What is the Tower of London now? Tower of London

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.

Throughout its nine-hundred-year history, the Tower of London was a fortress that served as the residence of kings, an armory and treasury, as well as a prison and place of execution.

Tower of London- one of the symbols of Great Britain. It holds a special place in the history of the English nation and is one of the most visited places in the world. The well-known ravens of the Tower, yeoman guards, royal jewels and stories about a gloomy fortress-prison - these are just the very first associations with the name Tower of London. However, this is just a very small part of the history of this famous building.

In 1066, Duke William of Normandy began his conquest of England. By the end of the Anglo-Saxon period, London became the dominant city in England, having a rich port, a nearby royal palace and a main cathedral. Ensuring the safety of the city was William's main goal during his coronation. He gives the order to begin construction of a fortress around the city. Thus, in 1100, the construction of the White Tower was completed. The Tower is protected by huge walls on the north, west and south sides. In 1377, all buildings in the Tower were completed.

The first prisoner was imprisoned in the Tower in 1100. At that time, Tower Prison was intended for people of noble birth and high rank. Among the most honorable and high-ranking prisoners of the Tower were the kings of Scotland and France and members of their families, as well as representatives of the aristocracy and priests who fell into disgrace on charges of treason. The walls of the Tower also remember many executions and murders: Henry VI, as well as 12-year-old Edward V and his younger brother, were killed in the Tower.

The prisoners were kept in those premises that were not occupied at that time. The terms of imprisonment varied widely. Thus, William Penn, the founder of the English colony in North America, called Pennsylvania, was imprisoned in the Tower for religious beliefs and spent eight months in the Tower. Charles, Duke of Orleans, nephew of the French king and an outstanding poet, after defeat in battle, spent a total of 25 years within the walls of the castle until an incredible ransom was paid for him. Courtier Walter Raleigh, navigator, poet and playwright, tried to brighten up 13 dreary years of imprisonment by working on the multi-volume work “History of the World.” After his temporary release, he was again imprisoned in the Tower and then executed. In the photo - the main gate of the fortress

The Tower gained its reputation as a sinister place of torture during the Reformation. Henry VIII, obsessed with the desire to have a son-heir, broke off all relations with the Roman Catholic Church and began to persecute all who refused to recognize him as the head of the Church of England. After Henry's second wife, Anne Boleyn, failed to bear him a son, the king accused her of treason and adultery. As a result, Anna, her brother and four other persons were beheaded in the Tower. The same fate befell Catherine Howard, Henry's fifth wife. Many royals who posed a threat to the English throne were taken to the Tower and then executed.

Henry's young son, the Protestant Edward VI, who ascended the throne, continued the series of brutal executions begun by his father. When Edward died six years later, the English crown went to Henry's daughter Mary, a devout Catholic. Wasting no time, the new queen ordered the beheading of 16-year-old Lady Jane Gray and her young husband, who found themselves pawns in a bitter power struggle. Now is the time for the Protestants to lay down their heads. Elizabeth, Mary's half-sister, spent several anxious weeks within the walls of the Tower. However, having become queen, she dealt with those who refused to betray the Catholic faith and dared to oppose her rule.

Although thousands of prisoners were thrown into the Tower, only five women and two men were beheaded within the fortress, which saved them from the shame of public execution. Three of these women were queens - Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard and Jane Grey, who lasted only nine days on the throne. Most of the other executions - mainly beheadings - took place on nearby Tower Hill, where huge crowds of fans of such spectacles flocked. The severed head was placed on a stake and displayed on London Bridge as a warning to others. The headless body was taken to the Tower and buried in the cellars of the chapel. A total of more than 1,500 bodies were buried in these cellars.

In some cases, usually only with official permission, prisoners were tortured into admitting their guilt. In 1605, Guy Fawkes, who attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament and the King during the Gunpowder Plot, was strung up on the Tower rack before being executed, forcing him to reveal the names of his accomplices.

