Who lived in the tower. Tower of London, UK
Fanned by myths and legends, the Tower has been standing on the banks of the Thames for almost a thousand years, being one of the main recognizable symbols not only of London, but of the whole of Great Britain.
The attraction is visited by about 3 million people annually. It is believed that the order to build the fortress was given by William I the Conqueror, who defeated the Anglo-Saxon troops at the Battle of Hastings, after which he was crowned at Westminster.
And although the Norman bastard duke did not have legal rights to the English crown, thanks to the force of arms and skillful diplomacy, he managed to gain a foothold on the shores of foggy Albion, proclaiming himself king of England.
The construction of the citadel was continued by Richard the Lionheart. During his reign, new powerful lines of defense were erected along the perimeter of the Tower: additional watchtowers, two rows of fortress walls and a deep moat appeared. The stone castle became an impregnable fort of the Old World and has survived to this day almost in its original form, since in the entire history of its existence it has never been destroyed.
History and architecture
Over the centuries, the Tower has been used as the residence of monarchs, a mint, a prison, a treasury, an arsenal of weapons, an observatory and even a menagerie. The historical monument has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1988.
White Tower
The massive keep is a typical example of Norman military architecture. The four-storey building measuring 32-36 m in length and 27 m in height, built at the end of the 11th century, served as a home for rulers and courtiers. Now interactive exhibitions are held here. For example, the Dressed to kill and Line of Kings exhibits are dedicated to the history of weapons and armor. Here you can see what armor the knights wore, pick up swords and clubs, test your accuracy in archery, look at copies of ancient coins enlarged to the size of a plate. In the living quarters, the atmosphere of the palace chambers has been recreated: a bedroom, a prayer room, a podium with a throne. A film about the life of the royal people of the Middle Ages is shown on the wall. Tower Bridge is visible from the windows.
Famous prisoners of the Tower
From 1190 the Tower became a state prison. The remains of 1,500 publicly executed or secretly murdered prisoners are buried in the chapel of St. Peter. The first prisoner was Bishop Ralph Flambard, who managed to escape with a rope passed in a jug of milk. Then, for centuries, the august persons were kept in prison, among whom were the deposed kings of Scotland, France and members of their families, as well as people of noble birth, representatives of the aristocracy and clergy.
Intrigues, rebellions and constant power struggles kept the casemates from being empty. In the Tower of London, Henry VI lost their lives, the "little princes" Edward V together with his brother Richard, two of Henry VIII's six wives - Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, "queen of nine days" Jane Gray and her husband Guildford Dudley, the elderly Countess of Salisbury. Elizabeth I, the last of the Tudor dynasty, spent 2 months in prison during the reign of her cousin Mary Stuart, awaiting her fate, but she was released and took the throne herself, sending her sister to execution.
The prisoners were often tortured. So, Guy Fawkes, who tried to blow up the parliament building, in 1605 was on a rack and gave out the names of the accomplices of the so-called "Gunpowder Plot". The Torture is located in the Wakefield Tower dungeon.
The last time the death sentence was carried out within the walls of the Tower was in 1941, when Joseph Jacobs was shot on charges of espionage. And the last criminals to go to jail in 1952 were gangsters: the Kray twin brothers led a gang called the Firm. On this, the gloomy pages of the castle's chronicle ended. Now theatrical performances are being staged, simulating a wire through the castle territory of "prisoners" accompanied by guards.
Those sentenced to death were executed outside the fortress, on Tower Hill. The guilty's head was cut off, which was then impaled on a stake for all to see and intimidate. In the place where the scaffold with the block stood, a glass structure in the form of a pillow was installed, on which a dent from the head remained. The inscription on the memorial plaque informs about "the tragic fate and sometimes the martyrdom of those who risked their lives and died in the name of faith, homeland and ideals."
Tower Guard
Housing yeoman Warders is part of the royal life guard. Only a person who has served in the army for at least 22 years and has awards for impeccable service can become a yeoman. Security guards not only keep order, but also conduct excursions. The closing ceremony of the fortress is held every evening. You can watch the process for a fee. The changing of the guard is not as spectacular as near Buckingham Palace, but it also attracts the attention of tourists.
The palace guards first appeared in the Tower in 1485, and they keep watch to this day in accordance with traditions. The unofficial name "beefeater" comes from the words "beef" (beef) and "eater" (eater), and according to one of the versions it appeared at a time when the inhabitants of the city were starving, and the guards regularly received meat rations, for which they were called by the people "Meat eaters".
On the days of celebrations, the guards wear scarlet jackets with gold braids and lush white collars from the Tudor dynasty. Attire for everyday life - dark blue and red uniforms from the Victorian era.
Another honorary historical position - Ravenmaster... According to an old prophecy, the English monarchy will fall when the crows leave the Tower. Therefore, the birds that are on state allowance are carefully watched, fed and the flight feathers on the wings are trimmed. There are about 10 individuals in the population, each of them has its own name and registration card, and birds are distinguished by ribbons on their paws.
Crown Jewels Treasure
The treasures of the British monarchy are on display at the Waterloo Barracks. Taking pictures of the exhibits is prohibited, visitors pass the shining jewels on the travolator.
Coronation Spoon of gilded silver has been used for over 800 years to anoint queens and kings with holy oil. Sovereign's Scepter with Cross encrusted with the world's largest cut diamond Cullinan I. Another world famous diamond Koh-I-Noor or "Mountain of Light" adorns imperial State Crown... Also in the collection are other crowns, regalia of sovereign power, tiaras and gold dishes.
Opening hours
From November 1 to the end of February, the Tower is open from 09:00 to 16:30 from Tuesday to Saturday, on Sunday and Monday from 10:00 to 16:30, and from March 1 to October 31, the historical and architectural complex is open an hour longer , until 17:30. The last opportunity to go inside is half an hour before closing. But since on average it will take about three hours for an inspection, it is better to arrive in the morning.
