Tower of London, England. Tower of London: interesting facts for the traveler What is tower of London
Without a doubt, everyone has ever heard of the Tower of London, because it is one of the oldest fortresses in England, which over its centuries-old history has been a royal residence, a prison, a zoo, a museum, and even a royal observatory!
The Tower is the most recognizable symbol of London and a must-visit for every traveler. This is not just an ancient castle, it is a real treasure trove of the history of London and the entire British Empire.
It is located on the north bank of the Thames and receives many tourists every year. It is interesting that the Tower is still considered a royal residence. The beefeaters live here with their families and the fortress's staff.
Historical reference: beefeater (guardian of the Tower) translated into Russian means “meat eater”. They began to be called that back in the distant 15th century, when during the hungry years the guards were heavily fed meat three times a day, and the rest of the people died of hunger. Beefeater is a very honorable title, and not everyone is accepted into the Tower Guard. At all times, Beefeaters were buried in the basements of the Tower Chapel, a tradition that continues to this day.
History of the Tower of London
The Tower was founded more than 900 years ago by William I, but long before that there was a Roman fort here. The new fortress was supposed to frighten the people, and therefore, in place of the wooden buildings, a stone building grew up - the Great Tower ().
White Tower Tower
Monarchs lived here behind thick walls of gray stone. But London grew quickly, and soon the formidable Tower began to coexist with poor areas. The royal family did not like this neighborhood, and they moved to the Palace of Westminster. The Tower became a guard fortress and a prison.
Tower - prison
The Tower saw many executions and deaths; the bloody history of London was made here. It is known that the first prisoner was imprisoned in 1190, and since then countless prisoners passed through the Tower casemates until 1941, when a German spy was shot here.
The most influential people in Europe served their sentences and awaited execution in the fortress. The list is quite impressive: there were French kings, Scottish rulers, dukes, and aristocrats... among the most famous prisoners of the Tower are King James of Scotland, the Duke of Orlesia, Anne Boleyn, etc.
Traitors Gate
Guy Fawkes, a famous participant in the Gunpowder Plot, Walter Raleigh, a British navigator and poet, William Penn and many others were executed in the Tower. The reign of Henry VIII can rightfully be considered the darkest period. He was particularly cruel and bloodthirsty and easily sentenced to death all people he disliked, from politicians and priests to his own wives. 
Anne Boleyn, his second wife, Catherine Howard, his fifth wife, and Jane Grey, the infamous queen for 9 days, were killed here. They all paid with their lives for not being able to give the bloody monarch a son.
Some executions took place behind closed doors, but most were public and took place on Tower Hill. Here a crowd of onlookers could see how the condemned man's head was cut off, impaled on a stake and put on public display. 
The headless bodies were taken to the Tower, where they were buried in the dungeons of the fortress. During the excavations, more than 1,500 skeletons without skulls were found, and this is certainly not the end.
The Tower remained a prison until the middle of the 20th century - the last prisoners were imprisoned there in 1952. These were the Kray gangster brothers.
Peaceful functions of the Tower
Royal Menagerie
At the beginning of the 13th century, a royal menagerie was opened in the Tower. John the Landless kept his lions in the fortress, and his successor Henry III replenished it with leopards, a polar bear and even an elephant. Later it was replenished with other exotic animals, and under Elizabeth I it was even opened to visitors.
The menagerie existed on the territory of the Tower until 1830, after which the animals were transported to the London Zoo, and sculptures of animals were erected in the fortress, immortalizing this part of the history of the Tower.
Tower Treasury
The Tower of London played another important function for the Crown. The main mint of the empire was located here for more than 500 years. Precious coins were minted here, and documents of state importance, military equipment of monarchs and weapons of the royal army were also kept.
The Royal Treasury on the grounds of the Tower still exists and has been open to visitors since the 17th century. This is where the royal jewels are kept, including the world's largest diamond, the Cullian I. This is a truly mesmerizing place that is definitely worth a visit.
You need to walk along the walls and towers of the fortress, turned into a fascinating museum, look at the stone animals and ancient fortifications, and go to the oldest church in London - St. Peter's Chapel, built in 1080.
