The Tower of London
 Castles |  Royal Britain |
Nearest tube: Tower Bridge
The Tower of London provides London with one of its most characteristic land-marks. Its construction was begun by William I (The Conqueror: 1027-1087) in 1067. Strategically situated by the River Thames, the Tower was built to monitor river traffic entering London and was one of many fortresses built by William to consolidate his conquests in England. The original building was a wooden construction that was replaced, some 30 years later, by a four storey building, The White Tower, within the old Roman city wall. The White Tower stands to this very day, forming the centre-piece of the Tower of London's complex. Visitors today still enter the Tower by the original door built 15 feet above ground level, that is approached by a wooden staircase that could be easily burnt in case of attack. The fortress was extended under Plantagenet and Tudor monarchs form the 12th to the 16th centuries, to the point of occupying its present 18 acre site.
provides London with one of its most characteristic land-marks. Its construction was begun by William I (The Conqueror: 1027-1087) in 1067. Strategically situated by the River Thames, the Tower was built to monitor river traffic entering London and was one of many fortresses built by William to consolidate his conquests in England. The original building was a wooden construction that was replaced, some 30 years later, by a four storey building, The White Tower, within the old Roman city wall. The White Tower stands to this very day, forming the centre-piece of the Tower of London's complex. Visitors today still enter the Tower by the original door built 15 feet above ground level, that is approached by a wooden staircase that could be easily burnt in case of attack. The fortress was extended under Plantagenet and Tudor monarchs form the 12th to the 16th centuries, to the point of occupying its present 18 acre site. Over its 1000 year history, the Tower of London has served many functions. Notwithstanding its role as a fortress it was used as a royal residence from the late XI century to the early 17th century. However, its most famous use was as a prison and a place of execution, a tradition which started in he 12th century and ended in 1941 with the brief internment of Hitler's deputy, Rudolf Hess, after his arrival in Britain on his ill-fated peace mission. Several executions of spies by firing sqaud were carried out at the Tower during both world wars.
The bloodiest period of the Tower's history, however, was under the Tudors, when the country was under threat from religious disputes and several pretenders to the throne. Many notable figures of the day met their deaths on the headsman's block among which were Henry VII's unpopular tax-collectors, Empson and Dudley, Thomas Moore, Bishop Fisher, Thomas Cromwell, "Lord Protector" Somerset, the "Nine Day Queen", Lady Jane Grey, Henry VIII's secon wife and mother of Elizabeth I, Ann Boleyn, and his fifth wife, Catherine Howard, and the Earl of Essex. Princess Elizabeth herself, before becoming queen, was interned in the Tower on suspicion of plotting against the Queen, Mary I (1516-1558).
Today the Tower serves less violent purposes. Its three million visitors a year are treated to a variety of attractions that reflect its long and colourful history. One of the most popular of these are the Crown Jewels which can be viewed in the basement of the White Tower, where they have be kept since the 14th century. The armouries are also stored there. Another favourite with visitors is the "Bloody Tower" so-called after the "Little Princes", Edward V and his brother, the Duke of York, were almost certainly murdered in the Garden (Bloody) Tower in 1483, probably on the orders of their uncle, the future Richard III. Another notable resident of the Bloody Tower was the famous English explorer, Sir Walter Raleigh. During his captivity between 1603-16 he wrote his monumental "The History of the World which was designed as an instruction manual for Henry, Price of Wales, in the ways of efficient state-craft.
Approaching the Tower from the Thames, the visitor is confronted by Traitors' Gate that from the XIII century served as the main entrance. It acquired its chilling name, however, only after it was eclipsed by a road entrance, becoming a more secret means of access to the Tower.
Nowadays the Tower still accommodates permanent residents in the form of its clutches of Ravens, which first arrived there during the time of Charles II (1630-1685). Legend holds that the departure of the birds form the Tower would portend disaster. As such the birds have had their wings clipped to prevent them from straying too far form the Tower's precinct.