Lendal Tower

Lendal Tower is a medieval tower that formed part of the city defences of York, England. It is located on the east bank of the River Ouse at the point where the river enters the walled city from the north-west. The building was used as a waterworks from 1616 until 1846 after which it was converted into offices. It has since been turned into rental accommodation.

Lendal Tower
Part of York city walls
York, England
Lendal Tower in July 2018
Lendal Tower
Coordinates53.9603°N 1.08717°W / 53.9603; -1.08717
TypeTower
Site history
MaterialsMagnesian limestone
Listed Building – Grade I
Official nameLendal Tower
Designated14 June 1954
Reference no.1257086

History
Barker Tower – similar to the original design of Lendal Tower

Lendal Tower was built in c. 1300 and was originally circular and similar in appearance to Barker Tower (also known as the North Street Postern Tower) but has since been remodelled giving it additional strength and height.[1][2] Along with Barker Tower, on the opposite bank, it was built to control access to the city by way of an iron chain which was stretched across the river to impose the payment of tolls[3] and from medieval times until the construction of Lendal Bridge in 1863 a ferry service crossed the river between the two towers.[4] Lendal Tower is first recorded in the Custody of 1315[Note 1] as Turrim Sancti Leonardi (Tower of St Leonards). In 1569 bulwarks were added to the city defences as protection against the rebel Earls of Northumberland and Westmorland and repairs to the tower were undertaken in 1584–5.[1]

From 1616 the tower was being used as part of an effort to operate a piped water supply for the city.[1] Historic England notes that the structure was heightened in 1616;[2] engravings by William Lodge (1678) depict it as being of three storeys.[6] They also show it to be in a state of disrepair, as was the case in 1646, which may have been caused during the Siege of York. The tower was now known as 'the waterhouse' and in 1677 a new scheme was proposed for its use. A lease of 500 years was granted for a peppercorn rent and permission was granted for improvements to be made. The building was enlarged and strengthened in 1682 to accommodate a lead cistern.[6][1] Water was pumped in using either a windmill or a waterwheel but this proved problematic and within a few years it was replaced by a horse engine situated within the tower.[1][7]

The next major developments came in the 1750s with the installation of a Newcomen steam engine which was rebuilt to the designs of John Smeaton in the 1780s when further expansion to the building took place. Hot and cold baths were also built in a building adjoining the tower. The engine was moved to a nearby engine house in 1836 then following the establishment of the York New Waterworks Company in 1846 the waterworks were moved to Acomb Landing. The tower was reduced in height and remodelled by G.T. Andrews who gave the tower a more medieval appearance by adding the crenellations. It was retained by the waterworks company who converted it for use as their offices in 1932.[1][7][8] It was designated as a Grade I listed building in 1954[2] and, as part of the city historic defences, is also protected as a scheduled monument.[9] Since 2010 it has been refurbished for residential use before being marketed as rental accommodation.[10][11]

Architecture

Lendal Tower was originally a circular building of 28 feet (8.5 m) in diameter, with a rounded turret to house a wooden spiral staircase, to which a 17th–century rectangular extension on the south-east of the structure has been added.[1]

The building is of Magnesian limestone some of which is thought to be from the nearby St Mary's Abbey which was dissolved in 1539 and later used as a source of stone for several buildings in the city.[1][2][12] The tower has crenellated walls which were added in 1846 and a copper roof which has been converted into a roof terrace.[1][2][11] The brickwork of the internal structure was used to support the 18th–century engines. A lift was installed as part of the refurbishment in 1932 at which time the Jacobean style decoration and panelling was also added.[1][2]

Notes
  1. The Custody of 1315 was one of a number of documents that set out plans for the defence of York.[5]

References
  1. "The Central Area". An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in City of York, Volume 2, the Defences. London. 1972. pp. 108–138. Retrieved 26 April 2019 – via British History Online.
  2. Historic England. "Lendal Tower (1257086)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  3. "Lendal Tower". History of York. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  4. P. M. Tillott, ed. (1961). "City walls, bars, posterns and bridges". A History of the County of York: the City of York. London. pp. 510–520. Retrieved 26 April 2019 – via British History Online.
  5. "Features". An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in City of York, Volume 2, the Defences. London. 1972. pp. 34–55. Retrieved 26 April 2019 – via British History Online.
  6. "Leeds Arts Calendar, No.62 1968" (PDF). pp. 15–16, 19. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  7. P. M. Tillott, ed. (1961). "Public services". A History of the County of York: the City of York. London. pp. 460–472. Retrieved 26 April 2019 – via British History Online.
  8. "Lendal Tower". York Civic Trust. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  9. Historic England. "City Walls, gates, posterns... (1004910)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  10. "For sale for the first time, the new home in a medieval tower". The Yorkshire Post. 10 June 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  11. "Stay the Night: Lendal Tower, York". The Independent. 23 November 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  12. "Ecclesiastical Buildings". An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in City of York, Volume 4, Outside the City Walls East of the Ouse. London. 1975. pp. 3–29. Retrieved 30 April 2019 – via British History Online.
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