Ticket prices in 2019
Ticket offices are located in the Welcome Center building opposite the entrance to the fortress; tickets can be booked in advance on the official website of the Tower.
Ticket prices:
- adult - £ 27.20;
- preferential - full-time students, disabled people, people over 60 years old - £ 21.30;
- children from 5 to 15 years old - £ 12.90;
- children under 5 years old are free;
- family ticket (1 adult and up to 3 children) - £ 48.90.
When buying online, there is a 15% discount.
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Tours to the Tower
The audio guide is available in many languages, including Russian. Rental price: £ 4 for adults, £ 3 for children.
The excursion with beefeater starts from the main entrance every half hour. The last collection is at 14:30 in winter and 15:30 in summer. The White Tower Tour is a separate tour of the White Tower and the Church of St. John the Evangelist, included in the main ticket.
The tourist route has been carefully thought out. Navigation is facilitated by signs, while the recommended path is built in such a way that the flow of people moves in one direction. If you go up one ladder, then you will go down the other. The most important information is printed on stands in 10 languages, including Russian. Free Wi-Fi is available.
There are drinks and ice cream kiosks on site, and you can grab a bite to eat at the New Armourie Cafe. The service is based on the principle of a canteen, customers choose their own dishes to taste. Nearby on the waterfront there is a pavilion with fast food Apostrophe and the Perkin Reveller restaurant. The Tower is located in the City area, where there is no shortage of cafes like KFC, Nero and other food outlets.
Souvenir shops
Tower of london - a two-story souvenir shop located outside the fortress walls in the Welcome Center. The assortment includes tea, medieval armor, tapestries, pillows with images of knights, beautiful ladies and heraldic lions.
Beefeater shop, located at the audio guide pick-up point, is dedicated to the Tower Guards. Showcases display toy yeomen, travel guides, postcards and magnets.
Jewel house shop located next to the royal treasury. On the shelves there are copies of Anne Boleyn's pearl necklace, pendants in the form of a Tudor rose and other jewelry.
White Tower shop full of baby items: toys, books, coloring books, dolls, toy armor and swords - all from 10 GBP.
Ravens shop is located near Tower Green, a raven habitat. Buyers are offered figurines of black birds, pencils with feathers, notepads, books and mugs. As soon as you approach one of the two mirrors, solemn music will sound, and either a painted crown or a knight's helmet will be added to your reflection.
How to get there
You can get to the Tower by several types of public transport:
- on regular city buses No. 15, 42, 78, 100, RV1, and all buses of sightseeing tours around the city stop at the fortress;
- by metro: st. Tower Hill (District and Circle lines), then 5 minutes on foot, following signs;
- by river boat: sit near Big Ben (Westminster pier) or at Charing Cross station and raft down the river to Tower Pier, boats going to Greenwich and back stop at the same pier.
You can call a taxi using the popular mobile applications Hailo, Gett and Uber.
- one of the main attractions of London. A medieval fortress, serving at different times as a prison, and a mint, and a treasure store, and even a zoo. The castle is included in the UNESCO list.
Tower Castle history
The fortress was not built from scratch, long before the construction on the site of the future castle people lived and there were fortifications. There were found traces of people living in the Iron Age. Before the Roman invasion, these places were located in Celtic times, and already the Romans built a wooden fort here. Then, after the departure of the Romans, the invasion of the Saxons began, to protect against which a stone wall was already built. Well, then the story of the very fortress begins, which is now located not far from the center of London.
Early history
The Tower of London was founded by King William I the Conqueror. After the conquest of the Anglo-Saxons, he began building stone fortresses, the first of which was the Tower. The castle was located in the south of what was then London, one side overlooked the Thames. The place for the construction was not chosen by chance, previously one of the Roman forts was located here, its parts were used in the Tower.
Then the size of the fortress was much smaller, initially the central tower was erected, which later became a citadel. And at the time of construction, the stone tower was surrounded by a palisade, an earthen rampart and a moat. The fortress walls were completed later.
It is believed that the Tower began to be built in 1078, this date, although inaccurate, is confirmed by both carbon analysis and excavations and documents. The exact date of completion of the construction is not known, but it is assumed that the Bela Tower was completed no later than 1100.
The White Tower gets its name from the color that its walls were painted with in 1240.
The Tower of London combined several important functions. In addition to direct military defensive significance, the castle also acted as a symbol of the new power. Built on a hill, the tower, which was very high for that time, was visible from all over London, which inspired fear in the recently conquered Anglo-Saxons. Presumably, the Tower was also the permanent residence of William the Conqueror. Well, the fortress began to fulfill its most famous role, the prison, from the first years of its construction. The first known prisoner is Ranulf Flambard, advisor to William II and Bishop of Durham. The next king, Henry I, arrested and placed him in custody, but a funny thing happened - Flambard became not only the first prisoner, but also the first fugitive from the Tower.
First expansion
The structure of the fortress remained unchanged until the reign of Richard I the Lionheart. There are bookkeeping documents by Lord Chancellor William Longchamp about the allocation of funds for the modernization of the Tower, dated to about 1189 and 1190. Then curtains were built and a moat was dug, which they unsuccessfully tried to fill with water from the Thames.
The new system of fortifications was tested quite quickly - already in 1191 the Tower was besieged for the first time. The younger brother of Richard I - Prince John, who later became the king known to us as John the Landless - broke his promise not to enter England and laid siege to the castle in which Longchamp took refuge. However, then no serious battles happened, the siege lasted 3 days and Longchamp decided to surrender to John's mercy.
The next participation of the Tower in hostilities was not long in coming, already in 1214 the fortress was besieged by Robert Fitz-Walter, the leader of the barons who rebelled against the king. But John preferred negotiations to war, signed the Charter and the siege was lifted.
