"A Castle of Doomsday" is historical fiction closely based on facts and it is also the story of the castles inside the city walls of York. Both of them were built by William the Conqueror. One of Bailey Hill and the other one was York Castle. Its keep has since become known as "Clifford's Tower". both castles were originally constructed of timber. They were burned down by the people of York and their Danish Viking allies.

Richard the First was the son of Henry II and gained fame by his courage, becoming known as Richard the Lionheart. He presided over the apparent 'Massacre of the Jews' at the keep of York Castle in 1190. That resulted in fire which burned the keep, and it was replaced with a new construction, again of timber. During a storm in 1228 the York Castle was demolished. It was replaced with the stone structure which is still there today. The people around york became calling it "Clifford's Tower" after the hanging of Baron roger de Clifford for treason in 1322 A.D...