What is the most famous Tower of London. Tower of London. Interesting and useful information. Peaceful functions of the Tower

View of the Tower from the Shard (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 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 Shard (Rick Ligthelm / flickr.com) Francesco Gasparetti / flickr .com maureen / flickr.com Interior of external 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. During its history, the castle served as a fortress, royal residence and prison.

The Tower of London played a very important role in medieval England. It symbolized royal power and the power of the state. The king's treasures 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 power and built 36 castles. London, as a fairly large city, was no exception. Ancient Roman walls have been preserved near the Thames, and in this place they decided to build a fortress. The sculpture of Hadrian, Emperor of Rome, is in the 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 Tower (English) is translated as tower.

The building 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 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 of 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 12th 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, but also a prison. The first prisoner to come here was Bishop Ranulf Flambard. At the same time, he was the first who managed to escape from the supervision of the guards. He managed to escape thanks to a rope that was given to him in a bottle.

White Tower inside and outside

The entrance to the White Tower was located significantly above ground level. This is a tribute to the Norman tradition. There was a wooden ladder attached to it, which might have been quickly removed in the event of a surprise attack. Like other dungeons, the White Tower has a large basement and a well.

The lowest floor of the White Tower was assigned to the constable - who ruled in the absence of the ruler in London. And also for the lieutenant who was replacing the manager.

On the second floor there is a Great Hall and 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) Crossbow exhibit 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 campaign; his castle in the capital was ruled by Chancellor William Longchapt.

Interior of an 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 purpose, defensive fortifications were built, and a moat with water appeared around the fortress.

During Richard's reign, the area occupied by the Tower increased significantly. In 1191 the castle was besieged. It was more profitable for Longchapt to surrender, and John took the Tower of London.

John became king after Richard the Lionheart died. They began to call him John the Landless. He ascended the throne, but was unable to win the favor of the barons. Therefore, the Tower of London was again besieged. To remain on the throne, the king was forced to make concessions. The Magna Carta was signed. From then on, the stage of constitutional monarchy began. But the king was in no hurry to fulfill his promise, and this led to the First Baronial War.

Tower Menagerie

John the Landless is also famous for having founded a 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 London residents to visit the menagerie and weapons museum. Such a zoo operated here until 1830, after which 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.

Ravens of the Tower

The Tower Ravens are a population of ravens that permanently live on the grounds of the castle. This is another attraction of the UK Castle Museum. Under King Charles II, a legend appeared that ravens were an important component of the castle, and without them the Tower of London could not exist.

These birds are the black guards of the castle. Therefore, since then, a tradition has developed to take care of these ravens, which is followed to this day, and there is now a Raven Keeper working in the castle.

Changes under Henry III

Under Henry III, the Tower thoroughly expanded its territory. The construction of stone walls and 9 towers was completed. This area is now designated as the Inner Courtyard. The purpose of many towers is indicated by their very names. For example, the Bell Tower. It housed the main bell. Or the Archer's Tower. It produced bows and crossbows, as well as siege weapons.

View of the Tower from the Shard skyscraper (Rick Ligthelm / flickr.com)

Lanthorne Tower - its name comes from the Old English word meaning "light" or "shine". This tower played the role of a lighthouse for ships passing along the river. The main entrance is now in the western wall. The Wakefield and Lanthorn towers housed the royal family's chambers and other living rooms. A spacious room for a hall was specially built between these towers.

Also during the reign of Henry, the Bloody Tower was built. It is famous for a very sad story. Edward V and his brother, another heir to the throne, Richard of York, were killed in it. People called them the princes of the Tower; they were imprisoned in a tower under the supervision of guards. No one saw them alive anymore; most likely, they were killed.

At the time of death, the first was 12 years old, and the second was 10. Richard III ordered their execution because of possible claims to the throne (although he was their 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 was made. Gates were divided into external and internal. A barbican was also built, which was called the Lion Tower. Lions were kept 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 there was the famous Traitor's Gate - another of the attractions of the castle museum. Through them, the guards brought new prisoners to the prison by water.

