Clifford’s Tower is the largest remaining part of York Castle, once the centre of government for the north of England. The 11th-century timber tower on top of the earth mound burned down in 1190, after York’s Jewish community, some 150 strong, was besieged here by a mob and committed mass suicide. The present 13th-century stone tower was probably used as a treasury and later as a prison.  The unused card looks (almost as) old.  Grade: 1