The Houses of York and Lancaster both traced their lineage to the sons of Edward III of the House of Plantagenet, who ruled as Englands king from 1327 until 1377. It also features over 31 million bricks and 2 million rivets. The Tower of London is a historical castle found in central London, and had various functions in British History- it was the Royal Palace, was a fortress, prison, place of execution, arsenal, Royal Mint, Royal Zoo, and jewel house. The Tower of London radiates rich history albeit a little on the darker side with all the executions. It wasnt until the Tudors came to power in the late 15th century that the Tower was being used less as a Royal residence. The third rolling regal head was of proclaimed queen Lady Jane Grey, also known as the Nine Days Queen, who was 17 when she was charged with high treason by Queen Mary I. Aerial shot of Tower Bridge and Tower of London. 1. Now with fewer visitors after the coronavirus-induced lockdowns, ravens are getting bored and two adventurous birds have been straying from the Tower, much to the distress of the ravenmaster. Quick Facts. The White Tower is considered to have been the strongest fortification of the castle and includes the St Johns Chapel, which was built in the year 1080 with stones imported from France. Subscribe for fascinating stories connecting the past to the present. Even when the officer comes out for the inspection, the sentry whispers the reply Alls Well! Unlike a lot of historical architecture, the Tower is also home to a small and lively community. Rapid spread At the time London was an urban sprawl mainly made up of wooden buildings, tightly packed together along very narrow streets. Below are ten top facts about the Tower of London near to Tower Bridge another top 10 London tourist attraction both of which can be explored with a knowledgeable Blue Badge Tourist Guide. As recently as 2019, two 500-year-old skeletons were discovered buried underneath the Tower of London. Archeologists found two skeletons, an adult woman and a child, near the same spot where the headless body of Queen Anne was also laid to rest. In Edward Is time the outer curtain wall lower was made lower than the inner. Roman Origins. Its called The Keys, and while it has got absolutely nothing on these historic London boozers, we think thats pretty darn interesting. Starting with King Hakon of Norway in the 1200s it became customary for visiting dignitaries to bring animals as gift to the monarch. The castle dates back to the year 1066, 4. Every Blue Badge Tourist Guide in London knows the difference between London Bridge and Tower Bridge but not all their clients do. Prisoners of the Tower. He was free to roam the Tower grounds. Their name comes from their role as food tasters to the King when they ate his beef to ensure it wasnt poisoned. Top 10 Facts About The Tower of London The Tower of London is a ancient castle observed in valuable London, and had numerous capabilities in British History- it turned into the Royal Palace, was a citadel, prison, vicinity of execution, arsenal, Royal Mint, Royal Zoo, and jewel residence. One of the towers was bombed and completely collapsed, spilling rubble into the moat below it. It is located on the north bank of the River Thames, in the extreme western portion of the borough of Tower Hamlets, on the border with the central City of London. William the Conqueror built the Tower of London to have as his fortress. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! It was never supposed to be a prison. The eastern side was defended by the ancient Roman . Other famous royals included Lady Jane Grey, who was queen for just a week, and two princes, Edward and Richard, who were only 12 and 9 years old! Tower of London, byname the Tower, royal fortress and London landmark. The Tower also housed what was known as the Royal Menagorie, the royal collection of exotic animals. There you will find everything about the Tower of London: history,towers, beefeaters, ravens and others. During the reign of Protestant Queen Elizabeth I, the persecution of Catholics led to the incarceration and torture of Jesuit priest John Gerard. Their actual value is priceless. It originally served as the royal residence of England, 6. The Guard member says Halt! Because the Tower of London is also a Royal Palace gun salutes are fired from its riverside wharf on important occasions. for defenders to retreat to should enemies take the outer wall. Origins of the Tower of London. Go ahead and impress your friends with your newfound knowledge! The Palace of Westminster is synonymous with politics in the United Kingdom and has seen some of the most momentous events in the history of the country. The Tower of London was founded by William the Conqueror after his famous victory at Hastings in 1066. If you catch them you win a 50 reward and meal with The Queen. A royal palace is just one of numerous purposes that the Tower of London has served in its extensive history of nearly 1,000 years. The area was originally settled by early hunter gatherers around 6,000 B.C., and researchers have found evidence of Bronze Age bridges and Iron Age forts near read more, 1. The Yorks and Lancasters were descended from the same family. A wooden castle was erected at first, but in around 1075-79 work began on the gigantic . Its truly a sight to behold. Before it became a prison, it was the residence for the royalty during the early history. Inside, the medieval buildings contrast with London skyscrapers glimpsed. Other notable inmates included Princess Elizabeth (later Elizabeth I), who was briefly imprisoned by Mary I for suspicion of conspiracy; the soldier and conspirator Guy Fawkes; the adventurer Sir Walter Raleigh; and Sir Roger Casement, who was arrested for treason during World War I. The Tower of London is an internationally famous monument and one of England's most iconic structures. If one visits the Tower you can see numerous arrow slits in the outer curtain wall. Here's some handy history facts! Among those killed there were Sir Simon Burley (in 1388), an adviser and tutor of Richard II; the statesman Edmund Dudley (1510); the humanist Sir Thomas More (1535); the second wife of Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn (1536); Lady Jane Grey and her husband, Lord Guildford Dudley (1554); and the 11th Lord Lovat, Simon Fraser (1747), who was a Scottish Jacobite leader. Podcast: Jane Austen and Tudor London. There is a lot you could gather from a visit to the Tower of London, or just marvel at the crown jewel collection, have a conversation with a Yeoman Warder in their expensive gold-threaded uniform or with the keeper of the ravens! Discover Walks contributors speak from all corners of the world - from Prague to Bangkok, Barcelona to Nairobi. Genetic evidence suggests they belong to a subspecies