What kind of animals were kept in the tower. Medieval fortress tower of london
All travelers who make their way to the Land of Foggy Albion will find the sights of Great Britain. And, I must say, there are a lot of them. The Tower of London is popular among tourists and indigenous people as well, due to its rich historical past. Literally from English "Tower of London" - "tower". If we talk about a real building, then it is a majestic fortress, which is located on the northern birch of the Thames.
Mysterious and alluring place
Even if England is rich in sights, this building is one of the oldest in the whole country. The Tower of London is rightfully considered historic center capital of Great Britain. If you take an interest in the history of this mysterious (and even gloomy) place, you can learn a lot of interesting things. Thousands of tourists flock to this place in order to touch the most ancient structure in England and get acquainted with its inexplicable facts of the past.
Rich historical past
Even during the Norman conquest, this fortress towered over the Thames. Over the entire long history of its existence, the residence of the king and his court was located here, there was once a treasury here, the mint made money for the whole country. However, even not so serious were placed on the fortress in different times"responsibilities". So, there was also an observatory and a zoo. But many heard that it was in this place that they were waiting for their verdict and believed in the best noble prisoners of the Kingdom in those days when the Tower was a prison. Truly, no other London landmarks can boast an equally rich past.
The walls of this fortress have also been reconstructed more than once, and the building itself has been repeatedly completed and refurbished. This led to the fact that over many centuries of existence, the fortress has significantly changed its original appearance.
Tower of London: our days
The fortress is known for its guards, who are called beefeaters. They officially appeared in 1485, but they jealously guard the walls to this day. There is another interesting position here - Ravensmaster - Raven Keeper. From century to century, these birds have been the legal inhabitants of the fortress. And so that the birds do not fly away, their wings are constantly clipped. This is due to a legend that says: when the crows leave the tower, the entire English monarchy will fall. So the caretakers are taking such radical measures.
Next to the Tower of London, as if in a continuation of the complex, there is an equally famous
Britain is one of the most significant and great powers in world history. She always amazed with her canonicity and tolerance, confidence and grandeur. Its towers, castles, cathedrals and bridges are favorite destinations for tourists on a tour of Europe. And, of course, you cannot come to London and not visit the legendary Tower of London.
Situated on the north bank of the Thames, this truly large complex rises against a gray, often cloudy London sky. Measuring 32 meters long and 36 meters wide in size, it consists of a number of different buildings. There are 20 towers 30 meters high, 2 bastions, casemates, the Church of St. Peter, the Fusiliers Museum, a hospital, the Queen's house, armory chambers, and barracks. And also a beautiful green meadow and a pier on the banks of the Thames.
In this makeshift tourist town, cafeterias and souvenir shops have emerged over time, which visitors often use as a shelter from the constant British rains.
Prison or defensive fortress?
The construction of the Tower is credited to William I, Duke of Normandy and King of England, who ruled from 1066. He, as the organizer of the Norman conquest of England, built defensive fortresses throughout the kingdom. It was in this context that the current Tower appeared.
In the beginning it was a simple wooden fort, which was later rebuilt into a stone massif with the possibility of defensive actions. A follower of William I, King Henry III, continued the construction and fortification of the Tower, erecting 9 new towers (on this moment 7 of them survived), the courtyard and the Tower adapted to social life. So, bows and arrows for the knights of the royal army were made in the tower of the Archery master, and one of the towers was used as a lighthouse. By order of Henry III, the walls were whitewashed, from which the fort began to be called White tower - a white tower. Subsequently, the building was simply called the Tower.
There is another idea - that in 1077, the Bishop of Rochester, Gandalf, erected the first white tower, which marked the beginning of historical construction. But this version is less popular and does not coincide in dates with the historical data of world history.
In 1190, the Tower was used as an official prison - the first prisoner appeared here. It is noteworthy that only monarchs or a representative of the highest nobility were prisoners of the tower's chambers.
