Anglian Tower, Medieval tower in City of York, England.
Anglian Tower is a tower structure within York's city walls featuring stone walls, arched doorways, and tunnel-vaulted ceilings. The building stands over 3 feet (1 meter) tall and shapes the appearance of the wall section it occupies.
The tower was discovered by workers in 1839 during tunnel construction and dates to either the mid-7th or mid-9th century. This accidental find helped historians understand the city's early medieval military defense system better.
The tower blends Roman and Anglo-Saxon building techniques in ways visitors can observe while walking along the city walls. These influences appear in how the stone is worked and the way openings are shaped.
Visitors can access the tower through York City Library grounds or the Museum Gardens, with informational plaques offering context. The best time to visit is on bright days when you can easily see the stone details and the openings in the structure.
The tower includes a hidden passage behind the remains of the Roman fortress wall where sentries could patrol under cover. This design feature is not found anywhere else and reveals the practical defense strategy of its time.
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