Tower Street is a road in the city centre of

York York is a cathedral city with Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. It is the historic county town of Yorkshire. The city has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a ...

, in England.

History

The street originated as a lane leading from York city centre, between the base of the motte of

Clifford's Tower York Castle is a fortified complex in the city of York, England. It consists of a sequence of castles, prisons, law courts and other buildings, which were built over the last nine centuries on the south side of the River Foss. The now-ruined ...

and the

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 ...

, to Castle Mills and St George's Field, where there was a Mediaeval chapel. By 1725, it was known as Castlegate Postern Lane, and half its width was paved by the city corporation. The street increased in importance as it provided access to the city's prison, and a ferry across the river to

Skeldergate Skeldergate is a street in the city centre of York, in England. The street is now primarily residential, with many of its warehouse buildings having been converted into apartments. History During the Roman Eboracum period, the area in which Ske ...

. In 1880, some buildings on the street were demolished so that

Clifford Street Clifford Street is a street in central London, built in the early 18th century, on land that once formed part of the Burlington Estate. It is named after the Clifford family, Earls of Cumberland. The daughter and heiress of the last holder of ...

could be constructed, and in 1881, it was linked to the new

Skeldergate Bridge There are nine bridges across the River Ouse within the city of York, England, and sixteen smaller bridges and passages across the narrower River Foss. Bridges over the Ouse The earliest bridge, built by the Romans, linked Stonegate (the ''vi ...

by a new road across St George's Field. The same year, a tramline was constructed along the street, from Castle Mills Bridge to Clifford Street.

Layout and architecture

In plan, the road forms a "C" shape. It starts at a junction with Castlegate and Castle Walk, which also provides access to the Castle Car Park. It runs south-west to a junction with

and Peckitt Street, at which it swings round to run south-east. The next section is part of the B1227 and is a dual carriageway. Tower Place runs off to the south-west, and access to the Eye of York off the north-east side. Passing Tower Gardens, it reaches the city's inner ring road at a junction with Bishopgate Street. It continues east as part of the ring road, with access to St George's Field Car Park and the River Foss Barrier off its southern side. It ends at Castle Mills Bridge, over the

River Foss The River Foss is in North Yorkshire, England. It is a tributary of the River Ouse. It rises in the Foss Crooks Woods near Oulston Reservoir close to the village of Yearsley and runs south through the Vale of York to the Ouse in the centre of ...

, beyond which its continuation is

Fishergate Fishergate is a street and surrounding area of York, England. History Fishergate runs along a strip of slightly raised ground, east of the River Ouse. Archaeological investigations have found evidence of prehistoric occupation, before the ...

. The street wraps around

York Castle York Castle is a fortified complex in the city of York, England. It consists of a sequence of castles, prisons, law courts and other buildings, which were built over the last nine centuries on the south side of the River Foss. The now-ruined ...

, with its various associated buildings and walls. Notable buildings on the other side of the road are the Hilton Hotel, built in 1986 as a Holiday Inn; the Tower Street drill hall, built in 1885 and now the York Army Museum; the mid-19th century 6 and 7 Tower Street, and 8 to 10B Tower Street; the early-19th century 11 and 12 Tower Street, and 13 and 14 Tower Street; and a memorial to the Boer War, in the middle of the street. In 2021, the

City of York Council City of York Council is the municipal governing body of the City of York, a unitary authority in Yorkshire, England. It is composed of 47 councillors, one, two, or three for each of the 21 electoral wards of York. It is responsible for all local ...

began constructing a multi-storey car park to replace the former flat St George's Field Car Park, to permit the closure of the Castle Car Park.

References

{{Streets of York Streets in York