The king also moved the mint to the Tower. Under Edward, the fortress walls of the Tower began to have loopholes for riflemen - the castle guards. 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 area occupied by the buildings under King Edward is now called the Outer Court.

Tower at present

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.” There are legends about this UK landmark. Until now, this castle is very popular among tourists.

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 London borough of Tower Hamlets and is separated from the eastern part of the City of London by the undeveloped area of ​​Tower 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 consisting of several structures located within two concentric rings formed by defensive walls and a moat.

The tower originally served as a fortress, royal residence and prison (especially for noble prisoners and members of the royal family, such as the "Princes in the Tower" (Princes Edward and Richard) and the future Queen Elizabeth I).

This latter function led to the coining 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, and also carried out executions and torture. Since 1303, the Tower has housed the British Crown Jewels.

Video tour of the Tower of London - Tower of London

History of construction

White Tower

At the center of the Tower of London stands the Norman White Tower, built in 1078 by William the Conqueror (reigned 1066-87) in the south-eastern 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 external invaders. The architect of the tower, by order of William, was Gandalf (Gundulf), Bishop of Rochester. Excellent Cayenne stone brought from France was used to create the corners of the building and to frame the doors and windows, while the majority of the building was constructed from Kentish basalt. According to legend, the mortar used in the construction of the structure was diluted with animal blood. 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 height of the White Tower is 27 m, and the thickness of its walls is 4.5 m at the base and 3.3 m 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 castle courtyard.

In the 1190s, King Richard the Lionheart (reigned 1189-99) added curtains to the White Tower and dug a ditch around it, which he filled with water from the Thames. Richard used the previously erected Roman city wall in the east as part of the fence. Part of the wall he built, later included in Henry III's defensive wall, still remains in the area between the Bloody Tower and the Bell Tower, also built during his reign. In 1240, Henry III ordered the building to be whitewashed, which is how it got its name.

Inmost Ward

In the early 13th century, Henry III (reigned 1216–72) established the Tower as his main royal residence and built luxurious buildings within the castle's Courtyard to the south of the White Tower. This Courtyard was entered to the north-west by the now ruined Coldharbour Gate and was bounded by a wall, fortified to the south-west by Wakefield Tower, to the south-east by the Lantern Tower, and to the north-east - now the 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 that lay between them. The tower remained a royal residence until the time of Oliver Cromwell, under whom some of the old luxurious buildings were destroyed.

Inland area

The White Tower and Courtyard are in the Inner Grounds, protected by a massive curtain wall built by Henry III in 1238. Despite protests from London citizens and even supernatural predictions (according to chronicler Matthew Paris), it was decided to extend the city wall to the east.

Thirteen towers are built into the wall:

Wakefield Tower is the largest tower in the curtain wall.
Lanthorn Tower
Salt Tower
Broad Arrow Tower
Constable Tower
Martin Tower
Brick Tower
Bowyer Tower
Silicon Tower (Flint Tower)
Deveraux Tower
Beauchamp Tower
The Bell Tower is the oldest tower in the enclosure, built in the 1190s as part of Richard I's fortifications and later included in Henry III's fortifications. It is named after the bell located in it, which was used to ring the evening curfew for more than 500 years.
Bloody Tower (or Garden Tower), named after the legend of the princes killed there.

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 defense structure. He filled the old ditch with water and dug a new ditch around the new outer wall. The area between the walls is called the Outer Territory. The wall has five towers located on the river side:

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 outer side of the northern wall there are three semicircular bastions: Brass Mount, North Bastion and Legge's Mount.

The water passage to the Tower is often called Traitor's Gate, as it is believed that prisoners accused of treason, such as Queen Anne Boleyn and Sir Thomas More, were transported through it. The Traitor's Gate, cut through the Tower of St. Thomas, replaced the water one Henry III's Gate in the Bloody Tower. Behind the Traitor's Gate, in a reservoir, there was an engine that was used to pump water into a cistern located on the roof of the White Tower. The engine was initially powered by stream power or horses, and later by steam power; around 1724 this The device was adapted to run mechanisms carrying gun barrels, but was dismantled in the 1860s. Above the great arch of Traitor's Gate is a Tudor timber frame, built 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 formerly served as an outer fortification, which was called the Lion Tower.

