drawn traffic. This angered the Archbishop of York who sued the Corporation and won. The case is important as it effectively prevented the demolition of the rest of the City Walls, which were no longer required for defence, thereby securing the future of this ancient monument. The remaining wall between Baile Hill and the river was however, demolished in 1878 to make way for Skeldergate Bridge., The Bailey , Next to the mound the Normans enclosed an ares of land which they called the bayle or baley, hence the name today. It was used for grazing castle, for military musters, for traditional Shrove Tuesday games and, like the longbowmen above, for archery practice.