Video - History of the Tower of London and its captives
King Edward I built a second line of walls in the Tower and equipped the main entrance. And only since the reign of Henry VIII, the prison began to fully justify its purpose. Real and imaginary traitors to the king, rebels and conspirators served their sentences here. In the Tower itself, two wives of Henry VIII were executed: Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, who were accused of treason. Also, in subsequent years, several more people were executed here, including: Jane Gray, Henry XI and Edward V.
Sometimes people were tortured within the walls of the prison. Thus, the legendary Guy Fawkes, under severe torture, betrayed his accomplices in the coup attempt.
In the XIII century, a water moat was dug on the borders of the Tower, and three centuries later two bastions were built - Ledges Mount and Brass Mount.
At the beginning of the 18th century, the tower-bastion complex was used as a nursery, where lions, leopards, elephants and even polar bears were kept. Everyone who wished to visit the makeshift zoo had to pay for the entrance or bring a cat or dog as a "present" for the inhabitants of the enclosures.
In 1843, the Tower underwent its first complete renovation and landscaping. Approximately ten years later, the entrance to the territory became paid, since tourist excursions to the mint and the tower with the royal regalia were already in full swing. In 1894, the Tower Bridge itself was built.
During the Second World War, prisoners of war were kept here. In 1940, after being hit by a bomb, architectural heritage reconstructed for several years.
The last inmates who had to serve their sentences in a London prison were the Cray brothers - the leaders of a criminal group in London's East End, in 1952.
Now the Tower is only a tourist and historically important facility in London, within the walls of which there are museums and several apartments for the staff.
Hoaxes of London Walls
Like most castles in England, the Tower is legendary. A favorite theme of locals and tourists alike is the ghosts of the towers. There are dozens of them, but it is worth mentioning only the most famous and popular stories.
The most talked about ghost of the Tower is the spirit of Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Becket. He was a close associate of King Henry II, but after a conflict with the ruler, he was captured and brutally executed at Canterbury Cathedral. It is said that his spirit wanders around the castle to this day and frightens visitors.
The scariest ghost is considered to be Margaret Paul. She was the Countess of Salisbury and became objectionable to the ruling dynasty because of her family tree. Fearing that the countess might interfere with the royal family, it was decided to execute her. And so, in 1541, the 70-year-old countess was taken to the chopping block, but, for some unknown reason, they could not be beheaded right away. She died only after the executioner's third blow. The keepers of the castle gossip that the spirit of Margaret returns to the walls of the Tower every anniversary of her death with a desire to take revenge.
How to get there and what to see?
More than two million tourists visit the Tower every year. If you want to join them, take care of the visa as well.
For you you will need: both passports, one photo, a questionnaire, a document of solvency, a certificate from the place of work or university, a document for movable / immovable property, a marriage / divorce certificate, confirmation of the place of residence or the ordered tour.
To with a must visit Tower, you will have to pay, for example, about $ 340 for 3 days.
If you go to the foggy capital on your own, then you will also visit the Tower at a time that suits you. It is not always convenient to travel around London on foot, as frequent rains and fog are uncomfortable. Therefore, you can take a taxi (50-100 pounds) or the subway (0.7-4 pounds).
In summer, the complex is open from 10 am to 5 pm, in winter - from 10 am to 4:30 pm. For fans of New Year's Eve trips, it should be noted that on December 24-26 and January 1, the entrance to the fortress is closed.
Admission is £ 24.5 for adults, £ 11 for children and £ 18.7 for students and seniors. You can use group excursions, but more often tourists use an audio guide, which even in Russian tells fascinating stories about the Tower. The cost of such a guide is £ 4.
Walking through the fortress, one cannot help but look into various exhibitions and museums. The most popular exhibitions are two of them - "The Row of Kings" and "Kings and Coins".
The row of kings represents 10 equestrian statues in full uniform, collected back in 1688 as an attempt to raise the status of the Stuart dynasty.
Kings and coins tell about the history of mint and show rare coins that were created during the mint's operation in 1279-1812.