Today the Tower is primarily a tourist attraction. In addition to the buildings themselves, its exhibition includes the British Crown Jewels, a fine collection of weapons from the Royal Armories and the remains of a Roman fortress wall.

The Tower's yeomanry gatekeepers (beefeaters) act as guides and provide security, while being an attraction themselves. Every evening, when the Tower closes for the night, the gatekeepers take part in the Key Ceremony.

The Tower of London is one of the most famous and most interesting places in the city. The Tower was once a palace, a fortress, a prison and even a Zoo. Today it is known as a historical museum.

Despite being called “The Tower of London”, the place consists of 20 towers. The White Tower is the oldest of them. It was built at the time of William the Conqueror. The Tower of London used to be a place where many famous people lived their last days before execution. Anne Boleyn was beheaded there and future Queen Elizabeth was kept in the prison but later she was released and became Queen.

The guardians of the Tower still tell tourists many thrilling stories about things happened there when the place was a prison. Even a more interesting story is considered to be the one about the start of the Zoo. It is said that King Henry III was given an elephant, a polar bear and several leopards as gifts and he had no place to keep them in except for the Tower of London.

Nowadays the Tower of London is a place of great interest for millions of people. Tourists come there to visit the museum of Royal Armories, the Fusilier museum and a new Jewel Tower where Crown Jewels are exhibited. Tourists can also speak with the guardians who wear special uniform which was assigned to them during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Translation:

The Tower of London is one of the most famous and interesting places in the city. The Tower was once a palace, a fortress, a prison and even a zoo. Today it is known as a historical museum.

Despite its name, the Tower consists of 20 towers. The White Tower is the oldest of them. It was built during the time of William the Conqueror. The Tower of London was previously the place where many famous people lived out their last days before execution. Anne Boleyn was beheaded there and the future Queen Elizabeth was imprisoned before being released to become queen.

To this day, Tower guards tell tourists fascinating stories about the events that took place during the time when the site was designated as a prison. Even more interesting is the history of the zoo. It is said that King Henry III received an elephant, a polar bear and several leopards as gifts. The king had nowhere to keep animals except in the Tower.

Today, the Tower of London is of great interest to millions of people. Tourists come there to visit the Royal Arms Museum, the Historical Museum and the new Jewel Tower, where the royal jewels are displayed. Tourists can also interact with the guards, who wear special uniforms assigned during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Useful phrases and words:

Fortress - fortress

Conqueror - conqueror

Execution - execution

To behead - behead, cut off head

To release - let go, release

Except for - except

Of great interest - be of great interest

To assign - assign, determine

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Covered in myths and legends, the Tower has been rising 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.

About 3 million people visit the attraction every year. It is believed that the order for the construction of 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 had no legal rights to the English crown, thanks to the power 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 ditch appeared. The stone castle became an impregnable fort of the Old World and has survived to this day almost in its original form, since throughout the 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, a weapons arsenal, an observatory and even a menagerie. The historical monument has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1988.

White Tower

The massive donjon is a typical example of Norman military architecture. The four-story structure 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 there are interactive exhibitions here. For example, the exhibitions Dressed to kill and Line of Kings 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, and examine copies of ancient coins enlarged to the size of plates. In the living quarters, the atmosphere of the palace chambers has been recreated: a bedroom, a chapel, a podium with a throne. A film about the lives of royalty during the Middle Ages is shown on the wall. Tower Bridge is visible from the windows.

Famous prisoners of the Tower

Since 1190, the Tower has become a state prison. The remains of 1,500 publicly executed or secretly killed prisoners are buried in St. Peter's Chapel. The first prisoner was Bishop Ralph Flambard, who managed to escape using a rope carried in a jug of milk. Then, for centuries, august persons were kept in captivity, 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 struggle for power kept the casemates empty. In the Tower, the lives of Henry VI, the “little princes” Edward V and his brother Richard, two of the six wives of Henry VIII - Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, the “Queen of the Nine Days” Jane Gray and her husband Guilford Dudley, the elderly Countess of Salisbury, all died. 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 was released and took the throne herself, sending her sister to execution.

