The Tower of London

The Tower Bridge

The Tower of London was founded nearly a millenium ago and expanded with a long time. It has protected, housed, imprisoned and been for many people the last sight they saw on Earth. It's situated in East London, next to the famous Tower Bridge. The Bridge was built between 1886 and 1894 by the City of London Corporation to link the southeastern suburbs with the city and eastern London.

The Tower of London is the oldest palace, fortress and prison in Europe. The great fortress was created by William the Conqueror.

The Tower is entered at the foot of Tower Hill. Near there is the Bulwark Gate. A lot of prisioners were closed here. Next to this place, there is the Lion Tower where the royal menagerie took place. At the same area there are the Traitor's Gate and the St. Thomas's Tower.

 

The Middle Tower was built in the end of the 13th century. It has two parts: Byward Tower and the Bloody Tower, which were defended by portcullises. The Byward Tower probably derives its name from by-the-ward, and gives access to the Outer Ward.

The Bell Tower stands in the south-west corner of the Inner Ward. It was built in the 13th century. The bell still rings in the evening to warn visitors on the wharf it is time to leave. The most famous prisoners confined in the Bell Tower is Sir Thomas, prisioned in 1534.


The Middle Tower

 

 


A Yeoman Warder.

 One of the most popular attraction in the Tower of London are the Yeoman Warders, also known as Beefeaters. It was originally established in 1485 as King Henry VIII's guardians. They are usually seen at the Tower in the blue undress uniform granted to them by Queen Victoria in 1858.

Opposite Traitor's Gate we find the Wakefield Tower, built in the early 13th century. Wakefield Tower was probably named after William the Wakefield. The tower has 2 chambers, the ground floor and the royal apartments above. Henry VI died in the Wakefield Tower in May 21th of 1471.

 

The White Tower is the great central keep that was built by William the Conqueror and finished by his sons and successors, William Rufus and Henry I. This tower contained the first royal observatory. It has a single and original entrance. In the White Tower the medieval kings of England lived with their families and their court.

On the first floor of the White Tower there is the Chapel of St John the Evangelist. It is one of the most perfect specimens of Norman architecture in Great Britain.

The White Tower and the New Armouries contain the national collection of arms and armour. It's the most important fortress in the kingdom. The White Tower is entered through the Tournament Room. The Tudor Room is devoted mainly to the armours made in the royal workshops at Greenwich which Henry VIII established in 1514. In the Stuart Room there are beautiful little armours made in France and England.

The White Tower

 

On the west side of the White Tower is the Tower Green, which is bounded on the north by the Chapel of St Peter and Vincula, and on the south by the Queens House. On the west green stands the Beauchamp Tower, created by Henry III and his son.

Between the Chapel and Tower Green is a small paved area. There is the Site of Block. The names of the six tragic figures who died on this fateful spot are inscribed on the board. They include three queens of England: Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard and Lady Jane Grey. Elizabeth I, Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex were also executed here.

On the left there is The Queens House that was built in 1530, probably for Queen Anne Boleyn, but she lived there only as a prisoner for 18 days while waiting her execution. It is a very fine example of half timbered Tudor architecture.

On the right of the Site of Block there are The Crown Jewels, that are what most visitors of the Tower of London come to see. This incomparable collection of crowns, orbs, swords, sceptres and other regalia, and gold and silver plate was refashioned in 1661 after the parliament had ordered the original gold and precious metals to be melted down for coinage in 1649.