of Barbary lion that once lived in Africa but disappeared a century ago. It is born of history but not defined by it and is in a state of constant evolution. But for a monarchy read more, Late on the Monday afternoon of October 17, 1814, distraught Anne Saville mourned over the body of her 2-year-old son, John, who had died the previous day. A military garrison is maintained within the Tower, which with its precincts constitutes a liberty outside local jurisdictions. He became the first prisoner held in the Tower of London, though he later escaped. Clad in a sharp red dress, these 37 men and women give tours of the fortress. Some of the armour is beautifully decorated with gold leaf making it a wonderful mix of engineering and art. The White Tower. Initial construction of the White Tower, the oldest structure in the Tower of London complex, started in 1078 and was completed in 1100, during the rule of King William II. SUPPORT OUR JOURNALISM: Please consider donating to keep our website running and free for all - thank you! It was named after a military division located in the area referred to as the Tower Division and which was directly in service of the Tower of London. It is reported that at least 6 ravens are kept at the Tower of London at all times. Fawkes was held at the Tower and tortured for information on his co-conspirators before his later execution. Queen Elizabeth I: William the Conqueror started building the Tower of London in 1078, after he defeated King Harold at the Battle of Hastings. Its buildings and grounds served historically as a royal palace, a political prison, a place of execution, an arsenal, a royal mint, a menagerie, and a public records office. Happy travels! As you wander around the Towers grounds, youll notice sculptures of lions and other animals, paying homage to the four-legged friends that have previously lived here. Over the centuries, however, the Tower has had many uses. Its called the Bell Tower because of the curfew bell housing on the top. Tower of London, byname the Tower, royal fortress and London landmark. And yes, theres plenty of Beefeater gin involved. The Tower of London is centuries oldit goes back all the way to 1066. Experimental Cocktail Club Review: Drinking Behind Closed Doors in Chinatown, Unusual London Book I Discovering Londons Secret Spots, Things We Bet You Didnt Know About Tower Bridge, Best Hotels in Battersea: Where to Stay in Battersea, The Best Restaurants in St Katharines Dock: Unmissable Places to Eat, The Best London Gardens: Secret (and Not so Secret) Gardens You Have to Explore. 3. https://www.history.com/topics/middle-ages/tower-of-london. Read Also: 10 Facts about London Big Ben. However, the Tower wasnt so lucky the second time around. In fact, the Tower, which is actually a complex of several towers and structures, was built in the latter part of the 11th century as fortress to protect London, the capital city of the British Empire. 4. However, a controversy arose when it was revealed that a whooping 15 million was spent on costs (Cummins made 7.2 million) and the charities only received 9 million. The Tower of London was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is one of the few such buildings that is still relatively intact and has withstood the test of time. 21. It began its early life as a Royal Palace and later became a prison and torture chamber, even execution site. 2. Luckily, the keys werent for anything too important only keys to the restaurant, conference rooms, and an internal lock to the drawbridges were stolen. alert("There has been an issue sending email, please try again. The White Tower at the Tower of London. You would be able to get all amenities on the grounds. His companyReally Interesting Tours provides a range of high quality tours of London and the English Countryside. According to legend, in the mid-17th century, King Charles II was warned that the Crown would fall if the ravens ever left the Tower of Londonso he ordered that six of the birds be kept captive there at all times, as he believed they were a symbol of good fortune. During WW2, the Tower was used as a Prisoner Of War camp. The facility wasnt so fortunate during World War II. The megacity that most of us know as London is actually called 'Greater London', whilst the City of London itself is a small portion of this sprawling metropolis. In all of its history, only 7 people were executed within the walls of the tower, and 12 during the World Wars of the 20th century. Legend dictates that he had the two boy princes killed so he could succeed to the throne. The nearly 1000-year-old Tower of London inspires many reactions, among them awe, horror, and intrigue. Its diameter is at 8.9 feet, while the hammer inside the bell weighs 441 pounds. It's thought that the King had the Tower commissioned to help fortify himself against the raging masses. RELATED: Creepy History: 10 Eerie Facts About The Tower Of London 82 miles of sewers were built running parallel to the Thames. The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. 35. Today, the Tower of London is one of the most popular tourist attractions in London. Click here to subscribe to the podcast! Fawkes was arrested for his role in a plot to blow up Parliament, after he was found guarding a cache of explosives and gunpowder in the basement of the legislature on November 5, 1605. By Zoe Craig. The Wardrobe Tower was also commissioned in 1190 and completed in 1199. Photo credit: Historic Royal Palaces. The primary function of military stronghold of the Tower didn't change until the late 19th century. Did you know that theres a secret pub in the Tower? While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. It became an attraction for Londoners who came to see captive lions and the white bear, who was regularly taken to the Thames to hunt. If the tower is ever abandoned by its resident ravens, its said that the Kingdom and the Tower of London will fall. It was named after the castles old keep which includes a historic chapel, 5. It took many years to build even the first part of . Here are some surprising facts about the moat at the Tower of London. Throughout its history . 15. Visitors to the tower still enter by it's original door, set 15 feet above ground level and approached via a wooden staircase, which could be burned in case of attack. Over the centuries, the structure expanded into 21 towers. #1 ITS DESIGN IS A COMBINATION OF BASCULE AND SUSPENSION BRIDGE After the formation of a Special Bridge or Subway Committee in 1877, more than 50 designs for the Tower Bridge were received. The full name of the Tower is actually: Her Majesty's Royal Palace And Fortress, The Tower of London. Its safe to say that youll need to keep your wits about you when you visit the Tower. 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