THE HISTORY OF THE TOWER

            When William the Conqueror built a mighty stone tower at the centre of his London fortress in the 1070s, defeated Londoners must have looked on in awe. Now nearly 1000 years later, the Tower still has the capacity to fascinate and horrify.

As protector of the Crown Jewels, home of the Yeomen Warders and its legendary guardians, the pampered ravens, the Tower now attracts over three million visitors a year. Here, the Ceremony of the Keys and other traditions live on, as do the ghost stories and terrible tales of torture and execution.

But the Tower also has a richer and more complex history, having been home to a wide array of institutions including the Royal Mint, the Royal Armouries and even a zoo.

FORTRESS. PALACE. PRISON.

  As the most secure castle in the land, the Tower guarded royal possessions and even the royal family in times of war and rebellion.But for 500 years monarchs also used the Tower as a surprisingly luxurious palace.

THE CONQUEROR’S FORTRESs

In the 1070s, William the Conqueror, fresh from his victory but nervous of rebellion, began to build a massive stone fortress in London to defend and proclaim his royal power. Nothing like it had ever been seen in England before.William intended his mighty castle keep not only to dominate the skyline, but also the hearts and minds of the defeated Londoners.

 THE TOWER OF STRENGTH

Kings and queens used the Tower in times of trouble to protect their possessions and themselves. Arms and armour were made, tested and stored here until the 1800s.The Tower also controlled the supply of the nation’s money.  All coins of the realm were made at the Tower Mint from the reign of Edward I until 1810. Kings and queens also locked away their valuables and jewels at the Tower and even today, the Crown Jewels are protected by a garrison of soldiers.

 THE PALACE GUARDS

The famous Yeoman Warders, recognised as symbols of the Tower all over the world, have been here for centuries. They were originally part of the Yeomen of the Guard, the monarch’s personal bodyguard who travelled with him.Henry VIII (1507-47) decreed that some of them would stay and guard the Tower permanently.

 Even today, the Tower of London remains the most mysterious place in the world.

                                Architecture 

The Design and Structure of the Tower of London

The design and structure of the great London fortress started with William the Conqueror as a timber Motte and Bailey castle. Construction of the stone tower keep started in 1078 and was completed in 1097. The Tower of London assumed its form as a ‘Concentric Castle’ with successive lines of fortification, only after hundreds of years and several different reigns. There are 21 different towers which form a major part of the London castle complex. These famous buildings are fully detailed in the section The Towers in the London fortress which include the White Tower and the Bloody Tower. The design and structure of the Tower of London also include the Chapel of St John.

                                                               The Tower of London

The Tower of London is the most famous of all the Medieval English castles. Its bloody history encompasses some of the most important events in English history. The fortress is strongly associated with William the Conqueror who invaded England in 1066. William the Conqueror initially built a wooden Motte and Bailey castle and the famous, fortified, stone White Tower, which replaced the original Motte and Bailey castle, was completed in 1097.

The Tower of London was therefore first built as a fortress with a central Keep, the first of its towers was called the “White Tower.” The Tower of London assumed its form as a ‘Concentric Castle’ with successive lines of fortification, only after hundreds of years and several different reigns. There are 21 different towers which form a major part of the London castle complex.

The names of the different Towers are as follows

     The Bloody Tower                  St Thomas’s Tower                 Bell Tower    

    Flint Tower                               Cradle Tower                          Brick Tower

    Constable Tower                     Salt Tower                               Develin Tower

    Lanthorn Tower                      Beauchamp Tower                 Broad Arrow Tower

    Deveraux Tower                    Wakefield Tower                      Byward Tower

    Martin Tower                 Reconstructed Tower of London 

In 1841, a fire ripped through the Tower, destroying the Grand Storehouse that was subsequently rebuilt by the then Constable of the Tower, the Duke of Wellington.Over the years The Tower has served variously as a prison, an armoury, a treasury, the Royal Mint, a public records office, as well as home to the Jewels. Perhaps less well-known is that it also served as a menagerie. King John is believed to be the first king to keep lions and other exotic animals there, while in 1251 a polar bear was acquired. The Tower Menagerie was closed in 1835 with the animals transferred to the new London Zoo.Today the official title of the Tower is still 'Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London' although there isn't actually a single Tower of London. It is not quite known when the name was first used but through the ages 'Tower of London' has become the accepted term of description for the entire complex.