Multangular Tower

A Monument to Roman Military Engineering

The Multangular Tower represents one of the finest examples of standing Roman architecture in Britain. Built around 100 AD as part of Eboracum's legionary fortress, this ten-sided tower originally stood at the southwest corner of the massive stone wall that defended the Roman settlement. The fortress itself was established in AD 71 when the 9th Legion marched north from Lincoln to secure this strategically vital location at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss. The Romans chose this position not for its elevation but for its unparalleled defensive advantages—the converging rivers provided natural barriers on two sides, while supplies and reinforcements could be transported directly from the North Sea via the River Ouse. The tower's construction employed limestone quarried from Tadcaster, known to the Romans as Calcaria, and represents a substantial military investment. Originally standing over ten metres high with three internal floors, the uppermost level housed a catapult for long-range defence. The structure's distinctive ten-sided design gave it superior defensive coverage compared to square towers, allowing Roman soldiers to command wider sight lines along the fortress walls.

Layers of History Carved in Stone

What makes the Multangular Tower exceptional is its visible archaeological narrative. The lower portion retains the original Roman masonry, with neatly laid inner stone skins and rough outer faces where earth embankments once reinforced the walls. Above this foundation sits a distinctly different section of medieval stonework, added during the 1300s when York required new city defences covering a far greater area than the original Roman fort. Medieval builders ingeniously incorporated the surviving Roman walls as foundations for their own fortifications, a practical solution that preserved these ancient structures for posterity. The medieval additions are unmistakable—larger stone blocks form the upper section, and distinctive cross-shaped arrow slits pierce the walls, designed to allow medieval archers to operate safely behind the ramparts. These embrasures opened as wedges internally, permitting archers to adjust their aim while remaining protected from enemy fire. The tower's medieval phase also saw the addition of arched embrasures that accommodated the longer bows of 14th-century warfare.

Scars of Conflict and Civil War

The tower's walls bear witness to York's most recent period of military significance. During the English Civil War, when the city walls were still actively defended, a cannonball struck the tower, leaving a visible impact hole that remains visible to this day. This damage serves as a poignant reminder that the Multangular Tower remained strategically important more than 1,500 years after its Roman construction. The tower's longevity as a defensive structure—from the Roman era through the medieval period and into the 17th century—testifies to the enduring value of its location and design.

Archaeological Treasures Within

Inside the tower, visitors encounter Roman coffins crafted from millstone grit, a coarse hard sandstone, excavated from graveyards throughout York. These burial vessels provide intimate evidence of the Roman population that once inhabited Eboracum, offering tangible connections to individual lives lived nearly two thousand years ago. The coffins' presence within the tower transforms it from a mere defensive structure into a repository of human history.

Setting and Modern Context

The Multangular Tower now stands within the Museum Gardens, a beautifully maintained green space in York's historic centre. The gardens themselves form a living museum, surrounded by other significant ruins including the remains of St Mary's Abbey church. The tower's integration into this landscape creates an ideal environment for understanding York's layered past. The nearby Yorkshire Museum, established in the 1820s and recently refurbished, complements the tower experience with extensive collections relating to Roman York and the broader history of the region.