Seasoned tourists are advised to take a closer look at the Ravenmasters - caretakers who take care of the eight crows living in the Tower. The British believe that if the crows leave the Tower, England will fall. The birds are watched and looked after with special zeal. Around £ 100 is allocated for each bird per month. Every day a raven receives 200 grams of meat, and once a week raw eggs and rabbit meat. Even the pets of the most loving owners will envy such content.
Tourists travel with interest to London to see the subject of legends and controversy with their own eyes. To wander the towers and feel like a part of British history. To take a few photos with guards in colorful uniforms or to witness rare cannon volleys. And the British themselves say: "if you have not seen the Tower, then you do not know anything about Great Britain."
Address: Great Britain, London, in the historic part of the city, on the banks of the Thames
Foundation date: 1066 year
Coordinates: 51 ° 30 "29.3" N 0 ° 04 "33.9" W
Short description
On the left bank of the majestic Thames rises the Tower of London, a building that has gone down in the history of not only England, but all of Europe since its inception.
A bird's eye view of the fortress
Probably, it is for this reason that the Tower is one of the most visited places in the capital of Foggy Albion. To say that this gloomy architectural structure is a symbol of the whole of Great Britain would, of course, be correct. However, the Tower became a symbol of one of the most powerful countries in the entire Old World not so much because of its style, in which it was built more than 900 years ago, but because of its gloomy (and sometimes not so) history.
The fact is that even while planning a trip to London, looking at the photo of the Tower, getting acquainted with its past, you suddenly begin to understand that this architectural structure performed several functions at once. Simply put, the Tower of London, which in its shapes resembles a fortress, was not only a fortification, but also an ominous prison, a place where death sentences were carried out, a repository of state values, a huge arsenal and a giant workshop where coins were minted. True, this is not all the functions that were assigned at different times to the building of the Tower of London: during its long history, it managed to visit the main residence of kings, an observatory in which astronomers watched the movement of cosmic bodies, and even a zoo.
View of the fortress from the Thames
Probably, on our entire huge planet it is difficult to find another such place that was used for so many purposes at once. By the way, the Tower, which a modern traveler can see at the moment, is the residence of the royal family, a museum and an ordinary residential building with apartments. To be fair, we note that there are not many apartments there, for the most part guards live in them with their families and other museum staff. After all the enumeration of the functions assigned to the Tower of London at certain intervals, I would like to clarify once again that this particular building is officially considered the main symbol of the entire United Kingdom. It is the whole of Great Britain, and not its capital, which has a couple of more of its own " business cards". Although, the Tower building can still be safely attributed to at least five of the most significant and interesting sights of London.
More than two and a half million tourists come to see the Tower every year. And although Westminster and Buckingham Palaces look much more spectacular both outside and inside, it is in the Tower that you can see what is not available anywhere else in the UK. Aside from the legendary black ravens of the fortress, which you should definitely stop at a little lower, the Tower contains the crown of monarchs (!) And the world's largest diamond.
View on Middle tower(right, main entrance) and Byward Tower
This world's largest diamond, as it should be, has its own name - Cullinan I. The first is not because the largest and even cut, but because he himself High Quality, as jewelers like to say, “pure water”. Such treasures, which even the most reputable art historians and jewelers will not be able to assess in monetary terms, the British authorities decided to place in the country's most recognizable fortress - the Great Tower of London.
Tower of London - foundation story
If you carefully study all the preserved documents and chronicles, you can easily draw a certain conclusion that the Tower of London was built by order of the formidable King William I. In addition to his cruelty, William I was an excellent strategist: he understood that in the conquered city and the surrounding area it was necessary to build a huge number of fortifications in the shortest possible time in order to strike terror on the defeated Anglo-Saxons. Fortresses should be not only gloomy, but also truly impregnable. It is not surprising that the orders of the uncompromising king in those days were carried out in record time.