In the 17th century, England and the Tower were for some time in the hands of Oliver Cromwell and the parliamentarians, but after Charles II was re-enthroned, the Tower prison was not particularly replenished. The last beheading took place on Tower Hill in 1747. However, this was not the end of the Tower's history as a state prison. During the First World War, 11 German spies were imprisoned and executed in the Tower. During World War II, prisoners of war were temporarily held there, among whom Rudolf Hess spent several days. The last victim executed within the walls of the fortress was Josef Jacobs, accused of espionage and executed in August 1941.

At the beginning of the 13th century, John the Landless kept lions in the Tower. However, the royal menagerie arose when John's successor, Henry III, received three leopards, a polar bear and an elephant as a gift from European monarchs. Although the animals were kept for the amusement of the king and his retinue, one day all of London witnessed a unique spectacle when a tethered bear rushed into the Thames to catch a fish. Over time, the menagerie was replenished with an even larger number of exotic animals and during the time of Elizabeth I it was open to visitors. In the 1830s, the Tower Zoo was abolished and the animals were moved to a new zoo that opened in London's Regent's Park. Below in the photo is a model Tower of London

For more than 500 years, the main department of the royal mint was located in the Tower. One of its most turbulent periods came during the reign of Henry VIII, when coins were minted from silver requisitioned from ruined monasteries. In addition, important government and legal records were kept in the Tower, and weapons and military equipment of the king and the royal army were also manufactured and stored. The photo below shows the armory.

Effective, isn't it?)

From the very foundation of the Tower, its prisoners and buildings were carefully guarded. But specially selected palace guards appeared in 1485. In those days, prisoners were often brought down the river and brought into the Tower through the “Traitor's Gate.” As the accused was led away from the trial, observers watched to see where the prison guard's ax was pointed. The blade pointed at the prisoner foreshadowed another execution.

Palace guards guard the Tower to this day. Today, their responsibilities also include conducting excursions for numerous visitors. On especially special occasions, they dress in luxurious costumes from the Tudor dynasty: scarlet camisoles trimmed with gold and topped with snow-white padded collars. On ordinary days, they wear dark blue and red Victorian uniforms. English guards are often called beefeaters, or meat-eaters. This nickname most likely arose during times of famine, when Londoners were malnourished and the palace guards received regular rations of beef. In this way, the English crown provided itself with reliable protection.

Keepers of the Royal Treasury guard the famous jewels of the British Empire. The treasury has been open to visitors since the 17th century. Among the gems adorning the crowns, orbs and sceptres - still used by members of the royal family during ceremonies - can be seen the world's largest high-quality cut diamond, the Cullinan I.

The current Tower no longer bears much resemblance to the formidable fortress it entered into history. Back in 1843, the ditch was filled in, and instead of water, a bright green lawn appeared here, setting off the gray stone of the walls. During numerous restorations, the windows were enlarged, including in the White Tower. A large number of trees have been planted. In the past, such a harsh and literally blood-stained courtyard was largely seeded with grass, and black tower crows walked importantly along it. When the menagerie was moved to Regent's Park in 1831, the ravens were left in the fort. They are surrounded by special care - the state pays the Tower garrison two shillings and four pence a week to feed the birds. The palace “Ravenmaster,” or Raven Keeper, cares for a flock of black ravens. The fact is that, according to legend, the foundations of Britain are unshakable until the ravens leave the Tower. For greater security, however, the birds' wings are clipped.

Today Tower of London- one of the main attractions of Great Britain. It has hardly changed since the past. A symbol of the Tower's sinister past is the site where the Tower Hill scaffold formerly stood. Now there is a small memorial plaque installed there in memory of “the tragic fate and sometimes martyrdom of those who, in the name of faith, homeland and ideals, risked their lives and accepted death.” Currently, the main buildings of the Tower are the museum and the armory, where the treasures of the British crown are kept; officially continues to be considered one of the royal residences. The Tower also has a number of private apartments, where mainly service personnel and distinguished guests live.

