York's military role

Clifford's Tower, the keep of York Castle.
© Patrick Gibbs

Associated people

• Edward IV
• Henry VI
• Henry VII
• Richard III

Associated institutions

• York City Council

Description

As well as sending men to fight for Richard III, York was a military site in its own right. Proximity to the Scottish border made the city an ideal base from which to stage campaigns northwards, including that led by Richard as duke of Gloucester in July 1482.

Bloody conflict had also come close during the Wars of the Roses, with the royal party under Henry VI staying in the city and Edward IV's forces arriving there after the battle of Towton on 29 March 1461. The dominant military feature of the city was the castle, originally established by William the Conqueror in the eleventh century and rebuilt by Henry III two centuries later. The castle was used as a royal residence and also housed the city gaol.

As a recognition of this important role and the city's strategic position Edward IV declared his intention to repair the castle shortly after visiting the city in September 1478. This work did not commence, however Richard III did take up the plight of the castle and agreed a programme of rebuilding in 1484, commissioned on 23 July. This time work did begin, but only comprised demolition in preparation for reconstruction.

The king's death just a year later put an end to these plans, meaning that although a strengthened castle may have been intended by Richard III, ultimately he only oversaw its partial destruction. Despite the pleas of the city council to his successor, Henry VII, the castle was to fall into further disrepair in the decades after Richard's reign.