Second extension
The next kings of England were actively involved in the modernization of the Tower, in particular, Henry III invested in it for 11 years, from 1216 to 1227, a lot of money. The king at that time had a strained relationship with the barons and, fearing another war for the throne, decided to build the most powerful and impregnable castle in Great Britain. At the same time, Henry did not forget about his own comfort, most of the funds went to improving the interior decoration of the citadel. It was during the reign of Henry III in 1240 that the Tower was painted white.
Everything that was built in the Tower under Henry III is now called the "courtyard" of the fortress.
But the king did not forget about the military significance of the Tower, since 1238 the fortress was significantly expanded. On the land side, a new defensive perimeter was built and, finally, a full-fledged moat was dug. At that time, the contradictions between the king and the barons intensified, another civil war began and the Tower passed from hand to hand, but without fighting - but as a result of treaties and their violations. The next full siege of the fortress began in April 1267, Count Gilbert de Clair tried to take the castle, but he failed and he soon retreated, and peace reigned in England. The king died, his son, Edward I, ascended the throne, who took up the Tower even more actively.
The new king had a great experience of sieges, gained in the Crusade, he was also afraid of civil wars, so a lot of money was allocated for the modernization of the castle. This time, almost the entire amount was spent on improving the defensive structures - a new wall was erected with a large number of loopholes, two new bastions (in the north-west and north-east), the moat was expanded to 50 meters and still filled with water. The entrance from the south was moved to the southwest and a barbican was built to protect it, and the old gate was replaced by the brick tower of Beauchamp. Edward realized that he might find himself in a long-term siege, so two watermills were built in the Tower for greater autonomy.
Edward's global enhancements are now considered the castle's “outer court”. It was also under Edward that animals began to be kept in the Tower - lions.
Both kings, Henry III and Edward I, completed the Tower almost to its modern appearance. Of course, not all buildings have survived, but most of the fortifications have survived to this day and are now accessible to tourists.
Middle Ages
For some time, the Tower ceases to participate in military conflicts. More prisoners get here, for the first time a woman is imprisoned within the walls of the castle. The Tower becomes the main prison for noble persons.
But Edward II severely launched the Tower, so that the captive nobles were not very comfortable in it. Although the number of prisoners increased due to the beginning of the Hundred Years War. As a result, Edward III allocated funds for the renovation and repair of the remaining impregnable fortress.
The time of peace came to an end and the next king of England, Richard II, had to hold a siege in the Tower. True, then it was only besieged by the rebellious peasants, but when the king came out to negotiate with them, they rushed inside completely without resistance from the defenders, plundered the treasury and executed several people close to the king. The situation repeated itself 6 years later, but then it did not come to a full-fledged siege, the king simply waited out the riots inside the castle.
The real war in England began in the second half of the 15th century, it is known to us as the War of the White and Scarlet Roses. Then the Tower of London was once again sieged. Despite the active use of artillery, the besiegers only managed to damage some of the buildings, but not capture the fortifications. The siege was lifted when King Henry VI was captured. However, he soon regained power, but not for long, Henry was placed in the Tower already as a prisoner, and then executed. Although there is no exact evidence of this, it is the execution of Henry VI that is considered the first high-profile execution within the walls of the Tower.
And in 1483, a truly terrible event took place within the walls of the Tower. The heirs to the throne, the young princes Edward and Richard, were imprisoned in the castle by their uncle Richard III, who had declared himself king. Both princes disappeared without a trace, most likely they were killed.
But the Tower had already begun to lose its military importance, although they tried to strengthen it to resist artillery, in general it was a fortress too outdated for military affairs. Also, the use of the Tower for applied purposes - as warehouses, office, etc. - made it impossible for monarchs to live within its walls.
At the beginning of the 14th century, a tradition arose - all monarchs began the coronation procession from the Tower of London and ended it at Westminster Abbey. Then, when the rulers stopped permanently living in this castle, the tradition was added to it to spend here the night before the ceremony. The last king to follow this rite was Charles II, crowned in 1660. But the castle was in such a terrible state that the future king did not dare to stay there for the night.
During the Tudor era, the Tower was actively used as a prison. It has become a place of imprisonment for many famous personalities such as Thomas More, Elizabeth Tudor, Anne Boleyn, Guy Fawkes and many others. Often, prisoners were publicly executed, this took place on a hill nearby, a total of 112 people were killed there. But sometimes the sentence was carried out inside the castle, this affected seven people, including three queens, the most famous of whom is Anne Boleyn. Now a memorial sign has been installed in revenge of the execution.
The further fate of the Tower
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, the fortress no longer performed any military functions. The last time they tried to strengthen it at the end of the XVIII century, fearing Scottish uprisings, but to no avail. And the attempt to renew the crumbling ditch led to an outbreak of cholera among the garrison.
At this time, the Tower was used as an armory, and as a quartering site for the London garrison, and as the headquarters of the artillery troops, and as a royal menagerie. All citizens could look at the animals, access was opened by Queen Elizabeth I.
The entrance fee to the zoo was charged in an interesting way. You could either buy a regular pass for three halfpenny, or hand over a cat or dog to feed the lions.
During the First World War, the Tower was returned to the functions of a prison, and then a scaffold. Eleven German spies were shot within its walls. The Second World War also left its mark on the history of the castle. Firstly, the arrested Rudolf Hess was placed here, and secondly, more than a hundred arrested people passed through the Tower, who were then sent to the camps. And then in the castle the last person was executed - the spy Joseph Jacobz. But that's not all, the British military considered the fortress as the basis for creating a long-term defense if the German army landed in London, but, fortunately, it did not come to this, the Red Army, with the support of the allies, won the Second World War.
The last prisoner was beheaded in the Tower (more precisely, on a hill nearby) in 1747, and the last person executed in general was the already mentioned spy Jacobs. And the last prisoners of the fortress were the London gangsters - the Cray twins. They went to jail in 1952.
