Clifford's Tower and the castle bailey in medieval times

Although an important part of the city's defences, the castle was never joined to the city walls and for many centuries was largely surrounded by water. The castle was first built by William the Conqueror in 1068 and consisted of a great mound of rammed earth, and a bailey - a large open area surrounded by an embankment, fence and ditch.

Clifford's Tower was built between 1245 and 1260 as a self-contained stronghold on top of the mound originally constructed in 1068. The Tower lost its roof and floors in a disastrous fire in 1684 and has stood in ruins ever since.

In the 18th Century the medieval bailey was filled with prisons and law courts, which are now home to the Castle Museum. In 1190 the castle was burnt down by rioters attempting to massacre a group of local Jews who had taken refuge there. The Jews, however, "chose to die at each others hands" rather than be burnt to death.