The days of beheading come back to life at the infamous Tower of London!



We visited the historical attraction, best known for the gruesome executions of England’s most notorious criminals throughout time, on a cold winter’s day. The dullness of the day was well suited to the at-times chilled atmosphere of the place that has seen the execution of some of history’s most feared murderers, rapists and allegedly adulterous royalty.

Created by William the Conqueror, The Tower of London is the oldest prison, palace and fortress in Europe. The Tower is built on the former site of a fort built by the Roman Emperor Claudius in earlier times. Part of the roman walls can still be seen today.

Over the years as kings of England succeeded the throne, the Tower of London was expanded and enlarged by building walls and towers around the central keep. A moat, fed by the River Thames, was added to the establishment’s grandness by King Richard I sometime near the end of the 12th Century, but was later drained in 1830, uncovering a large number of human remains.

On your way to the Tower of London it is likely you will pass over or near Tower Hill. Here, in Trinity Square, once stood a permanent scaffold. From there the entry to the tower at the foot of the hill, where Bulwark Gate used to stand, can be seen. This is where criminals were handed over to the Sheriff of London.

As you walk into The Tower of London the first thing you notice is the atmosphere. There is a feeling of cold grandness which envelopes you as you wander under the arches to make your way through your selected tour. You can’t quite help but ponder the sorts of people who had faced death in the establishment over hundreds of years, wandering through the buildings and along the walkways. It is not difficult to imagine kings, queens and other royalty over the years walking the same paths your feet now tread upon.

The Tower of London is actually made up of several towers, all which served very different purposes.

The Lion Tower is where the royal animals were housed. In the 1830s the menagerie was sent to Regents Park where it formed a part of what is now the London Zoo. The tower now serves as a tourist restaurant. It holds its name because King Henry I kept lions in the tower. Over time various kings including King Henry II and King James I kept other animals in the tower including bears, an elephant and leopards.
A short causeway leads to the Middle Tower built in the late 13th century. The archway, together with those of the Byward Tower and the Bloody Tower, were defended by portcullises, two of which remain. (source www.toweroflondontour.com)
Other towers include the Byward Tower, where the Royal Mint stood until 1810, Wakefield Tower (this is where the Crown Jewels were housed from 1870 to 1967), St Thomas’s Tower, Traitor’s Gate, the White Tower and the Beauchamp Tower.
Of particular interest is the Bell Tower and the Bloody Tower.

The ringing of the bell in the Bell Tower used to instigate the raising of the draw bridges, dropping of the portcullises and closing of the gates. The bell is still rung in the evening to warn visitors on the wharf it is time to leave.
Prisoners were also confined in this tower, some of the more notable being Sir Thomas More and princess Elizabeth, later known as Elizabeth I.

The Bloody Tower gained its name in the 16th Century because of the murderous deeds which took place inside its walls. Perhaps the most notable of these was the killing in 1483 of princes Edward V and his younger brother Richard, Duke of York.
On the first floor of the White Tower the Chapel of St John the Evangelist can be found and as one of the most perfect examples of Norman Architecture in Britain is a point of real interest for many. Roman influence can also be found here in the form of a well estimated to have been in place for over 2000 years.

Displays of armour and weapons bring to mind vivid romantic visions of knights in shining armour mounted on their steeds riding off to protect their king. Yes, this is one of the few places in the world where you can see the real thing.

As you move on to the Tower Green something worthy of attention, which you will no doubt see, are the scores of ravens. The wings of the ravens at the Green are clipped so they don’t fly away and legend has it that when there are no more Ravens in the Tower both the White Tower and the British Commonwealth will fall. The Tower Green is also the site of The Block, where six people, including three Queens of England, were executed, and where the Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula can be found.

The Queen’s House, first used by Queen Anne Boelyn while she was waiting for execution, is a fine example of British Tudor architecture that can be found within the tower walls. Here at certain times of the day London’s famous Changing of the Guards ceremony can be seen taking place.

Perhaps the most popular attraction at the Tower of London is the Crown Jewels. Kept in Jewel House, part of the Waterloo Barracks, no price can be put on the myriad of precious stones and crowns that can be found. Visiting the jewels is easy, and yes, you have the opportunity to get up nice and close. Most of the jewels are displayed in a glass case and you can view them by standing on a moving mechanical floor/travelator (like those found in airports).