View of Mount Legg Bastion
Large and small forts around modern London were built just a myriad. However, the Tower became the largest and most terrifying fortress in those days. Instead of a wooden defensive structure, which could be burned down literally in a few hours, and which was built, as they would say now, “to blur the eyes,” a gigantic fortress appeared for those times. Its shape almost resembled a square, almost ... The length of the walls was 32x36 meters, but the height of the fortification slightly exceeded 30 meters. A monarch and his family lived behind the defended walls of the Tower of London, but the circumstances were such that due to the rapid expansion of London, the fortress was in a place where mostly beggars lived. The king did not like this neighborhood, and he moved to the luxurious Palace of Westminster. However, this did not affect the significance and strategically important purpose of the Tower.
At the moment, you can find information on many Internet resources that after the construction of the Tower, the people received the nickname "The White Tower". There is only a grain of truth in this definition: the Tower under King William I was built of gray stone and it was not white.
View of the Mednaya Gora bastion
Moreover, its white tower, which was originally the only structure of the Tower, was not. The Tower of London was painted white during the reign of the new king. It was this monarch who was oppressed by the gloomy Tower, and he decided to make it more attractive. Only since that time the fortress began to be called White Tower. Another legendary king Richard, nicknamed "Lionheart", ordered to attach several high towers to the existing fortress at once, and to erect two additional massive fortress walls.
In addition, during his reign, the Tower was surrounded by the deepest moat. According to modern experts, it was Richard the Lionheart who made the Tower the most formidable and most impregnable fortification in Europe at that time.
After the monarchs moved to Westminster Palace, built among the marshes, the Tower became a prison. Of course, it was not an ordinary prison: it did not contain petty thieves and other criminals. Only the most influential people in Europe served their sentences in the Tower under reliable protection behind blank walls. Their list is huge, but it should definitely be noted that the kings of France, dukes, rulers of Scotland, priests excommunicated for their views from the church, and other representatives of the aristocracy were kept in the fortress. In order to understand the significance of the Tower prison-fortress, one should list at least a few of its prisoners: King James of Scotland, King of France John II, Walter Raleigh and others.
White Tower
The courts of that time did not consider the cases of political prisoners for long, and many of them were thrown into the dungeons of the Tower simply by order of the king. The Duke of Orleans spent 25 years in captivity in a huge fortress, he miraculously managed to survive thanks to the fact that the representatives of the legendary dynasty paid a huge ransom. By the way, Charles d'Orléans lived happily ever after after his release in Blois and was even considered the main patron saint of all European poets and writers.
Unfortunately, not everyone was as lucky as the Duke of Orleans: many in the Tower of London were executed. The executioners and the judges who gave them orders did not look either at the situation or at the age of the unfortunate. On the territory of the fortress, Edward V said goodbye to life, who lived in this world for 12 years. The younger brother of Edward V, Henry VI, and others no less famous people... The aforementioned Walter Raleigh, who was popularly known as an explorer, playwright and talented poet, spent 13 years in the Tower. During this time, he even managed to write a famous work called "History of the World". After his release, he did not enjoy life for long, he was again taken into custody and thrown into the Tower. Alas, he did not manage to get out of the fortress-prison for the second time: on the territory of the Tower of London, Walter Raleigh was executed for his political views.
Waterloo Barracks, Treasury of the British Crown
The Tower is an ominous place
After the Reformation, the Tower became even more ill-famed. For those who are not familiar with history, let us clarify that the Reformation is a whole series of events aimed at full compliance of faith (of course, Catholic) with the Bible. Alas, it was precisely this correspondence that had nothing to do with the Bible in many aspects. It was the Reformation that marked the beginning of the Holy Inquisition.