And today the White Tower is an interactive museum that children will surely enjoy, and, of course, you cannot miss Tower Meadow - the permanent execution site for Tower prisoners. Now there is a memorial there - a crystal pillow on which the names of all the people executed here are engraved.
The Tower has an armory and a military museum.
Tower of London opening hours
There are many legends associated with the Tower, as it is the oldest fortress in London. It's full of secrets, treasures and ghosts. Every Tower guard has encountered the castle's ghosts at least once in his life, and many of them are very aggressive.
Ravens of the Tower
These legends, as well as the Tower ravens, are a separate discussion.
The Tower of London is one of London's most famous landmarks and the home of the symbols of the British crown. Over its centuries-old history, the Tower of London has served as a royal residence, a prison, a mint and a treasury. Currently, the fortress is a history museum and an excellent example of English Gothic architecture, with the strict lines and restrained decoration of the facades characteristic of this style.
The Tower of London is one of the largest and most famous castles in England, whose history goes back almost 900 years.
History of construction
The Tower Fortress was founded almost 10 centuries ago by William I the Conqueror. Construction of the fort, which became one of the first royal residences, began in 1078. The large-scale structure made of stone was called the Great Tower of London, which is a fortress surrounded by walls with a central tower - the White Tower. This donjon got its name because of the white paint that was ordered to paint the building to suit the fashion of the time. Over the next few centuries, the Norman fortress was supplemented by several towers, designed in the style of "perpendicular" or "vertical" Gothic, emphasizing straight, strict lines and simple decoration of the facade. The castle later became a state prison, and in the 18th century it housed the royal mint. Today, the Tower of London is a history museum and armory, where the treasures of the British crown are located. State guests are also received here.
Features of facade design
The fortress and former royal residence, the Tower, is a large-scale architectural complex, shaped like an irregular rectangle in plan, consisting of six towers, two main buildings and two rows of walls with interior spaces. The oldest part of the castle is the White Tower, one of the most striking examples of Norman architecture. The building has a quadrangular plan and is complemented by four corner turrets topped with sloping round spiers. The walls of the White Tower are complemented by shallow arched niches in which arched windows are located.
The facade of the White Tower is decorated with stone protruding panels and buttresses, which later became the main decorative motif in Gothic architecture.
All towers of the Tower of London have a clear architectural silhouette and are complemented by laconic exterior decoration. The main goal of the architects was to emphasize the defensive function of the fort, so the massive walls were complemented by windows with narrow openings and stepped-recessed portals, which contributed to defensive purposes. In the south-eastern tower of the castle there is the Chapel of St. John, which has a rounded plan. St. John's Chapel, among other things, is one of the most striking examples of Norman architecture, combining emphasized strength and amazing simplicity of form.
The Tower's treasury, complemented by faceted apses and a portal designed in the style of early English architecture: a small arched entrance and narrow rectangular windows with modest frame decoration.
The windows of the towers and buildings of the Tower of London mainly have the characteristic arched shape with a pointed end, characteristic of Norman architecture. And only some of the fort’s towers are complemented by rectangular windows, characteristic of English Gothic. All the towers of the castle are topped with flat battlements, which served as an inspection point during sieges, the only exception being the round towers, which were intended not for defensive, but for domestic needs.
The round towers of the Tower, which are part of the inner fortress wall, are complemented by arched windows and thin cornices of simple shape.
The entrance to the castle is located on the side of the Thames River embankment, where the Traitors Gate is located, which got its name from the state criminals who passed through it. Near the entrance to the fort there is the Tower of St. Thomas with the king’s personal chambers, built in the 13th century. in the English Gothic style. The Bloody Tower, located near the White Tower, was built in a similar style. The facades of both towers are complemented by stepped loopholes. One of the main decorative motifs of the towers and walls of the Tower of London are rectangular stone panels arranged vertically, as well as narrow oblong cornices. These elements, traditional for English Gothic architecture, emphasize the severity of the entire ensemble of the castle.
View of the eastern part of the fortress, the towers and portals of which are decorated with stepped arches, loopholes and narrow stone cornices - strict elements of the external decoration of Norman and English Gothic architecture.