Prisoners were often tortured. Thus, Guy Fawkes, who tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament, ended up on the rack in 1605 and revealed the names of the accomplices of the so-called “Gunpowder Plot.” The Torture Chamber is located underground in Wakefield Tower.

The last time a death sentence was carried out within the walls of the Tower was in 1941, when Joseph Jacobs was executed 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.” This is where the dark pages of the castle's chronicle ended. Nowadays, theatrical performances are being organized that imitate the escort of “prisoners” through the castle territory, accompanied by guards.

Those sentenced to death were executed outside the fortress, on Tower Hill. The head of the culprit was cut off, which was then impaled for public viewing and intimidation. In the place where the scaffold with the chopping block stood, a glass structure in the form of a pillow was installed, on which there was a dent from the head. The inscription on the memorial plaque reports “the tragic fate and sometimes martyrdom of those who, in the name of faith, homeland and ideals, risked their lives and accepted death.”

Tower Guards

Frame Yeoman Warders belongs to the royal life guard. Only a person who has served in the army for at least 22 years and has received awards for impeccable service can become a yeoman. Security guards not only keep order, but also conduct excursions. Every evening there is a closing ceremony for the fortress. You can watch the process for a fee. The changing of the guard is not as spectacular as near Buckingham Palace, but also attracts the attention of tourists.

The palace guards first appeared in the Tower in 1485, and they keep watch to this day in compliance with tradition. The unofficial name “beefeater” comes from the words “beef” (beef) and “eater” (eater), and according to one version, it appeared at a time when city residents were starving, and the guards regularly received meat rations, for which they were popularly nicknamed "meat eaters".

On days of celebration, the guards wear scarlet camisoles with gold braiding and fluffy white collars from the Tudor dynasty. Dress for everyday life - dark blue and red uniforms of the Victorian era.

Another honorary historical position - "Ravenmaster". According to an old prophecy, the English monarchy will fall when the ravens leave the Tower. Therefore, birds that are on government support are carefully monitored, fed, and the flight feathers on their 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 legs.

Treasury of Crown Jewels

Treasures of the British monarchy are on display at Waterloo Barracks. Photography of the exhibits is prohibited; visitors pass by shining jewels on a travelator.

Coronation Spoon Made of gilded silver, it has been used for over 800 years to anoint queens and kings with holy oil. Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross inlaid with the world's largest cut diamond, the Cullinan I. Another world-famous diamond, the Koh-I-Noor or “Mountain of Light,” adorns Imperial State Crown. The collection also includes other crowns, regalia of sovereign power, tiaras and gold utensils.

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 chance to go inside is half an hour before closing. But since on average the inspection will take three hours, it is better to arrive in the first half of the day.

Ticket prices in 2019

The ticket office is located in the Welcome Center building opposite the entrance to the fortress; you can book tickets in advance on the official Tower website.

Ticket prices:

• adult - £25;
• preferential - full-time students, disabled people, people over 60 years old - £19.50;
• children from 5 to 15 years old - £12;
• children under 5 years old are admitted free of charge;
• family ticket (1 adult and up to 3 children) - £45.

When purchasing online there is a 15% discount.

Excursions to the Tower

The audio guide is available in many languages, including Russian. Rental price: £4 for adults, £3 for children.

The beefeater tour starts from the main entrance every half hour. Last collection is at 14:30 in winter and at 15:30 in summer. The White Tower Tour is a separate tour of the White Tower and the Church of St. John the Evangelist, the cost is included in the main ticket.

The tourist route is carefully thought out. Navigation is facilitated by signs, and the recommended path is arranged in such a way that the flow of people moves in one direction. If you go up one staircase, you will go down another. The most important information is printed on stands in 10 languages, including Russian. Free Wi-Fi is available.