King Henry VIII was especially cruel, who generally decided that he was the head of the Catholic Church of England, and broke all ties with the Roman Catholic Church. With those who did not agree with the decision of the monarch, they did not stand on ceremony, after terrible torture their heads were cut off. Henry VIII went down in history as the most bloodthirsty king: he executed not only political and religious opponents: before the eyes of the crowd, they tortured to death, and then even beheaded his wives. Their fault was only in one thing: they could not manage to give birth to a son to the monarch. One has only to imagine that the executioner cut off the head in the Tower of the fifth (!) Wife of Henry. The son of the mad monarch was nevertheless born and completely inherited all his qualities from his father; he arranged public executions on a hill near the Tower with enviable regularity. True, he died already six years after he ascended the throne.
Fusiliers Museum
For the sake of justice, we note that on the territory of the fortress-prison itself, only five people were executed, who were "pardoned" and did not begin to kill in public. All other prisoners died in front of the crowd on Tower Hill. The execution of the prisoner of the Tower of London took place in the following way: they cut off his head and put it on a stake, which was fixed on the bridge.
The headless body was taken to the Tower and buried in one of the many cellars of the fortress. Modern archaeologists at the moment have found in the dungeons of the fortification, which was previously the residence of monarchs, just over 1,500 headless skeletons. Excavations are still ongoing ... and how many remains will still be found, one can only guess. The last execution in the Tower of London took place already in 1941, when a man accused of spying for the Nazi was shot there.
In addition to the fact that the Tower was a prison, Henry VIII adapted it for the state treasury. Where else could valuables be kept if not in the most inaccessible and, at the same time, the most terrible place in England? In the Tower of London, prisoners were held in the basements, and gold was stored in other rooms. Some of the premises were given to the craftsmen who minted silver coins for Henry VIII. By the way, silver for coins was not mined in mines, it was simply taken from destroyed Roman Catholic monasteries: everything was used - crosses, and frames of icons, and inlaid decorative elements of temples.
Queen's house
Tower of London - the end of nightmares
All the horrors ended in the Tower with the coming to power of King John Lackland, the same monarch who in Palace of Westminster signed the "Charter of Liberties", and laid the foundation for a parliamentary constitutional monarchy in England. John Landless used the Tower for entertainment (certainly not like Henry VIII and his son). The monarch, who gave part of the power to parliament, turned the Tower into a zoo! By the way, before the reign of John Lackland, animals were kept on the territory of the fortress, but it was this king who expanded the collection of fauna representatives, and Queen Elizabeth I allowed ordinary people to observe the life of predators and herbivores. The zoo on the territory of the Tower of London existed until 1830!
Tower of London - tourist guide
The modern Tower, as mentioned at the very beginning of the material, is the most interesting museum... Some of its exhibits delight, but some cause involuntary shivers. It becomes especially scary for impressionable people near a stone and an ax. The very stone on which people were deprived of their heads, people sentenced to death.
New armory chambers
The traveler, who has been brought to the Tower of London, will be greeted by representatives of the palace guards. By the way, it has existed since 1475. It was its representatives who led the accused into the Tower through the gate, which was called the "Gate of Traitors". Now representatives of the Tower guards are not distinguished by their aggressiveness, although they are always on the alert: recall that the fortress contains the crown of England, the largest diamond in the world and a huge amount of treasures. These treasures include a scepter adorned with precious stones and other regalia, mostly made of precious metals.
In addition to the fact that the Tower Guard protects priceless relics, some of its representatives can lead an exciting excursion around the fortress, prison, zoo, mint, observatory and museum. It is the dream of hundreds of thousands of tourists to take a photo of the Tower, and even capture yourself next to a formidable guard. By the way, all the Tower guards in London are called "beefeaters", which can be literally translated into Russian as "meat-eater". This nickname was attached to them back in the 15th century: the people of England were starving, and the guards who guarded important prisoners and the state treasury were always fed. And not just fed: for breakfast, lunch and dinner, each member of the Tower Guard received a huge piece of meat (an unaffordable luxury for an ordinary citizen in those dark and harsh times). Representatives of the Tower Guard, who died of illness or old age, are still buried in the basements of the chapel today. In the very basements where fifteen hundred skeletons without skulls were found.
