Ancient_and_modern_York_a_guide

128 ANCIENT AND
bricks are 17 inches long, 11 broad, and 2j thick, and
the cement is so hard as to be almost imperishable."*
After the most careful examination and the most mi
nute inquiries there remains no doubt that this remarkable
structure is a remnant of Roman power, in York. The
only person who appears to have called into question
the fact, was Sir Henry Englefield. " The tower, in the
grounds of the Museum of the Yorkshire Philosophical
Society, known as the Multangular Tower, and the wall
proceeding from the side of it in a south-east direction,"
observed Mr. Welbeloved, "was ofsuch a nature, that every
intelligent antiquarian who inspected it, was of opinion
that it was an angle of the wall of the ancient Eboracum.
The discoveries made at different times of the foundation
of the ancient wall and of the remains of towers, in con
nection with this tower, left no doubt as to the foundation
of the wall of Eboracum, at least on one side of the river.
When the Multangular Tower was left to the Yorkshire
Philosophical Society, English coins of various dates were
found in the upper part of it; and when the accumulation
of rubbish, which had been collecting for ages, was cleared
away, and it was brought to the present perfect state,
many Roman coins were found in the bottom."
Passing from the Roman Multangular tower, the ruins
of St. Mary's Abbey extend before you ; of which a par
ticular notice has been given. Between the ruins of the
abbey and Roman tower, stands
A fine Doric structure ; the principal front being nearly
200 feet in length. The first stone was laid on the 24th
of October, 1827 : the building was finished in the lat
ter end of 1829, and was opened in February, 1830.
The facade has a western aspect, and a projecting portico
of four fluted Doric columns , supporting the proper entab
lature, with mutules and triglyphs, and a pediment. The
Lister.