London has many attractions that attract avid travelers, but one of the main ones is the Tower. The famous Tower of London is located on the north bank of the Thames. It is a fortress - several buildings of different times, around which are built two rows of wide fortress walls with towers.

The thickness of the walls in the Tower is about 4.6 meters, so it is not surprising that no one has ever been able to take it by storm.

Over its vast history, and the Tower was built more than 900 years ago, the fortress housed a variety of services. The Tower of London was both a prison, which is a complex and terrifying page in the history of England, and a zoo, and a defensive fortress, and a mint, and a repository for the jewels of monarchs, and an observatory, and an archive in which important historical and legal papers were kept.

Now one thing remains unchanged: Tower is a place that attracts an incredible number of tourists.

The emergence of the fortress

It is officially believed that the Tower was founded in 1078, and the grandiose construction of this castle was started by William the Conqueror to intimidate the population of the conquered lands. But before that, for a long time, Roman fortifications were laid on the site of the modern fortress, which were partially preserved in the castle.

In place of the wooden Roman fortifications, a stone building appeared - the Great Tower, which had the shape of a quadrangle measuring 32 by 36 meters and about 30 meters high.

In the 13th century, by order of the King, the Tower was whitewashed and began to be called the White Tower. Then towers and two rows of powerful fortress walls were erected around the castle. To strengthen the defense, a deep ditch was dug around the fortress, which made the Tower of London one of the most impregnable European structures.

The White Tower was the first building on this territory, and it was from here that the Tower of London began..

Tower as a state prison

In London, the ominous glory of the Tower is still preserved, because from the moment of its foundation it became a state prison, where not only prisoners were kept, but also executions took place, including open ones, put on public display.

In addition, at certain times, guards used cruel torture of prisoners. The prison mainly held high-ranking officials, aristocrats, and priests accused of treason.

Among the prisoners of the Tower were the kings of Scotland, France and their families, William Penn - one of the founders of the English colony in America, who was imprisoned for religious beliefs, executed in the fortress Henry VI - a participant in the Gunpowder Plot, who tried to overthrow King James I.

Some executions took place closed, on the territory of the fortress itself, for example, famous queens were executed in this way: Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII, who could not bear him a son, his fifth wife Catherine Howard, as well as Jane Gray, who remained queen for only 9 days.

Most executions took place in public, on Tower Hill, located near the fortress. A crowd of people, hungry for such spectacles, gathered at the execution. The head of the culprit was cut off and put on public display as intimidation and warning. The headless body itself was buried in the basements of the fortress.

In the 17th century, almost no new prisoners appeared in the Tower prison in London. The last public execution occurred in 1747. Then only during the First World War the Tower became a place of imprisonment and execution of German spies. During World War II, prisoners of war were kept in the Tower. The last prisoners in the Tower in 1952 were the Kray twins.

Tower as a peaceful place

The sinister era in the history of the Tower ended with the rise to power of John the Landless, who gave rise to a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. He gave some power to parliament, and turned the Tower of London into a zoo. John began keeping lions in the Tower. The menagerie was replenished under John's successor, Henry III, when he received a polar bear, an elephant and leopards as a gift.

At first, the animals were kept there only for the amusement of the king and his retinue. Gradually, new exotic animals appeared in the menagerie, and under Elizabeth I the Tower was opened to visitors as a zoo.

The history of the Tower as a zoo ended in 1830, when it was decided to close it and move the animals to a new zoo built in London in Regent's Park.

For almost 500 years, the Tower of London was also the main department of the mint; military equipment and weapons of the king and his army were also manufactured and stored there.

Anyone who decides to visit the Tower will be greeted by palace guards. It has existed since 1475. Representatives of the guards brought the accused into the territory of the fortress through the gate, which is called the “Gate of Traitors.”