View of the Beauchamp Tower
In addition to priceless treasures, representatives of the Tower Guard, a tourist will be able to personally see and get acquainted with other "beefeaters", however, winged ones. Those who know the history not only of the Tower, but of the entire United Kingdom, have probably already understood that we are talking about birds. Only not about ordinary birds, but about crows. The Crows of the Tower are a symbol and it means for the country it is not less than a precious crown and scepter. Ever since the time of torture and execution, these representatives of birds fell in love with the Tower: they always had the opportunity to peck out the eyes of a severed head. The bird is common and even annoying and harmful. But at some point, a legend appeared that as soon as the crows left the Tower, the power of the monarchs would fall forever and the whole of Great Britain would sink into the abyss. Even during the reign of Charles II, a decree was issued that six (!) Ravens should always live on the territory of the Tower. Probably, there is some kind of mysticism in this: according to esotericists, the raven is a guide to the otherworldly dark world, and there is probably no need to talk about the number 6. Everyone knows perfectly well what and with whom it is associated. Nevertheless, in London they piously believe in the legend and keep six black ravens in the Tower. So that they do not suddenly fly away, their wings are clipped. Whether there is any sense in this, it is difficult to say: an intelligent bird, and crows are considered the most intelligent of all birds, is unlikely to leave the place where every day they give her 200 grams of fresh veal, and once a week "pamper" with rabbits. Each raven has its own name and pedigree! True, the bird houses in the Tower of London are not six, but seven. In the seventh house lives a young unnamed raven (just in case). "Cases" have not yet happened: thanks to excellent nutrition and care, the Tower's crows live for over 200 years!
The inner courtyard of the fortress
In the White Tower, the interactive museum invites the traveler to experience personally how the knight felt during the duel. In addition, the museum displays a huge number of exhibits belonging to different eras and shedding light on the dark history of the Tower - the main symbol of Great Britain. After visiting all the premises, you should definitely visit Tower Hill, the very hill where death sentences were carried out. A memorial complex was built in the meadow; it is a pillow placed on a glass round podium. It is slightly crumpled, as if someone was lying on it. As you might guess, this symbolizes the people decapitated here. By the way, next to this pillow there is a stone on which the names of the executed monarchs and the date of their death are carved. Eerie, and at the same time a nice place... Maybe fear and beauty are incompatible concepts, but on Tower Hill, as strange and terrible as it may sound, you begin to understand that death, even after centuries, has become beautiful.
Death and the Tower are like synonyms: they have become inseparable. For this reason, the Tower is home to a huge number of ghosts. Many of their appearances have been recorded by reputable scientists. There is even a huge collection of photographs of the Tower's ghosts, taken mostly with digital cameras.
Fragment of the ancient Roman wall
If you try to talk to any representative of the Tower Guard about ghosts, you can immediately come across a "blank wall of misunderstanding." It turns out that all guards without exception know ghosts, many of which are aggressive. The guards are afraid to even remember the meetings with them, so as not to incur the wrath of the innocent murdered one again.
Despite all these horrors, the Tower of London is visited by more than 2.5 million people every year, according to statistics. For this reason, it is better to come to main character Great Britain early in the morning, then somehow you can get to the exhibits of the museum and take a photo of the courtyard, which in the Middle Ages was soaked in blood. In the afternoon in the Tower, literally, you can't turn around. Especially a lot of people gather in the prison fortress on October 31 on Halloween. Ghost legends haunt youth trying to do their best big photo Tower to catch a ghost in the lens.
If a tourist wants to visit the Tower not as part of an excursion group, but on his own, it would be best for him to use the metro. Traffic jams at the Tower are huge, and the entrance to the fortress-treasury is paid. The subway station where you need to get off is called "Tower Hill". To visit the museum and the main attraction of Foggy Albion, you will have to pay 11.5 pounds.
