Historic York

Clifford's Tower perched high on a knoll is all that is left of York's 13th century castle

Monk Bar (gate) built in the 12th century as part of the wall protecting York

12th century built Lendal Bar (gate) protected York from river attack and at night a metal chain was lowered across the River Ouse to the water line stopping boats from sailing into the city

Multangular Tower from 300AD was likely a catapult station to protect the town from river attack.  The red ribbon of brick was a Roman trademark.  The Normans came in 1068 and built on the Roman structures as with the wall 

The start happened in 71AD when it was a Roman provincial capital called Eboracum.  In the 5th century after Rome collapsed England was invaded by the Anglo-Saxons from Germany and they took control of the city in 525 and made it the capital of their kingdom of Northumbria.  The name was changed to Eoforwic and briefly became the capital of the kingdom.  Christianity had arrived in England at this time and York also became the major center of the western Church.  This influence lasted just over 200 years until the Danes invaded in 867.  The cities name changed to Jorvik and it became the major trading center to Scandinavia and Ireland. That all ended with William the Conqueror when he arrived from Normandy and defeated the English in 1066 and made his way north to York in 1068 and virtually destroyed the city by fire in 1069.  William rebuilt the city, fortifying it with a castle and the city walls that still stand today.  In 1536 Henry V111 created the Church of England breaking with Rome and closing all the monasteries.  This devastated York as it was heavily invested in both monasteries and the Catholic Church.  It took York centuries to recover but by the middle of the 19th century York was the railway hub of northern England.  Today, York's leading industry is tourism.