THE TOWER OF LONDON

The Tower of London is without a doubt one of the most important places to visit in London. I do feel thought that it is easy to not get it. So, look at this first and then you will be well prepared! It’s also expensive, so it really pays off to prepare your visit well. If you are visiting with children, you can ask for worksheets on the Medieval Palace, the Crown Jewels, the Fortress and Prisoners. You can also download them in advance on their website. You can also book your tickets online in advance.

Introduction

To understand the Tower, imagine what it must have been like when it was built in the 11th century. It was a huge, impenetrable fortress dominating everything around it and was pretty much impossible to break into. The Tower has been used as many things over the centuries; a palace, a prison, the mint, a royal menagerie and of course the home of the Crown Jewels. All of these uses are due to the fact that the thick walls and the design of the buildings have been able to keep people out … and in.

 

First built was the White Tower on the banks of the River Thames and on the edge of the City by the Roman wall. Over the next 200 years or so two concentric walls were built around the White Tower, each containing further towers. Lived in as a royal residence until the 14th century, it continued to at the core of English history.

The White Tower

Built in 1078, this is a proper castle, just like the ones you read about in children’s books, built to withstand sieges. The entrance is one floor up so that the wooden staircase could be burnt and the door closed in the face of any potential invading enemy. The King would have had his apartments on the top floor, only reached by well-hidden stairs. Just look at the sheer thickness of the walls. Just like castles in children’s books. Fantastic.

 

The Walls and the Moat, Imagine you wanted to break into the Tower; you would have to swim across the River or the moat while the King’s guards would have been watching you from the vantage point of the walls above you.

 

Fantastic protection. Make sure during your visit that you go on the Wall Walk.

 

The Tower as a Royal Residence

The Tower remained a royal home until 1300 or so but I find this hard to imagine. You can get some idea of this in the White Tower but make sure that you visit St.Thomas’s Tower above Traitors’ Gate and go through the former residence of Edward I.

 

The Tower as a Prison

Send him to the Tower. We all know that phrase. The royal palace became the place where aristocratic prisoners were held, from 1100 onwards. During the reign of Henry VIII and the religious and political turbulence that was to follow, countless people were held, many for their devout religious views. As a young girl, even Henry’s daughter the future Elizabeth I, was imprisoned by her half sister Mary. Elizabeth’s mother, Ann Boleyn, for whom the King had split with the Church of Rome with such far-reaching consequences, was imprisoned and indeed executed here.

 

Thomas More was imprisoned and beheaded in front of thousands of people, his head, like so many others, being put on a pole on London Bridge for the world to see.

 

Sir Walter Raleigh was here twice and lived in some style, waving to the passers by each evening from the inner wall. The last prisoner here was Rudolph Hess for a short 4 days during the Second World War.

 

The Execution Site

A handful of prisoners, including 2 of Henry VIII’s 6 wives were given the privilege of a private execution.

The Beauchamp Tower and its Graffiti

Overlooking the site of private executions is the Beauchamp Tower in which prisoners carved their coats of arms and mottos into the wall.

 

The Bloody Tower

Not only was this the home of the explorer, Sir Walter Raleigh, it was where the 12 year old Edward V and his younger brother lived while they prepared for his coronation. They disappeared and in the 16th century the skeletons of 2 young children were found buried in the White Tower. What happened to them? Where they murdered by their uncle, Richard III? Or by someone else? Who knows! We still refer to them to this day as the Princes in the Tower.

 

The Crown Jewels

These are THE Crown Jewels, used once in the lifetime of the monarch at their coronation at Westminster Abbey. They are literally priceless as they could never be replaced.

 

They are unique. Firstly, watch the film of the Queen’s coronation in 1953 to see when and how they are used. Watch out especially for the Start of Africa, the 530 carat diamond, the largest cut diamond in the world in the Sceptre.

 

You’ll also see the St Edward Crown with which monarchs are crowned and the Imperial State that contains more than 3,000 diamonds and precious stones. Look out also for Queen Victoria’s tiny crown and the spurs that are placed by the monarch’s ankles at the coronation to remind us of the fact that they are there to protect their people.

 

The Armour

Although much of the armour has moved to the Royal armouries in Leeds, there are some fantastic pieces here including Henry VIII’s pretty impressive suit of armour. It has to be seen to be believed! There is also the horse armour that was a wedding present- for his first marriage!

 

The Yeoman Warders or Beefeaters

Living in tiny houses in the Tower of London with their families are the Yeoman Warders, often known as the Beefeaters for reasons unknown. They have all spent a minimum of 22 years in the Armed Forces with an unblemished record, or as they often say, that haven’t been caught! There are 35 of them plus one Chief Warder. Although they are really there to look after the prisoners, they do tours of the Tower throughout the day.

 

The Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula

After their beheadings, the heads of the “traitors” were put on a pole on London Bridge as a warning to others!

 

The rest of their bodies were buried underneath this chapel, making it the burial site of over 1,000 prisoners, including 3 Queens of England. You can go inside the chapel at the end of the YeomanWarders’ tours or after 4.30pm.

 

The Ravens

There is a legend that goes back to the reign of Charles II in the 17th century that there must be a minimum of 6 ravens at the Tower of London, and if the ravens leave, it will be the end of the White Tower and the end of the Monarchy. So, just to be sure, they have their wings clipped on one side so that they lose their balance and can’t fly away! Feeding time is quite repulsive. It’s usually big slabs of meat but I have been there when they gobbled down a great big bucket of dead mice!! I was once also bitten on the toe by a raven when I was giving a tour in the Tower. Ouch!

 

Ghosts

Are there ghosts? A good question. Who knows! The comedian Stanley Holloway who was famous for his comic monologues sang a great song about the headless ghost of Ann Boleyn called ‘With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm’; check it out on Youtube.

The Ceremony of the Keys

If you apply 2 or 3 months before, you may be able to get free tickets to the Ceremony of the Keys, when the Tower is locked every evening without fail at 9.30pm. The ceremony lasts for 35 minutes. Details and how to apply can be found by clicking here.

 

So, to sum up, get there early if you can and go with lots of energy so that you’ll have the stamina to visit as much as possible. Go on one of the Beefeaters’ tours or, if you are a group you won’t be able to go on a Beefeaters’ tours but you can hire a Blue Badge guide! The Tower of London is fabulous history – soak it up!