The Destruction of York Castle
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After the surrender of the city in 1644, York Castle was dismantled of its garrison, except Clifford's Tower, which Thomas Dickenson, the Lord Mayor, a man strongly attached to the Parliamentarian interest, was constituted governor.
In 1683 Charles II appointed Sir John Reresby governor of the Castle. In the following year, on St. George's Day (April 23rd), at around 10pm, the magazine caught fire and blew up, reducing the tower to a shell, as it remains to this day.
Whether this explosion took place accidentally or by design is unknown; but the demolition of the "Minced Pie" was at that time a common toast in the city and the officers and soldiers of the garrison had previously removed their belongings, and not a single man was killed in the explosion.