There are kiosks with drinks and ice cream on site, and you can grab a bite to eat at the New Armourie Cafe. The service is based on the canteen principle; customers choose their own dishes according to their taste. Nearby on the embankment 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 such as KFC, Nero and other food outlets.

Souvenir shops

Tower of London is 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 armorial lions.

Beefeater shop, located at the audio guide distribution point, is dedicated to the Tower guards. The display cases display toy yeomen, guidebooks, postcards and magnets.

Jewel House shop located next to the royal treasury. On the shelves are copies of Anne Boleyn's pearl necklace, Tudor rose pendants and other jewelry.

White Tower shop full of children's goods: toys, books, coloring books, dolls, toy armor and swords - all from 10 GBP.

Ravens shop is located near Tower Green, the habitat of ravens. Buyers are offered figurines of black birds, pencils with feathers, notebooks, 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 city sightseeing tour buses also stop at the fortress;
• by metro: st. Tower Hill (District and Circle lines), then 5 minutes on foot, following the signs;
• by river boat: sit near Big Ben (Westminster pier) or at Charing Cross station and float down the river to Tower Pier, the same pier where boats going to Greenwich and back stop.

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 various times as a prison, a mint, a treasure repository, and even a zoo. The castle is included in the UNESCO list.

History of the Tower Castle

The fortress was not built from scratch; long before construction, people lived on the site of the future castle and there were fortifications. Traces of human habitation from the Iron Age were found here. Before the Roman invasion, these places were located in Celtic times, and the Romans built a wooden fort here. Then, after the Romans left, the Saxon invasion began, and a stone wall was built to protect against them. Well, then begins the history of that very fortress, which is now located near the center of London.

Early history

The Tower of London was founded by King William I the Conqueror. After conquering 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, with one side overlooking the Thames. The site for construction was not chosen by chance; previously one of the Roman forts was located here, parts of it were also used in the Tower.

Then the size of the fortress was much smaller; initially a 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 ditch. The fortress walls were completed later.

It is believed that the Tower began to be built in 1078, this date, although not precise, is confirmed by both carbon dating and excavations and documents. The exact date of completion of construction is unknown, but it is assumed that the White Tower was completed no later than 1100.

The White Tower gets its name from the color its walls were painted in 1240.

The Tower of London combined several important functions. In addition to its direct military defensive significance, the castle also acted as a symbol of the new government. Built on a hill, a very tall tower for that time was visible from all over London, which instilled fear in the recently conquered Anglo-Saxons. Presumably, the permanent residence of William the Conqueror was located in the Tower. Well, the fortress began to fulfill its most famous role, a 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 design of the fortress remained unchanged until the reign of Richard I the Lionheart. Accounting documents authored by Lord Chancellor William Longchamp on the allocation of funds for the modernization of the Tower, dated approximately 1189 and 1190, have been preserved. Then curtains were built and a ditch was dug, which they unsuccessfully tried to fill with water from the Thames.

The new fortification system 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 besieged the castle in which Longchamp took refuge. However, no serious battles happened then, the siege lasted 3 days and Longchamp decided to surrender to John's mercy.

The Tower's next participation 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 Carta and the siege was lifted.

Second expansion

The following kings of England actively participated in the modernization of the Tower, in particular, Henry III invested quite a lot of money in it over 11 years, from 1216 to 1227. The king at that time had strained relations 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 improve 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 landward side, a new defensive perimeter was built and, finally, a full-fledged ditch 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-fledged siege of the fortress began in April 1267, Count Gilbert de Clare tried to take the castle, but he failed and soon retreated, and peace reigned in England. The king died, his son, Edward I, ascended the throne, and took on the Tower even more actively.

The new king had extensive experience in sieges, gained in the Crusade, and he was also afraid of civil wars, so a huge amount of money was allocated to modernize the castle. This time, almost the entire amount went to improve defensive structures - a new wall with a large number of loopholes was erected, two new bastions (in the northwest and northeast), the ditch was expanded to 50 meters and 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 Beauchamp Tower. Edward understood that he might find himself in a long-term siege, so two water mills were built in the Tower for greater autonomy.