Students and children are also not admitted to the territory of the museum free of charge: the "teenage ticket" costs 8, 75 pounds, and the "child" - 7.5. From early March until Halloween, the Tower is open from 9 am to 5 pm and closes at 4 pm the rest of the year. By the way, many people say that this mode of operation of the Tower is associated with the onset of dusk. When it gets dark outside the windows of the fortress, there should no longer be tourists within its walls, because it is at this time that ghosts become the masters of the gloomy architectural structure.
View of the Tower from the Shard skyscraper (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 The 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 skyscraper (Rick Ligthelm / flickr.com) Francesco Gasparetti / flickr .com maureen / flickr.com Inside Outer 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. Throughout its history, the castle served as a fortress, royal residence and prison.
The Tower of London played a very important role in medieval England. He symbolized royal power and the power of the state. The treasures of the king were kept here, and in the prison, under the supervision of the guards, state criminals were kept.
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 authority and built 36 castles. London is enough Big City was also no exception. Ancient Roman walls have been preserved near the Thames, in this place it was decided to build a fortress. There is a sculpture of Hadrian - the emperor of Rome in a 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 bishop of Rochester, Gandalf, supervised the work. The name of the castle subsequently came from the White Tower, since the Tower (English) translates as a tower.
The structure 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 of the Tower (Lee Penney / flickr.com)
For a long time, the Tower did not have those 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 oriental tradition construction of castles.
For this reason, the thickness of the walls at 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 XII 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, there was also a prison here. The first prisoner to come here is Bishop Ranulf Flambard. At the same time, he was the first who managed to escape from the supervision of the guards. He succeeded in his escape thanks to the rope that was passed to him in the bottle.
White Tower inside and outside
The entrance to the White Tower was located well above ground level. This is a tribute to the Norman tradition. There was a wooden ladder attached to it, from which, in a sudden attack, it might be possible to quickly get rid of it. Like the rest of the dungeons, the White Tower has an extensive basement and a well.
The lowest floor of the White Tower was assigned to the constable, who ruled in London in the absence of the ruler. And also for the lieutenant who replaced the manager.
On the second floor there is Big 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) Exhibit "Crossbow" 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 Tower of London long time did not undergo any changes. When Richard the Lionheart took the royal throne, his brother John claimed the role of ruler of the state. King Richard was often on campaigns, his castle in the capital was ruled by Chancellor William Longchept.
Inner side of the 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, defensive fortifications were built, a moat with water appeared around the fortress.
During the reign of Richard, the area occupied by the Tower has increased significantly. In 1191 the castle was besieged. It was more profitable for Longchept to surrender, and John took the Tower of London.
John became king after Richard the Lionheart died. They began to call him John Landless. He ascended the throne, but could not win the favor of the barons. Therefore, the Tower of London was besieged again. To remain on the throne, the king was forced to make concessions. The Charter of Liberties was signed. Since then, the stage of constitutional monarchy has begun. But the king was in no hurry to fulfill his promise, and this led to the First Baronial War.
Tower Menagerie
John Landless is also famous for the fact that he founded the 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 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 Londoners to visit the menagerie and weapons museum. Such a zoo operated here until 1830, after it was closed, and the animals moved to the London Zoo. In memory of the menagerie in the castle, sculptures of those animals that were kept here were exhibited.
Tower Ravens
Tower Ravens are a population of ravens permanently living in the castle grounds. This is another attraction of the UK Castle Museum. Under King Charles II, a legend arose that crows are an important part of the castle, and without them the Tower of London cannot exist.
These birds are the black guards of the castle. Therefore, since then, a tradition has developed to take care of these ravens, which has been followed to the present, and now the Raven Keeper works in the castle.
Changes under Henry III
Under Henry III, the Tower expanded its territory substantially. The construction of stone walls and 9 towers was completed. This area is now designated as the Courtyard. The names of many of the towers speak for their purpose. For example, the Bell Tower. The main bell was located in it. Or Archery Tower. It was engaged in the manufacture of bows and crossbows, as well as siege weapons.
