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 enough Big City was also 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 eastern tradition 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 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)
Lanthorn Tower - its name comes from the old English word, meaning “light” or “radiance.” 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. She's quite famous sad story. Edward V and his brother, another heir to the throne, Richard of York, were killed in it. 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.
Tower of London
Tower, Tower of London(English) the Tower, Tower of London, “Tower”) - a fortress built on the north bank of the Thames River, historical Center city of London. One of the oldest historical buildings in Great Britain, which for a long time served as the residence of English monarchs. Today the Tower is both a historical monument and a museum, included in the list of objects belonging to world heritage UNESCO.
Base
The founding of the Tower fortress is attributed to the Roman Emperor Claudius. It was then a wooden fort built in the southeast corner of the old Roman wall. After the Norman conquest of England, William I began to build defensive castles to intimidate the conquered Anglo-Saxons. One of the largest 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 named the White Tower, or White Tower. Subsequently, 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 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 (James I of Scotland, prisoners of the Hundred Years' War John II (King 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, 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.
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.
Dry moat in front of the Middle Tower.
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 other executions - mostly 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, Fawkes, 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
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 frilled 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 treasury has been open to visitors since the 17th century. Among the precious stones adorning the crowns, orbs and scepters, which are still used by members of the royal family during ceremonies, you can see the world's largest cut diamond High Quality, 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 “ tragic fate and sometimes the 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.
Links
- Tower of London - Guide - Information about the city of London
Coordinates: 51°30′30.32″ n. w. 0°04′38.01″ W d. / 51.508422° N. w. 0.077225° W d.(G)51.508422 , -0.077225
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See what "Tower of London" is in other dictionaries:
Tower- Tower. London. TOWER (English tower), castle fortress in London, on the banks of the Thames River. The oldest part of the Tower is the Romanesque “White Tower” (circa 1078 85). Until the 17th century one of the royal residences and at the same time (officially until 1820)… … Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary
Tower Castle and Tower Bridge have been unshakable symbols of London for centuries. Today, this is a complex of buildings from different times, surrounded by two rows of wide fortress walls with towers, the Tower is located on the north bank of the Thames.
History of the Tower of London
The Tower of London is the best preserved castle in Europe, and the castle is “venerable”, it is more than 900 years old! The Tower has never been taken by storm; the thickness of the castle walls is more than 4.6 meters. The Tower of London was both the home of kings and a prison for persons of noble origin, including royalty.
To even tell a short history Tower, it will take a very long time, because it began long before the official foundation in 1066. The founder of the castle was William the Conqueror, but long before that, Roman fortifications were founded on the site of the modern Tower, and today's castle preserves parts of them.
Large-scale reconstruction and strengthening of the Tower was carried out by Henry III, reconstruction began in 1238, despite the young age of the king, he was only 9 years old, this is the most ambitious work to strengthen the Tower. During the reconstruction, a new defensive wall with nine new towers appeared. In 1240, the walls of the tower were painted white, and later the Tower received a new name - the White Tower.
Over its 900 years, the Tower has been both the residence of kings and the mint, a state archive where many historical and legal documents were kept.
Tower of London - a prison for royalty
The fact that the Tower was a state prison from the day of its foundation brought it an ominous reputation; the first prisoner was imprisoned in the fortress in 1190. Over the centuries, the walls of the Tower have witnessed human grief and tragedy.
Famous prisoners were imprisoned in the fortress: King James I of Scotland, John II, King of France and the French Prince Charles of Orleans, Henry VI; children were not spared; it was here that the murder of two little princes Edward V and Richard took place. Three English queens were executed on the territory of the Tower, two of them Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard were the wives of Henry VIII, as well as the “queen for 9 days” Jane Gray.
Black Ravens of the Tower
Black crows that live in countless numbers in the Tower of London are not only the main legend, but also real symbols of the castle. The first raven appeared in the Tower in 1553 during the nine days of Jane Gray's reign and said the famous "Vivat!" Since then, the black raven has been a harbinger of terrible punishment, he invariably appeared to those who were doomed, this happened until the Tower became just a museum.