Already in 1946, the Tower of London reopened its doors to visitors. Today, in addition to the walls themselves, which have absorbed almost a thousand-year history, tourists can see a collection of weapons, jewelry, and many antiques.
Tower Guards
The Tower has two special, living landmarks - guards and crows. It is worth noting that the Tower is still considered the official residence of the monarch, and no one has removed the functions of the fortress and prison from it. So there are guards constantly on duty in the castle, yeomen, who are called "beefeaters".
The word "beefeater" literally translates as "eating meat" or "meat eater." The main version of the origin of the nickname is that the castle garrison always received very large food rations with a huge amount of meat, which even some kings were surprised at.
They are responsible for guarding the castle, keeping the regalia and overseeing the prisoners who have not been in the castle for a long time. But in fact, the guards perform various ceremonial functions, in particular, the daily Key Ceremony - the solemn closing of all the castle gates, and also take on the role of guides. Although all beefeaters are military.
These guards appeared in 1485, thanks to Henry VII, a representative of the Tudor dynasty. Now 38 guards are on duty within the walls of the Tower, all of them wear historical clothing of the late 15th century with the coat of arms of the Tudor house.
Only a retired military man who has served in the army for at least 22 years, received a special award for length of service, and had the rank of senior non-commissioned officer or higher can become a beefeater. At the same time, there was an interesting incident - the sailors did not have the right to serve in the Tower, since they swear not to the crown, but to the Lord of the Admiralty.
But Elizabeth II changed this order, giving the post of lord to her husband - Prince Philip, who, as you know, was a sailor and went through the entire Second World War in the navy. As a result, in 2011 the first sailor entered the service in the Tower.
In 2007, a woman was able to become a beefeater for the first time. She met all the requirements, because the appointment was legal. But there was an unpleasant incident - after 2 years, three of the guards were put on trial for "bullying", one was acquitted, but the other two were dismissed.
Tower Ravens
The six ravens are the castle's second living attraction and an age-old tradition. In the Tower, for various reasons, crows have always lived and the legend has been led that when the crows leave the Tower, the British monarchy will also fall. According to the most common version, King Charles II issued an interesting decree, according to which at least 6 crows must always live in the castle, and so that they do not fly away, they should clip their wings. So it was or not, but this tradition has been supported for a long time.
Often more than six crows live in the castle, at the moment there are nine of them:
- Bran (male, 2008);
- Porsche (female, 2008);
- Erin (female, 2006);
- Merlina (female, 2004);
- Munin (female, 1995);
- Khagin (female, 2008);
- Rocky (male, 2010);
- Grip (men, 2012);
- Jubilee (male, 2012).
One of the beefeaters, who also bears the title of Ravenmaster, is responsible for leaving. All birds get a rich diet of 170 grams of meat per day, not including the rats they catch themselves.
Fun fact: the crow Munin once escaped from the Tower and was on the run for 5 days until vigilant citizens found him in a park in Greenwich.
Usually ravens live for 10-15 years, but in captivity their lifespan is much longer, one of the Tower ravens lived 44 years. A replacement for a dead raven is found in nurseries or one of their offspring is taken. At the same time, crows are not guaranteed lifelong residence in the castle, some birds in the literal sense of the word were fired for misbehavior. For example, in 1986, George the crow was sent to the zoo for attacking a television antenna.
Tour of the Tower
The Tower of London, as one of the most famous landmarks in Great Britain, attracts many tourists. For those who come to London for the first time, visiting this castle is always included in the excursion program. The London authorities are well aware of this, because the Tower houses many interesting exhibitions, and the formal guards, the yeomen, wear medieval clothes and act as tour guides.
Crown treasures
One of the main permanent exhibitions, which has been operating since the 17th century, is an exhibition of the ceremonial treasures of the British monarchy. Visitors can see crowns, royal sceptres, robes, unique precious stones.
These are not just museum exhibits, these are real royal regalia, which are still used in various rituals.
Row of Kings Exhibition and Armor Exhibition
The Tower of Kings is considered by many historians to be one of the oldest exhibitions in the world. These ten life-size models of equestrian knights, each depicting one of the English kings, were created at the end of the 17th century. Since then, the exhibition has been supplemented with several new riders, and in its current form has been merged with the armor museum.
Now the exhibits are in the White Tower Armory and are the main permanent exhibition of the Tower. In addition to mounted warriors, tourists can see original samples of tournament armor of kings, among which the gilded armor of Charles I stands out.
But what kind of armor can be without weapons? In the same room, dozens of weapons are collected - from swords, sabers and rapiers, to firearms from different times, including artillery.
Medieval life
Considering that the Tower was also a permanent royal residence, it should contain many rooms for the king, his guests and servants. Unfortunately, this is not entirely true - the original palace house, where the monarchs lived, was destroyed long ago, and the rest of the rooms, which were located even in the towers, did not retain the original interiors.
But during the reconstruction, various interiors of the Middle Ages were recreated in some rooms of the fortress. At the same time, all available historical materials were used, so that the image turned out to be quite accurate.
For example, in the former reception room for guests, in the tower of St. Thomas, the royal bedroom has now been recreated, and in the basement of another tower, where King Henry III held meetings, there is a reconstruction of the throne room. A separate exposition of elements of medieval life is presented.
Royal Menagerie
Although the animals were transported to a normal zoo 150 years ago, the memory of them remained in the Tower. First of all, visitors can see sculptures of various animals that are installed in many places. In addition, an exhibition has been opened in the Brick Tower that tells about the history of keeping the animals presented to the king in this fortress.
Chapel of Saint Peter in Shackles
Any fortress included a place for performing religious rituals and a chaplain who was constantly in the service. The Tower is no exception; on its territory there is a church founded in the XII century and rebuilt in 1520.