View of the Tower from the Skyscraper "Shard" (Rick Ligthelm / flickr.com)
Lanthorn Tower - its name comes from the Old English word for "light" or "radiance". This tower played the role of a beacon for ships passing along the river. The main entrance is now in the west wall. The Wakefield and Lanthorn Towers housed the chambers and other living quarters of the royal family. A spacious room for the hall has been specially built between these towers.
Also during the reign of Henry, the Bloody Tower was built. She is famous for a very sad story. In it, Edward V and his brother, another heir to the throne, Richard of York, were killed. They were popularly called the princes of the Tower, they were imprisoned in the tower under the supervision of guards. Nobody saw them alive, most likely they were killed.
At the time of his death, the first was 12 years old, and the second 10. Richard III ordered their execution because of possible claims to the throne (although he was their own 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 has been made. The gates were subdivided into external and internal. And also a barbican was built, which was named the Lion Tower. They kept lions in it.
Main entrance to the Tower of London (dynamosquito / flickr.com)
Under Edward, the Tower expanded southward. The Tower of St. Thomas was built here, in which the famous Traitor's Gate was located - another of the attractions of the castle museum. Through them, the guards brought new prisoners through the water.
The king also transferred the mint to the Tower. The fortress walls of the Tower under Edward began to have loopholes for the shooters - the guards of the castle. 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 territory occupied by buildings under King Edward is now called the Outer Court.
Tower currently
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. This landmark of Great Britain is legendary. Until now, this castle is very popular among tourists.
UK and popular attraction.
The best way to visit the Tower is with the London City Pass (20%) discount.
The stone castle was erected by William the Conqueror in 1078 (nine and a half centuries ago!) To strengthen the power over the conquered Anglo-Saxons. It was named the White Tower and was used as royal residence, a base of military operations and a dungeon. The fortification was massive, well-built and suitable for all-round defense (sides 32 by 36 meters, up to 30 meters high) - a serious obstacle for any army of that time.
Under the legendary Richard the Lionheart, the fortress was expanded to include outer walls and towers, taking on a modern shape. The descendants did not forget to follow the fortification, until the defensive function of the Tower disappeared with the creation of powerful cannons. Then narrow loopholes were replaced by glazed windows.
For the next centuries, the Tower was a real concentration of the turbulent royal life in England - important documents were kept here, the mint worked, criminals were kept and tortured (among these unfortunates - the famous Guy Fawkes), weapons were stored for the needs of the army. Until the 19th century, a royal menagerie functioned in the fortress, where dangerous and bizarre animals were kept for the amusement of the courtyard. And yet the Tower is most famous as a sinister prison. Countless generations of people managed to survive in his dungeons, only a few managed to escape. Seven heads were chopped off right in the castle (which was a great privilege, for example, Anne Boleyn lost her head there), another one and a half thousand prisoners were executed in the city, combining justice with the fun of the crowd.
A huge number of different stories and legends are associated with the Tower. One of them is associated with the ravens that have lived there since ancient times - if the birds fly away, misfortune awaits England. To prevent this from happening, a special caretaker for the crows was appointed, and the wings of the birds were also clipped (which completely excludes the possibility of misfortune).
Another interesting tradition preserved to this day is the Tower Guard Institute. Once these carefully selected people guarded the kings and watched over the prisoners, now their functions have become more peaceful, but no less responsible: they maintain order in the Tower and impress tourists, in this they are assisted by special uniforms.
Today the Tower is a carefully guarded architectural and historical monument, open to tourists. The territory houses a museum and an armory with countless interesting exhibits.
Useful information
Nearest tube stations: Tower Hill station - District Line and London Bridge station - Northern Line
Tower of London opening hours
In summer (from March 1 to October 31) from Tuesday to Saturday from 9:00 to 17:30, Sunday and Monday from 10:00.
In winter, from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm.
Tower of London ticket price
Adults £ 25.
Children (5-15 years old) £ 12
Discounts for students and seniors apply.
Enjoy your visit!