The extensive improvements made by Edward are now considered the "outer courtyard" of the castle. 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 the buildings have survived, but the main part of the fortifications has survived to this day and is now accessible to tourists.

Middle Ages

For some time, the Tower ceases to participate in military conflicts. More prisoners end up here, and for the first time a woman is imprisoned within the castle walls. The Tower becomes the main prison for noble persons.

But Edward II seriously neglected the Tower, so it was not very comfortable for the captured nobles to be there. Although the number of prisoners increased due to the outbreak 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, at that time it was only besieged by rebel peasants, but when the king came out to negotiate with them, they burst in without any 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 didn’t come to a full-fledged siege; the king simply waited out the unrest 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 under siege. Despite the active use of artillery, the besiegers only managed to damage some of the buildings, but did 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 as a prisoner, and then executed. Although there is no exact evidence of this, it was 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 declared himself king. Both princes disappeared without a trace, most likely they were killed.

But the Tower had already begun to lose its military significance, although they tried to strengthen it to withstand artillery; in general, it was a fortress too outdated for military affairs. Also, the use of the Tower for practical purposes - as warehouses, offices, 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 procession to the coronation from the Tower and ended it at Westminster Abbey. Then, when the rulers stopped permanently living in this castle, the tradition of spending the night here before the ceremony was added to it. 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 overnight.

During the reign of the Tudors, the Tower was actively used as a prison. It became a place of imprisonment for many famous personalities such as Thomas More, Elizabeth Tudor, Anne Boleyn, Guy Fawkes and many others. Prisoners were often publicly executed, this took place on a nearby hill, and 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 was Anne Boleyn. Now a memorial sign has been erected at the execution site.

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 was at the end of the 18th century, fearing Scottish uprisings, but to no avail. And an attempt to renew the shallow ditch led to an outbreak of cholera among the garrison.

At this time, the Tower was used as an armory, and as a quartering place for the London garrison, and as the headquarters of artillery troops, and as a royal menagerie. All citizens who wished could see the animals; access was opened by Queen Elizabeth I.

In an interesting way, they charged entrance fees to the zoo. You could either buy a regular pass for three halfpenny, or give a cat or dog to the lions for food.

During the First World War, the Tower was restored to its functions as a prison and then as 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 camps. And then the last person in the castle was executed - the spy Josef 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 didn’t come to that; 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 nearby hill) in 1747, and the last person executed in general was the already mentioned spy Jacobz. And the last prisoners of the fortress were London gangsters - the Kray 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 years of history, tourists can see a collection of weapons, jewelry, and many antiques.

Tower Guards

The Tower has two special, living attractions - the guards and the ravens. It is worth noting that the Tower is still considered the official residence of the monarch, and no one has removed its functions as a fortress and a prison. So guards, yeomen, called “beefeaters,” are constantly on duty in the castle.

The word "beefeater" literally translates as "meat eater" 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, preserving the regalia and supervising 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 Ceremony of Keys - the ceremonial closing of all the castle gates, and also take on the role of tour guides. Although all beefeaters are military.

These guards appeared in 1485, thanks to Henry VII, a representative of the Tudor dynasty. Currently, 38 guards serve within the walls of the Tower, all of them wear historical clothing from the end of the 15th century with the coat of arms of the House of Tudor.

To become a beefeater, only a retired military man who has served in the military for at least 22 years, has received a special award for length of service, and has held the rank of senior noncommissioned 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 swore allegiance 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 served in the navy throughout the Second World War. As a result, in 2011, the first sailor entered service in the Tower.

In 2007, a woman was able to become a beefeater for the first time. She met all the requirements, so the appointment was legal. But an unpleasant incident occurred - after 2 years, three of the guards were put on trial for “harassment”, one was acquitted, but the other two were fired.