It was in front of the chapel that the heads of the prisoners were cut off, for whom they did not want to arrange a public execution. Now there is a small memorial, and the chapel itself is famous for its organ, collected in the 17th century.
In the 19th century, with the development of firearms, flint guns appeared. They began to equip the troops, which were named "fusilers". One of these regiments was at one time the garrison of the Tower and, formally, remains so to this day, although, of course, they have long been not armed with fuzels and are stationed elsewhere.
But in memory of them, an exposition was opened, which acquaints tourists not only with the history of a particular regiment, but in general tells about the time that replaced the knightly era. Among the exhibits are weapons, soldier and officer uniforms, awards, household items.
Key ceremony
A tradition that has existed for almost 700 years and is also a kind of attraction. This is a special ritual when the Yeomen, the Tower's guards, solemnly close all gates at night.
The ceremony starts at exactly 21:53, but it is not so easy to see it. Although those who wish are allowed to watch and this is even free, the number of viewers is very limited and you need to register for the presence several months in advance.
Tower on the map
Information for visitors
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Tower of London, London, EC3N 4AB |
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hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon |
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Opening hours (in 2015) |
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Visit price |
Standard adult ticket - £ 24.5, discounts for children under 16, students, pensioners. You can also save money if you buy your ticket online. |
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Services on site |
There are several catering establishments, most of which close with the ticket office, at 17:00 or 16:00, respectively. The Tower can be used for picnics with takeaway food from the establishments inside the castle. Also in the Tower there are several jewelry stores where you can buy various little things, such as key chains and mugs, as well as real knightly armor. |
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Attractions nearby |
Tower Bridge (near the castle, bridge over the Thames), Museum of London (about 2 km), Barbican (about 2.5 km), St Paul's Cathedral (about 2 km). |
How to get there
Photo of the Tower of London
View of the Tower from the Shard skyscraper (DncnH / flickr.com) Main entrance to the Tower of London (dynamosquito / flickr.com) Alan Piper / flickr.com Francesco Gasparetti / flickr.com Jim Linwood / flickr.com The White Tower of the Tower (Lee Penney / flickr.com) August / flickr.com shining.darkness / flickr.com Francesco Gasparetti / flickr.com Christian Reimer / flickr.com View of the Tower from the Skyscraper "Shard" (Rick Ligthelm / flickr.com) Francesco Gasparetti / flickr .com maureen / flickr.com Inside Outer Wall, Tower of London (Orangeaurochs / flickr.com) Gail Frederick / flickr.com
Throughout its existence, the castle was constantly being completed, its territory grew. The most important events for Great Britain took place here. Throughout its history, the castle served as a fortress, royal residence and prison.
The Tower of London played a very important role in medieval England. He symbolized royal power and the power of the state. The treasures of the king were kept here, and state criminals were kept in the prison under the supervision of guards.
The Tower was founded in 1066. It was built after the Norman conquest of England. The Tower of London was founded by William the Conqueror. He began to strengthen his local authority and built 36 castles. London, as a fairly large city, was also no exception. Ancient Roman walls have been preserved near the Thames, in this place it was decided to build a fortress. There is a sculpture of Hadrian - the emperor of Rome in a modern castle, in the Tower Museum.
White Tower - Heart of the Tower
The first structure that was erected here is the White Tower. Its construction began in 1077. The work was led by the bishop of Rochester, Gandalf. The name of the castle subsequently came from the White Tower, since the Tower (English) translates as a tower.
The structure called the White Tower is famous for the fact that the chronology of the Tower began with it. It was the seat of kings and a Norman donjon.
White Tower of the Tower (Lee Penney / flickr.com)
For a long time, the Tower did not have the fortifications that can be seen today in the castle-museum. The first fortifications for defense were created only in the 13th century, when, after the Crusades, England became acquainted with the eastern tradition of building castles.
For this reason, the thickness of the walls at the White Tower is 4 meters, it played the role of a fortress. In 1097, another ruler, William II the Red, built a stone wall.
The White Tower, the construction of which was completed only in the XII century, is currently located in the center of the entire modern castle-museum and is considered the Heart of the Tower. It contains rooms for the royal family.
When the White Tower was built, it immediately began to have not only a defensive purpose, there was also a prison here. The first prisoner to come here is Bishop Ranulf Flambard. At the same time, he was the first who managed to escape from the supervision of the guards. He succeeded in his escape thanks to a rope that was passed to him in a bottle.
White Tower inside and outside
The entrance to the White Tower was located well above ground level. This is a tribute to the Norman tradition. A wooden ladder was attached to it, from which, in a surprise attack, it might be quickly disposed of. Like the rest of the dungeons, the White Tower has an extensive basement and a well.
The lowest floor of the White Tower was assigned to the constable, who ruled in London in the absence of the ruler. And also for the lieutenant, who replaced the manager.
The second floor houses the Great Hall and the rooms for the royal family.
Museum inside the Tower of London
Simon Gibson / flickr.com Doug Kerr / flickr.com Doug Kerr / flickr.com Kent Wang / flickr.com Francesco Gasparetti / flickr.com PROFrancesco Gasparetti / flickr.com Francesco Gasparetti / flickr.com * SHERWOOD * / flickr.com Maria Morri / flickr.com Chapel of St. John the Evangelist (eefeewahfah / flickr.com) Exhibit "Crossbow" inside the White Tower of the Tower (Xiquinho Silva / flickr.com) elyob / flickr.com elyob / flickr.com elyob / flickr.com Rudolf Schuba / flickr.com Rudolf Schuba / flickr.com Rudolf Schuba / flickr.com
Changes to the castle under Kings Richard and John
Before the reign of Richard the Lionheart, the Tower of London did not undergo any changes for a long time. When Richard the Lionheart occupied the royal throne, his brother John claimed the role of ruler of the state. King Richard was often on campaigns, his castle in the capital was ruled by Chancellor William Longchept.
