Ancient_and_modern_York_a_guide

M0DEEN YORK. 135
not singular in his opinion:—John Howard, the cele
brated philanthrophist, after visiting most of the prisons
in Europe, arrived in York, in the August of 1787, on
his return from the north, and during his stay here,
visited the castle ; and though the condition of the goal
was then very much inferior to what it is at present, he
bestowed many encomiums upon it; declaring that York
Castle was one of the best regulated prisons he had
ever inspected. Since the days of Howard, happily, the
importance of prison discipline has become better and more
generally appreciated, and is now a matter of especial
concern to the legislature and executive government of
every enlightened country.
York Castle was founded by William the Conqueror, and,
as we learn from Domesday book, one of the wards of
the city was destroyed, to admit of its erection. This
castle, observes Drake, " was built a solo, probably on a
Roman foundation, by William I, and made so strong in
order to keep the Citizens and Northumbrians in awe, and
to preserve his garrisons better than they were in the
former. It continued to be in his successor's hands, the
kings of England, and was the constant residence of the
High Sheriffs of the county, during their shrievalty for
some ages after,"
Anciently, the river Foss went quite round the walls,
completely isolating the castle, and admitting of entrance
only by a draw-bridge, on the east side, near Castle-mills
Bridge. In 1805, the bridge, gate, towers, and sally
port were removed ; and the moat on the south side was
filled up. Still, on the eastern and northern sides, the
walls of the castle are bounded by the river.
CItffortW' Cofoer.
This beautiful relic of the feudal era, stands upon an
artificial mound, within the castle walls, exactly facing a
similar artificial mound on the opposite side of the river
Ouse, called the Old Baile ; on which, it is the general