There is now a belief that as long as winged guards live in the Tower, the British crown will prosper. Charles II issued a decree according to which at least six black ravens were to be kept in the castle at all times, and a special keeper was to keep them. This tradition is strictly observed today; a substantial budget is allocated for the maintenance of seven ravens (one in “reserve”). Each raven has a name and a spacious enclosure, each with its own character. Their daily diet includes 200 grams. fresh meat, blood biscuits, fried toast. Tourists enjoy watching living legends.
Ghosts of the Tower
London with its history is considered the leader in the number of ghosts living in it. It is full of ghosts of kings and queens, and of course the Tower, with its tragedies and bloody executions, was no exception.
It is said that the ghost of King George II often looks out of the windows, watching the weather vane. The beheaded Anne Boleyn often walks through the park of the fortress; the ghosts of children and the murdered twelve-year-old King Edward V with his nine-year-old brother Richard have also been seen here. But these are legends, it’s up to you to believe in them or not, but the Tower of London is also centuries-old traditions, ceremonies, the holding of which has remained unchanged for centuries. One of them is the Ceremony of Keys.
Ceremony of the Keys in the Tower
This tradition has been unshakable for seven hundred years. Every day, at exactly 21.53, the key keeper leaves the Byward Tower, and the Key Guard comes to meet him. The Keeper is dressed in Tudor costume. The guards lock the Main Gate and approach the Bloody Tower, a traditional dialogue is heard that begins with the words: “Wait, who’s coming?” and ends: "God save Queen Elizabeth." At night, the keys are kept in the manager's residence.
An interesting fact is that this tradition is unshakable under any circumstances; it was delayed for half an hour in 1941, during a direct attack on the Tower by Nazi bombers.
Entrance to the ceremony of keys is by invitation cards, which can be received by anyone (!) by writing a letter in advance (two months in advance).
Mailing address:
The Ceremony of the Keys,
HM Tower of London,
London EC3N 4AB.
Tickets will be sent to you by mail absolutely free of charge.
Royal Treasury
One of those places that you simply must visit is the Royal Treasury, where the royal regalia are kept today. The oldest artifacts from the Restoration were stolen and melted down by Cromwell, but today you can admire the Queen Mother’s crown with the Koh-i-noor diamond. Diamonds "Cullinan-I" and "Cullinan-II" in the scepter of Edward VII and in the crown of the British Empire.
In 1671 Colonel Blood undertook unsuccessful attempt steal them, but Charles II not only did not execute the insolent man, on the contrary, he was awarded a lifelong pension for insolence and courage.
The White Tower, the Queen's House (XVI century), the Royal Church (1080), St. John's Chapel - this is only part of the attractions of the Tower of London, which still holds many secrets.
Working hours
Summer time from March 1 to October 31:
Tuesday - Saturday9.00-17.30
Last entry 17:00
Winter time from November 1 to February 28
Tuesday - Saturday9.00-16.30
Sunday – Monday10:00 – 17:30
Last entry 16:00
The Tower of London is closed from 24 to 26 December and 1 January every year.
It is recommended to spend time inspecting tower tower in London it takes me less than 2-3 hours.
Entrance prices
Adult ticket £20.90 (€ 26.54)
Ticket for a child (under 16 years old) €10.45 (€ 13.27)
Tickets for students and pensioners €17.60 (€ 22.35)
Family ticket (2 adults + 6 children) €55.00 (€ 69.84)
Prices for audio guide in Russian
for adults €4.00 (€ 5.08)
for a child (up to 16 years old) €3.00 (€ 3.81)
For a family (2 adults + 6 children) €12.00 (€ 15.24)
How to get to Tower of London
Tower Hill, EC3, entrance via Tower Moat.
Metro: Tower Hill station (single € 4 (€ 5.08) or daily pass € 8.40 (€ 10.67)) there are numerous signs leading from the station.
Bus routes No. 15, 42, 78, 100 (single € 4 (€ 5.08) or daily pass € 8.40 (€ 10.67)).
