English Heritage says York tower where Jews massacred in 1190 won’t get visitor centre
Local Jewish community says it's disappointed by the decision but 'completely understands' the organisation's concerns
York’s Jewish community has reacted with quiet disappointment to a decision by English Heritage not to develop a visitor building at the base of the Clifford’s Tower, where 150 Jews were massacred in 1190.
The organisation, which cares for more than 400 historic places across the country, abandoned plans, which would have increased access to the Tower and provided educational material about the massacre, perpetrated as Jews sought refuge there.
In 2016, York City Council approved the plan for a gift shop and interpretation centre, which also included new stairs up to the castle and a range of improved visitor features inside the keep, but York residents complained, saying it would disrupt the integrity of the site, and unsuccessfully sought a judicial review.
On Thurday, English Heritage said it was dropping the plans, citing a new planning masterplan for the area around the Tower and saying it would seek the input of the new north of England director, Andrea Selley.
The base of the Tower mound is a twentieth-century construction and the visitor building would not have touched any of the medieval remains, but Selley nevertheless sympathised with residents.
“Like the wallpaper in our homes, that small mound is a deeply familiar backdrop,” she said. “The thought of changing it, even slightly and even with the very best intentions, was too much for many.”
In a statement, York Liberal Jewish Community (YLJC) said that while it supported English Heritage’s objectives, “it completely understands the many concerns expressed by York residents”.
YLJC founding member Ben Rich said: “We urge English Heritage now to work with the Castle Gateway stakeholders, the City of York Council, the York Museums Trust and the local Jewish and non-Jewish communities to find a deliverable alternative way to better tell the story of the Tower as a matter of urgency.”
He added: “We look forward to being integrally involved in those plans as the representatives of the Jewish community in the City to ensure that the story of the Jews of York is told accurately, with context, compassion and respect.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