Inner side of the outer wall, Tower of London (Orangeaurochs / flickr.com)
Since there was a threat of an attack on the castle by the king's brother, the chancellor began to strengthen the defense of the Tower. For this, defensive fortifications were built, a moat with water appeared around the fortress.
During the reign of Richard, the area occupied by the Tower has increased significantly. In 1191 the castle was besieged. It was more profitable for Longchept to surrender, and John took the Tower of London.
John became king after Richard the Lionheart died. They began to call him John Landless. He ascended the throne, but could not win the favor of the barons. Therefore, the Tower of London was besieged again. To remain on the throne, the king was forced to make concessions. The Charter of Liberties was signed. Since then, the stage of constitutional monarchy has begun. But the king was in no hurry to fulfill his promise, and this led to the First Baronial War.
Tower Menagerie
John Landless is also famous for the fact that he founded the menagerie in the Tower. During his reign, lions were kept here. Henry III, who ascended the throne after him, added leopards to the zoo, as well as a polar bear and a real elephant.
During the history of the castle, the menagerie was constantly replenished with various rare and exotic animals. Elizabeth I even allowed Londoners to visit the menagerie and weapons museum. Such a zoo operated here until 1830, after it was closed, and the animals moved to the London Zoo. In memory of the menagerie, sculptures of the animals that were kept here were exhibited in the castle.
Tower Ravens
Tower Ravens are a population of ravens permanently living in the castle grounds. This is another attraction of the UK Castle Museum. Under King Charles II, a legend arose that crows are an important part of the castle, and without them the Tower of London cannot exist.
These birds are the black guards of the castle. Therefore, since then, a tradition has developed to take care of these ravens, which has been followed to the present, and now the Raven Keeper works in the castle.
Changes under Henry III
Under Henry III, the Tower expanded its territory substantially. The construction of stone walls and 9 towers was completed. This area is now designated as the Courtyard. The names of many of the towers speak for their purpose. For example, the Bell Tower. The main bell was located in it. Or Archery Tower. It was engaged in the manufacture of bows and crossbows, as well as siege weapons.
View of the Tower from the Skyscraper "Shard" (Rick Ligthelm / flickr.com)
Lanthorn Tower - its name comes from the Old English word for "light" or "radiance". This tower played the role of a beacon for ships passing along the river. The main entrance is now in the west wall. The Wakefield and Lanthorn Towers housed the chambers and other living quarters of the royal family. A spacious room for the hall is specially built between these towers.
Also during the reign of Henry, the Bloody Tower was built. She is famous for a very sad story. In it, Edward V and his brother, another heir to the throne, Richard of York, were killed. They were popularly called the princes of the Tower, they were imprisoned in the tower under the supervision of guards. Nobody saw them alive, most likely they were killed.
At the time of his death, the first was 12 years old, and the second 10. Richard III ordered them to be executed because of possible claims to the throne (although he was their own uncle). Before the execution, the children had already been officially declared illegitimate, but this did not stop Richard.
Changes under King Edward I
Under King Edward I, another line of walls grew, as well as 2 bastions. The dug ditch is 50 meters wide and deep. A new main entrance has been made. The gates were subdivided into external and internal. And also a barbican was built, which was named the Lion Tower. They kept lions in it.
Main entrance to the Tower of London (dynamosquito / flickr.com)
Under Edward, the Tower expanded to the south. The Tower of St. Thomas was built here, in which the famous Traitor Gate was located - another of the attractions of the castle museum. Through them, the guards brought new prisoners by water.
The king also transferred the mint to the Tower. The fortress walls of the Tower under Edward began to have loopholes for shooters - the guards of the castle. The Beauchamp tower grew, for the construction of which brickwork was used for the first time in English history. To make the castle less dependent on external conditions, water mills were made. The territory occupied by buildings under King Edward is now called the Outer Court.
Tower currently
After King Edward, the Tower became what it is today.
Since the time of Elizabeth, interest in visiting the Tower has grown every year. Many people wanted to visit it as a museum, including because of Ainsworth's historical novel The Tower of London. This landmark of Great Britain is legendary. Until now, this castle is very popular among tourists.
The Tower of London has been a fortress for over 900 years of history, which was the residence of kings, an armory and treasury, as well as a prison and place of execution.
Tower of London - one of the symbols of Great Britain. It holds a special place in the history of the English nation and is one of the most visited places in the world. The well-known crows of the Tower, Yeomen-guards, royal jewels and stories about the gloomy fortress-prison are just the very first associations when the Tower of London is called. However, this is only a very small part of the history of this famous building.
In 1066 the Duke of Normandy William began the conquest of England. Towards the end of the Anglo-Saxon period, London became the dominant city in England, with a rich port adjacent to the royal palace and the main cathedral. Keeping the city safe was William's main goal during his coronation. He gives the order to start building a fortress around the city. So in 1100 the construction of the White Tower ends. The Tower is protected by huge walls on the north, west and south sides. In 1377, all buildings in the Tower were completed.
The first prisoner was imprisoned in the Tower in 1100. At that time, Tower Prison was intended for people of noble birth and high rank. Among the most honorable and high-ranking prisoners of the Tower were the kings of Scotland and France and their families, as well as representatives of the aristocracy and priests who fell into disgrace on charges of treason. The walls of the Tower also remember many executions and murders: Henry VI, as well as 12-year-old Edward V and his younger brother, were killed in the Tower.
