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Tower of London

The Tower of London

The Tower of London, officially Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic castle located on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. It was founded towards the end of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest of England. The White Tower, which gives the entire castle its name, was built by William the Conqueror in 1078 and was a resented symbol of oppression, inflicted upon London by the new ruling elite.

History

The Tower of London has played a prominent role in English history. It was besieged several times, and controlling it has been important to controlling the country. The Tower has served variously as an armoury, a treasury, a menagerie, the home of the Royal Mint, a public record office, and the home of the Crown Jewels.

Architecture

The Tower of London is a complex of several buildings set within two concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat. The layout today is largely the result of the expansion that took place under the reigns of Richard the Lionheart, Henry III, and Edward I in the 12th and 13th centuries.

Use as a Prison

The Tower of London was used as a prison from 1100 (Ranulf Flambard) until 1952 (Kray twins), although that was not its primary purpose. A popular myth states that the Tower is haunted by the ghosts of those executed within its walls, including Anne Boleyn, one of the wives of Henry VIII.

The Crown Jewels

The Crown Jewels have been kept at the Tower of London since 1661. They are a collection of royal ceremonial objects kept in the Jewel House and are still used in royal ceremonies today.

Related pages

• White Tower (Tower of London)
• Yeomen Warders
• Ravens of the Tower of London