Ravens of the Tower

The Six Ravens are the castle's second living attraction and a centuries-old tradition. For various reasons, crows have always lived in the Tower and there is a legend that when the crows leave the Tower, the British monarchy will fall. According to the most common version, King Charles II issued an interesting decree, according to which at least 6 crows should always live in the castle, and to prevent them from flying away, their wings should be clipped. Whether it was like this or not, this tradition has been maintained for quite a long time.

Often more than six crows live in a castle, at the moment there are nine:

• Bran (male, 2008);
• Porsha (female, 2008);
• Erin (female, 2006);
• Merlina (female, 2004);
• Munin (female, 1995);
• Khagin (female, 2008);
• Rocky (male, 2010);
• Grip (male, 2012);
• Jubilee (male, 2012).

One of the beefeaters, who also bears the title of Ravenmaster, is responsible for care. All birds receive a rich diet, including 170 grams of meat per day, not counting the rats that they catch themselves.

Fun fact: Munin the raven once escaped from the Tower and was on the run for 5 days before vigilant citizens discovered him in a park in Greenwich.

Ravens usually live 10–15 years, but in captivity their lifespan is much longer; one of the Tower Ravens lived for 44 years. A replacement for the dead raven is found in nurseries or someone from their offspring is taken. At the same time, the crows are not guaranteed lifelong residence in the castle; some birds were literally fired for misbehavior. For example, in 1986, George the raven 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 arriving in London for the first time, a visit to this castle is always included in the excursion program. The London authorities understand this very well, which is why the Tower houses many interesting exhibitions, and the formal guards, yeomen, wear medieval clothes and act as tour guides.

Crown Treasures

One of the main permanent exhibitions, which has been running since the 17th century, is an exhibition of ceremonial treasures of the British monarchy. Crowns, royal scepters, robes, and unique precious stones are on display for visitors to see.

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's Row of Kings is considered by many historians to be one of the oldest exhibitions in the world. These ten life-size models of mounted 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 horsemen, and in its current form was combined with the armor museum.

Now the exhibits are located in the White Tower Armory and are the main permanent exhibition of the Tower. In addition to mounted warriors, tourists can see original examples of tournament armor of kings, among which the gilded armor of Charles I stands out.

But what kind of armor can there be without weapons? In the same room, dozens of samples 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 have had many rooms for the king, his guests and servants to live. Unfortunately, this is not entirely true - the original palace house where the monarchs lived was destroyed long ago, and the remaining rooms, which were even located in the towers, did not preserve the original interiors.

But during the reconstruction, various interiors of the Middle Ages were recreated in some rooms of the fortress. All available historical materials were used, so the image turned out to be quite accurate.

For example, in the former reception room, St. Thomas's Tower, the royal bedroom is now 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, their memory remained in the Tower. First of all, visitors can see sculptures of various animals, which are installed in many places. In addition, an exhibition has been opened in the Brick Tower, which tells the story of the keeping of animals presented to the king in this fortress.

Chapel of St. Peter in Chains

Any fortress included a place for performing religious rituals and a chaplain constantly on duty. The Tower is no exception; on its territory there is a church founded in the 12th century and rebuilt in 1520.

It was in front of the chapel that they cut off the heads of prisoners 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, assembled in the 17th century.

In the 19th century, with the development of firearms, flintlock guns appeared. They began to equip the troops, which were called “fusiliers.” One of these regiments was at one time a garrison of the Tower and, formally, remains so to this day, although, of course, they have long been no longer armed with fusels and are stationed elsewhere.

But in memory of them, an exhibition was opened that introduces tourists not only to the history of a particular regiment, but in general tells about the time that replaced the knightly era. Among the exhibits are weapons, soldiers' and officers' uniforms, awards, and household items.

Key Ceremony

A tradition that has existed for almost 700 years and is also a unique attraction. This is a special ritual when the yeomen, the guards of the Tower, ceremoniously close all the gates at night.

The ceremony begins exactly at 21:53, but it is not so easy to see. Although those who wish to watch are allowed to watch, and it is even free, the number of spectators is very limited and you need to register for attendance several months in advance.

Tower on the map

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Photo of the Tower of London