The prisoners were kept in the premises that were not occupied at that time. The terms of imprisonment were very different. Thus, William Penn, the founder of the English colony in North America, called Pennsylvania, was imprisoned in the Tower for his religious beliefs and spent eight months in the Tower. Charles, Duke of Orleans, nephew of the French king and an outstanding poet, after being defeated in battle, spent a total of 25 years within the walls of the castle until an incredible ransom was paid for him. The courtier Walter Raleigh, navigator, poet and playwright, tried to brighten up 13 dreary years of imprisonment, working on the multivolume work History of the World. After his temporary release, he was again imprisoned in the Tower and then executed. In the photo - the main gate of the fortress
The Tower acquired its reputation as a sinister place of torture during the Reformation. Henry VIII, obsessed with the desire to have an heir son, broke off all relations with the Roman Catholic Church and began to persecute all who refused to recognize him as the head of the Church of England. After Henry's second wife, Anne Boleyn, could not give birth to his son, the king accused her of treason and adultery. As a result, Anna, her brother and four other persons were beheaded in the Tower. The same fate befell Catherine Howard, Henry's fifth wife. Many royalty who posed a threat to the English throne were escorted to the Tower and then executed.
Henry's young son, the Protestant Edward VI, who ascended the throne, continued the series of brutal executions begun by his father. When Edward died six years later, the English crown went to Henry's daughter, Mary, a devout Catholic. Wasting no time, the new queen ordered the beheading of 16-year-old Lady Jane Gray and her young husband, who turned out to be pawns in a fierce struggle for power. Now is the time for the Protestants to lay down their heads. Elizabeth, Mary's half-sister, spent several anxious weeks within the walls of the Tower. However, after becoming queen, she dealt with those who refused to change the Catholic faith and dared to oppose her rule.
Although thousands of prisoners were thrown into the Tower, only five women and two men were beheaded in the fortress, saving them from the shame of public execution. Three of these women were queens - Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard and Jane Gray, who only held the throne for nine days. Most of the other executions - mostly beheadings - took place on nearby Tower Hill, where huge crowds of lovers of such spectacles flocked. The severed head was put on a stake and put on public display on London Bridge as a warning to others. The headless body was taken to the Tower and buried in the cellars of the chapel. A total of over 1,500 bodies were buried in these cellars.
In some cases, as a rule, only with official permission, prisoners were tortured to force them to confess their guilt. In 1605, Fox, Guy Fawkes, who tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament and the King during the Gunpowder Plot, was strung up on a tower rack before execution, forcing him to reveal the names of his accomplices.
In the 17th century, England and the Tower were for a time in the hands of Oliver Cromwell and the parliamentarians, but after Charles II was re-enthroned, the Tower Prison was not particularly replenished. In 1747, the final beheading took place on Tower Hill. However, the story of the Tower as a state prison did not end there. During the First World War, 11 German spies were imprisoned and shot in the Tower. During the Second World War, prisoners of war were temporarily held there, among whom Rudolf Hess also spent several days. The last victim to be executed within the walls of the fortress was Joseph Jacobs, accused of espionage and shot in August 1941.
At the beginning of the 13th century, John Landless kept lions in the Tower. However, the royal menagerie arose when the successor of John Henry III received three leopards, a polar bear and an elephant as a gift from European monarchs. Although the animals were kept for the amusement of the king and his retinue, one day the whole of London witnessed a unique sight when a bear on a leash rushed into the Thames to catch fish. Over time, the menagerie was replenished with an even larger number of exotic animals and during the time of Elizabeth I was opened to visitors. In the 1830s, the Tower Zoo was abolished, and the animals were moved to a new zoo that opened in London's Regent's Park. Below in the photo - model Tower of London
For over 500 years, the Tower housed the main branch of the Royal Mint. One of its most turbulent periods was during the reign of Henry VIII, when coins were minted from silver requisitioned from destroyed monasteries. In addition, the Tower kept important state and legal records, and also manufactured and stored weapons and military equipment of the king and the royal army. In the photo below - the armory
Effective, isn't it?)
From the very foundation of the Tower, its prisoners and buildings were carefully guarded. But specially selected palace guards appeared in 1485. In those days, prisoners were often transported by river and brought into the Tower through the Traitor's Gate. When the accused was led out of the trial, monitors watched where the prisoner's ax was pointed. The blade aimed at the prisoner foreshadowed another execution.
Palace guards guard the Tower to this day. Today, they are also responsible for conducting excursions for numerous visitors. On especially solemn occasions, they dress in luxurious costumes from the Tudor dynasty: scarlet camisoles trimmed with gold and crowned with snow-white flat collars. On ordinary days, they wear navy blue Victorian uniforms with red trim. English guards are often called beefeaters, or meat eaters. This nickname most likely originated in times of famine, when Londoners were malnourished, and the palace guards regularly received a ration of beef. With this, the English crown provided itself with reliable protection.
The Royal Treasury keepers guard the famous jewels of the British Empire. The treasury has been open to visitors since the 17th century. Among the gems that adorn crowns, powers and scepters - which are still used by members of the royal family during ceremonies - you can see the world's largest high-quality faceted diamond, Cullinan I.
The current Tower has little resemblance to the formidable fortress that it went down in history. Back in 1843, the moat was filled up, and instead of water, a bright green lawn appeared here, shading the gray stone of the walls. During numerous restorations, the windows were enlarged, including in the White Tower. A large number of trees have been planted. In the past, such a harsh and literally drenched with blood, the courtyard was largely planted with grass, and black tower crows roam importantly along it. When the menagerie was transferred to Regent's Park in 1831, the ravens were left in the fortress. They are surrounded by special care - the state pays the Tower garrison two shillings four pence a week to feed the birds. The palace Ravensmaster, or Raven Keeper, takes care of a flock of black ravens. The fact is that, according to legend, the foundations of Britain are unshakable until the crows leave the Tower. For greater assurance, however, birds have their wings trimmed.
Today Tower of London - one of the main attractions of Great Britain. It hasn't changed much since the past. The Tower Hill scaffold is a symbol of the Tower's sinister past. Now there is a small memorial plaque in memory of "the tragic fate and sometimes martyrdom of those who risked their lives and died in the name of faith, homeland and ideals." Currently, the main buildings of the Tower are the museum and the Armory, where the treasures of the British crown are kept; officially continues to be considered one of the royal residences. The Tower also has a number of private apartments, which are mainly occupied by service staff and distinguished guests.