The Tower of London is one of the main monuments of Norman architecture in England, and, at the same time, an excellent example of early English Gothic. The castle complex consists of several main towers, the central one of which is the White Tower - the oldest donjon in the British capital. The Tower is a museum of English history and one of the country's most famous landmarks.
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 - £27.20;
- preferential - full-time students, disabled people, people over 60 years old - £21.30;
- children from 5 to 15 years old - £12.90;
- children under 5 years old are admitted free of charge;
- family ticket (1 adult and up to 3 children) - £48.90.
When purchasing online there is a 15% discount.
Buy a ticket to the Tower of London:
Exclusive Tower of London Tour with Personal Guide:
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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.
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress
, better known as the Tower of London (historical name - Tower), is a historical monument located in the center of London, England, on the north bank of the Thames. It is located in the London borough of Tower Hamlets and is separated from the eastern part of the City of London by the undeveloped area of Tower Hill.
The Tower of London is often confused with the White Tower, a square fortress built by William the Conqueror in 1078. However, the Tower as a whole is a complex consisting of several structures located within two concentric rings formed by defensive walls and a moat.
The tower originally served as a fortress, royal residence and prison (especially for noble prisoners and members of the royal family, such as the "Princes in the Tower" (Princes Edward and Richard) and the future Queen Elizabeth I).
This latter function led to the coining of the phrase “sent to the Tower” (meaning “imprisoned”). In addition, at various times it housed an armory, a treasury, a zoo, the Royal Mint, the British State Archives, an observatory, and also carried out executions and torture. Since 1303, the Tower has housed the British Crown Jewels.
Video tour of the Tower of London - Tower of London
History of construction
White Tower
At the center of the Tower of London stands the Norman White Tower, built in 1078 by William the Conqueror (reigned 1066-87) at the south-eastern end of the city walls adjacent to the Thames. This huge tower protected the Normans from the inhabitants of the City of London, as well as London itself from external invaders. The architect of the tower, by order of William, was Gandalf (Gundulf), Bishop of Rochester. Excellent Cayenne stone brought from France was used to create the corners of the building and to frame the doors and windows, while the majority of the building was constructed from Kentish basalt. According to legend, the mortar used in the construction of the structure was diluted with animal blood. Another legend attributes the construction of the Tower not to William, but to the Romans. William Shakespeare, in his play Richard III, claims that it was built by Julius Caesar.
The height of the White Tower is 27 m, and the thickness of its walls is 4.5 m at the base and 3.3 m at the top. Four turrets rise above the battlements; three of them are square, and the one in the northeast is round with a spiral staircase. Under Charles II, it housed the royal observatory for some time. In the south of the Tower, the defensive structure is limited to the castle courtyard.
In the 1190s, King Richard the Lionheart (reigned 1189-99) added curtains to the White Tower and dug a ditch around it, which he filled with water from the Thames. Richard used the previously erected Roman city wall in the east as part of the fence. Part of the wall he built, later included in Henry III's defensive wall, still remains in the area between the Bloody Tower and the Bell Tower, also built during his reign. In 1240, Henry III ordered the building to be whitewashed, which is how it got its name.
Inmost Ward
In the early 13th century, Henry III (reigned 1216–72) established the Tower as his main royal residence and built luxurious buildings within the castle courtyard to the south of the White Tower. This Courtyard was entered to the north-west by the now ruined Coldharbour Gate and was bounded by a wall, fortified to the south-west by Wakefield Tower, to the south-east by the Lantern Tower, and to the north-east - now the destroyed Wardrobe Tower. The well-appointed Wakefield Tower and Lantern Tower were integral parts of this new royal palace, and adjoined the now ruined Great Hall that lay between them. The tower remained a royal residence until the time of Oliver Cromwell, under whom some of the old luxurious buildings were destroyed.
Inland area
The White Tower and Courtyard are in the Inner Grounds, protected by a massive curtain wall built by Henry III in 1238. Despite protests from London citizens and even supernatural predictions (according to chronicler Matthew Paris), it was decided to extend the city wall to the east.
Thirteen towers are built into the wall:
Wakefield Tower is the largest tower in the curtain wall.
