The Multangular Tower
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The famous Multangular Tower, situated in the gardens of St. Mary's Abbey, is a peculiar construction. The outside to the river is faced with a very small stone about four inches thick and laid in levels like modern brickwork.
From the foundation, twenty courses of these small stones are laid, and over them five courses of Roman bricks, some laid lengthwise and some endwise in the wall. After these five courses of bricks, a further twenty-three courses of small square stones are laid, and then five more courses of bricks; beyond which the wall is imperfect, and capped with more recent building.
In all this height there is no casement or loophole, but one entire and uniform wall. A considerable portion of the old Roman wall, connected with this tower, was discovered in wonderful preservation; as well as a monumental stone, 21 feet long and 11 feet wide, bearing the legible inscription, "Genio loci feliciter."
Of the four Bars or Gates of York, Micklegate is the finest: it has a well-preserved Roman arch, and supports a massive pile of Gothic turrets. This gate was, in all probability, erected 1600 years ago. In the vicinity of Micklegate Bar is another very curious relic, "the greatest and most remarkable," in the words of Drake, namely the Sepulchral Monument of the Standard bearer of the Ninth Legion.
Next page: Origins of of York Castle