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress
, better known as the Tower of London (historical name - Tower), is a historical monument located in the center of London, England, on the north bank of the Thames. It is located in the Tower Hamlets of London and is separated from the eastern part of the City of London by the undeveloped area of \u200b\u200bTower Hill.
The Tower of London is often confused with the White Tower, a square fortress built by William the Conqueror in 1078. However, the Tower as a whole is a complex of several structures located within two concentric rings formed by defensive walls and a moat.
Initially, the tower served as a fortress, royal residence and prison (especially for noble prisoners and members of the royal family, such as "Princes in the Tower" (Princes Edward and Richard) and the future Queen Elizabeth I).
This latter function led to the appearance of the phrase "sent to the Tower" (meaning "imprisoned"). In addition, at various times it housed an armory, a treasury, a zoo, the Royal Mint, the British State Archives, an observatory, as well as executions and torture. Since 1303, the Tower has housed the Jewels of the British Crown.
Video tour of the Tower of London - Tower of London
Construction history
White Tower
In the center of the Tower of London stands the Norman White Tower, built in 1078 by William the Conqueror (reigned 1066-87) in the southeastern part of the city walls adjacent to the Thames. This huge tower protected the Normans from the inhabitants of the City of London, as well as London itself from outside invaders. The architect of the tower on the orders of William was Gandulf, Bishop of Rochester. Excellent Cayenne stone from France was used to create the corners of the building and to decorate the doors and windows, while most of the building was built from Kent basalt. According to legend, the mortar used in the construction of the structure was diluted with the blood of animals. Another legend attributes the construction of the Tower not to William, but to the Romans. William Shakespeare, in his play Richard III, claims that it was built by Julius Caesar.
The White Tower is 27 meters high and its walls are 4.5 meters thick at the base and 3.3 meters at the top. Four turrets rise above the battlements; three of them are square, and the one in the northeast is round with a spiral staircase. Under Charles II, it housed the royal observatory for some time. In the south of the Tower, the defensive structure is limited to the courtyard of the castle.
In the 1190s, King Richard the Lionheart (ruled 1189-99) added curtains to the White Tower, dug a moat around it, which he filled with water from the Thames. The Roman city wall that had been erected earlier in the east was used by Richard as part of the fence. Part of the wall he built, later included in the defensive wall of Henry III, is still preserved in the area between the Bloody Tower and the Bell Tower, which also appeared during his reign. In 1240, Henry III ordered the whitewashing of the building, as a result of which it got its name.
Inmost Ward
In the early 13th century, Henry III (reigned 1216-72) placed the main royal residence in the Tower and built luxurious buildings within the Castle Courtyard south of the White Tower. To the northwest, the now ruined Coldharbour Gate led into this Courtyard and was bounded by a wall fortified in the southwest by the Wakefield Tower, in the southeast by the Lanthorn Tower, and in the northeast - The now destroyed Wardrobe Tower. The well-appointed Wakefield Tower and Lantern Tower were integral parts of this new royal palace, and adjoined the now-ruined Great Hall, located between them. The tower remained a royal residence until the time of Oliver Cromwell, when some of the old luxurious buildings were destroyed.
Inner territory
The White Tower and Courtyard are in the Inner Territory, protected by a massive curtain built by Henry III in 1238. Despite protests from the citizens of London and even supernatural predictions (according to chronicler Matthew Paris), it was decided to widen the city wall to the east.
Thirteen towers are built into the wall:
Wakefield Tower - The largest tower in the curtain.
Lanthorn Tower
Salt Tower
Broad Arrow Tower
Constable Tower
Martin Tower
Brick Tower
Bowyer Tower
Flint Tower
Deveraux Tower
Beauchamp Tower
The Bell Tower is the oldest enclosed tower, built in the 1190s as part of the fortifications of Richard I and later incorporated into the fortifications of Henry III. It is named after the bell located in it, in which the evening curfew was struck for more than 500 years.
Bloody Tower (or Garden Tower), named after the legend of the princes killed in it.
Outer Ward
From 1275 to 1285, Edward I (reigned 1272-1307) built an outer curtain that completely connected the inner wall, resulting in a circular double defensive structure. He filled the old ditch with water and dug a new ditch around the new outer wall. The space between the walls is called the Outer Territory. The wall has five towers located on the side of the river:
Byward Tower
St Thomas's Tower, built in 1275-1279 by Edward I as an additional royal residence.
Cradle Tower
Well Tower
Develin Tower
On the outside of the northern wall are three semi-circular bastions: Brass Mount, North Bastion and Legge's Mount.
The Tower Waterway is often referred to as the Traitor's Gate, as it is believed to have carried treason prisoners such as Queen Anne Boleyn and Sir Thomas More. Henry III's Gate in the Bloody Tower Behind the Traitor's Gate in the pool was an engine that was used to pump water into a cistern located on the roof of the White Tower. the device was adapted to trigger mechanisms carrying gun barrels and was dismantled in the 1860s. Above the great arch of the Traitor Gate is the Tudor timber frame, created in 1532 and reconstructed in the 19th century.
West entrance and Moat
The now dry moat surrounding the entire structure is crossed from south to west by a stone bridge leading to the Byward Tower from the Middle Tower, a gate that used to be an outer fortification called the Lion Tower.
Today the Tower is primarily a tourist attraction. In addition to the buildings themselves, its exposition includes the Jewels of the British Crown, a fine collection of weapons from the Royal Armories and the remains of a Roman fortress wall.
The Yeomen Tower Gatekeepers (Beefeaters) act as guides and provide security, while they are the attraction themselves. Every evening, when the Tower closes for the night, the gatekeepers participate in the Key Handover Ceremony.