Lanthorn Tower
Salt Tower
Broad Arrow Tower
Constable Tower
Martin Tower
Brick Tower
Bowyer Tower
Silicon Tower (Flint Tower)
Deveraux Tower
Beauchamp Tower
The Bell Tower is the oldest tower in the enclosure, built in the 1190s as part of Richard I's fortifications and later included in Henry III's fortifications. It is named after the bell located in it, which was used to ring the evening curfew for more than 500 years.
Bloody Tower (or Garden Tower), named after the legend of the princes killed there.
Outer Ward
From 1275 to 1285, Edward I (reigned 1272–1307) built an outer curtain that completely connected the inner wall, resulting in a circular double defense structure. He filled the old ditch with water and dug a new ditch around the new outer wall. The area between the walls is called the Outer Territory. The wall has five towers located on the river side:
Byward Tower
St Thomas's Tower, built in 1275-1279 by Edward I as an additional royal residence.
Cradle Tower
Well Tower
Develin Tower
On the outer side of the northern wall there are three semicircular bastions: Brass Mount, North Bastion and Legge's Mount.
The water passage to the Tower is often called Traitor's Gate, as it is believed that prisoners accused of treason, such as Queen Anne Boleyn and Sir Thomas More, were transported through it. The Traitor's Gate, cut through the Tower of St. Thomas, replaced the water one Henry III's Gate in the Bloody Tower. Behind the Traitor's Gate there was an engine in the reservoir, which was used to pump water to the cistern located on the roof of the White Tower. The engine was originally powered by stream power or horses, and then by steam power around 1724; the device was adapted to operate mechanisms carrying gun barrels. In the 1860s it was dismantled. Above the great arch of the Traitors' Gate is a Tudor timber frame, created in 1532 and reconstructed in the 19th century.
West Entrance and Moat
The now dry moat surrounding the entire structure is crossed from south to west by a stone bridge leading to the Byward Tower from the Middle Tower - a gate that formerly served as an outer fortification, which was called the Lion Tower.
Today the Tower is primarily a tourist attraction. In addition to the buildings themselves, its exhibition includes the British Crown Jewels, a fine collection of weapons from the Royal Armories and the remains of a Roman fortress wall.
Yeomanry gatekeepers (beefeaters) of the Tower act as guides and provide security, while being an attraction themselves. Every evening, when the Tower closes for the night, the gatekeepers take part in the Key Ceremony.
The Tower, a fortress located on the north bank of the Thames, is the historical center of London and one of the oldest buildings in England. As the Duke of Edinburgh wrote in his book dedicated to the 900th anniversary of the Tower, “in its history, the Tower of London has been a fortress, a palace, a repository of the royal jewels, an arsenal, a mint, a prison, an observatory, a zoo, and a place , attracting tourists."
Base
The founding of the Tower fortress is attributed to William I. After the Norman conquest of England, William I began to build defensive castles to intimidate the conquered Anglo-Saxons. One of the largest in 1078 was the Tower. The wooden fort was replaced by a huge stone building - the Great Tower, which is a quadrangular structure measuring 32 x 36 meters and about 30 meters high. When the new king of England later ordered the building to be whitewashed, it was called the White Tower, or the White Tower. Subsequently, under King Richard the Lionheart, several more towers of varying heights and two rows of powerful fortress walls were erected. A deep ditch was dug around the fortress, making it one of the most impregnable fortresses in Europe.
State prison
The first prisoner was imprisoned in the Tower in 1190. 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 (James I of Scotland, prisoners of the Hundred Years' War, King John II of France and Charles of Orleans), 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 was killed in the Tower, as well as the Tower princes, 12-year-old Edward V and his younger brother Richard.
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.
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 Katherine 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 Guilford Dudley, 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.
Zoo, mint and royal armory
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 his son-in-law and Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen. 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.
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.
Palace guards and royal regalia
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 (from the English word “beef” - beef), 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.
The palace "Ravenmaster", or Raven Keeper, cares for a flock of black ravens. There is a belief that if the birds leave the Tower, misfortune will befall England, so their wings were clipped as a precaution.
Keepers of the Royal Treasury guard the famous jewels of the British Empire. The treasure chest 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.
Modern look
Today the Tower of London is 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.
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