York+Castle

York Castle is best known for being a fortress during William the Conqueror's reign. York Castle was built and added to by many different people during many points in history. After the Normans overthrew England's Viking overlords in 1068 King William ordered a series of fortresses be built for protection. The Castle was originally built out of wood, the building was damaged by a fire during a revolt. The castle was reconstructed, again, mostly of timber, and the castle was once again destroyed by fire in the 12th century. In the 13th century king William II ordered the castle be reconstructed out of stone. Later, York Castle was used as a prison, then military barracks, then an army prison. When York Castle was destroyed for the second time during the 12th century it was caused by a mob of peasants that set the castle on fire in their efforts to kill a community of Jewish people that took refuge there. The castle was reconstructed in stone and turned into a prison. The prison is a very important part in the castle's history. The castle was a prison for close to 1,000 years. The prisoners kept there were convicted of serious crimes such as burglary, adultery, and smuggling. Now the castle is a museum and popular tourist attraction. Tourists are able to tour the old prison and look at the cells originally built back in the 13th century.