Modern representatives of the guards are not so aggressive, but are still on alert, because the Tower of London is the repository of the royal family's jewelry: the crown of England, a scepter decorated with precious stones, other regalia, as well as the largest diamond in the world, Cullinan I, are kept here.

Guard representatives also conduct excursions to the fortress, prison, zoo, mint. Since the 15th century, guards have been popularly called “beefeaters” (from the English “beef” - beef), to make it clearer to us, “meat eaters.” Then the English people were starving, but the guards were always fed and received huge portions of meat. So the monarchs sought to provide themselves with reliable protection.

Anyone who has been at least a little interested in London, England, and the Tower knows that in addition to human guards, there are bird guards in the Tower. One of the symbols of the Tower is a flock of ravens. Here, from ancient times, a legend arose that if the ravens suddenly left the Tower, some kind of misfortune would befall England.

The English, with their traditions, sacredly preserve this legend, believe in it and keep six ravens on the territory of the Tower. To prevent crows from flying away, their wings are clipped. But the local crows would hardly be planning to fly away somewhere, because here they are fed veal and sometimes rabbit meat. The ravens in the Tower have names and pedigrees.

Only thrifty Englishmen keep seven birds just in case, and they built seven houses for the birds. Although with such care, birds live for more than 200 years. There is a separate position for the proper care and care of birds - palace raven keeper.

In the museum, tourists can see various exhibitions dedicated to different eras in the history of the Tower. The infamous Tower Hill, where executions took place, now houses a memorial complex with a pillow-shaped monument and a plaque listing the names of the executed monarchs.

Memorial to those executed within the walls of the prison - seven famous prisoners who were beheaded

The Tower ghost stories are also widely known and interesting. Even some reputable scientists do not deny the appearance of ghosts here. Sometimes you manage to catch some entities in the camera lens. This fact attracts adventure-seeking youngsters here during Halloween.

The Ceremony of the Keys is a centuries-old tradition of the Tower. For 700 years, every day at exactly 21:53 this ritual has been performed. Only once, in 1941, was he detained for half an hour during an attack on the fortress by Nazi bombers.

At this time, the keeper of the keys leaves the tower, and the Guard of the Keys goes to meet him. The guards lock the Main Gate and approach the Bloody Tower. A traditional dialogue sounds, which ends with the words “God bless.” At night, the keys are located in the manager's residence. Anyone can see the key ceremony by writing a letter in advance and receiving an invitation card.

Officially, the Tower is considered a royal residence. Today, there are even private apartments in the Tower where service personnel live or distinguished guests stay.

In conclusion, it is worth saying that there are a huge number of reasons to visit Tower. If you are going to London, no matter what personal business, visiting the Tower is a top priority. Such special impressions and atmosphere cannot be obtained anywhere in the world.

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. In it, Edward V and his brother, another heir to the throne, Richard of York, were killed. 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.

– one of the main attractions of London. A medieval fortress, serving at different 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

Information for visitors

	Tower of London, London, EC3N 4AB
	hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon
Work schedule (in 2015)	Sunday and Monday from 10:00 to 17:30; Other days from 9:00 to 17:30; Entry is allowed until 17:00. Sunday and Monday from 10:00 to 16:30; Other days from 9:00 to 16:30; Entry is allowed until 16:00.
Visit price	A standard adult ticket costs £24.50; children under 16 years of age, students and pensioners receive discounts. You can also save money if you buy a ticket online.
Services on site	There are several food establishments, most of which close together with the cash registers, at 17:00 or 16:00, respectively. On the grounds of the Tower you can have picnics with food to take away from establishments inside the castle. There are also several jewelry stores in the Tower, where you can buy various little things, such as key chains and mugs, and real knight's armor.
Attractions nearby	Tower Bridge (near the castle, bridge over the Thames), Museum of London (approx. 2 km), Barbican (approx. 2.5 km), St. Paul's Cathedral (approx. 2 km).