Great Britain attractions await all travelers on their way to the Land of Foggy Albion. And, it must be said, there are a lot of them. The Tower of London is held in special esteem by tourists and local residents alike due to its rich historical past. Literally from English “Tower of London” - “tower”. If we talk about the actual structure, it is a majestic fortress, which is located on the northern bank of the Thames.
Mysterious and alluring place
England may be rich in attractions, but this particular building is one of the oldest in the whole country. The Tower of London is rightfully considered the historical center of the 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, and the mint produced money for the whole country. However, even less serious “responsibilities” were assigned to the fortress at different times. So, an observatory and a zoo were located here. But many heard that it was in this place that the noble prisoners of the Kingdom waited for their sentence and believed in the best in those days when the Tower was a prison. Truly, no other London attraction can boast of such a rich past.
The walls of this fortress were also reconstructed more than once, and the building itself was repeatedly completed and refurbished. This led to the fact that over the many centuries of its existence the fortress significantly changed its original appearance.
Tower of London: today
The fortress is famous for its guards, who are called beefeaters. They officially appeared in 1485, but they jealously guard the fortress walls to this day. There is another interesting position here - Ravensmaster - keeper of the ravens. From century to century, these birds are the legal residents of the fortress. And to prevent the birds from flying away, their wings are constantly clipped. This is due to a legend that says: when the ravens 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 continuation of the complex, there is an equally famous
The Tower of London - a fortress, today's historical center of London, located near the London Tower Bridge, was built at the beginning of the eleventh century by William the Conqueror.
It was originally a wooden structure, but already in the thirteenth century the Tower was rebuilt into a stone fortified castle, a complex used as a defensive citadel. IN different time The premises and territory of the castle-fortress served as a royal residence, a prison, a mint, and even a zoo. The Tower, which has a strategic location on the Thames, today looks like a serious military stronghold of twenty towers connected by walls of considerable thickness.
In the Tower of London, during the most troubled times, the royal dynasties of Britain hid, if in Palace of Westminster it was dangerous to stay. Here political opponents disliked by the crown were kept in captivity (and some were even executed). The most famous tower of the Tower of London is the White Tower.
Tower of London, White Tower
This is the oldest part of the castle, which was built back in 1097. For a long time it was also considered the most tall building in London (its height is 27.4 m (90 ft)). The walls of the White Tower are 4.6 m thick. During the reign of Henry III, the facades of the tower were whitewashed, and so the name was fixed. The round turret of the White Tower served as an observatory for a long time. The tower also contains the beautiful 11th century Chapel of St John the Evangelist. There are also two active historical exhibitions in the White Tower, a visit to which is included in the price of tickets for the Tower of London: these are the collections of the Royal Armories and the 300-year-old exhibition Line of Kings.
Other towers of the Tower of London
In the thirteenth century, during the reign of Henry III, when the territory of the fortress was significantly expanded, two more defensive walls were built around it. The inner wall has thirteen towers, the outer wall has six more. These towers were mainly used as prisons for those who posed a threat to the royal monarchy.
Widely known among them is the Bloody Tower, where many royals of England lost their heads. Among them, the most famous prisoners are two princes, sons of King Edward IV, imprisoned by the brother of their father, who later ascended the throne under the name of King Richard III.
St. Thomas's Tower, which is located near the Bloody Tower, is famous for the fact that prisoners were brought here by boat, through the so-called Traitor's Gate.
The most important prisoners were often kept in the Beauchamp Tower, sometimes even with their personal servants. The inscription preserved on the wall of this tower indicates that Lady Jane Gray was imprisoned here, who became Queen of England for only nine days, then executed on the territory of Tower Green.
The popularity of Tower Green can be explained by the fact that it has become a kind of memorial for those executed or killed by order of the state. Execution of a death sentence within the walls of this tower or on the territory next to it meant a privilege: the execution procedure did not take place under the jeering of an idle crowd, but was carried out in silence and solitude. The most famous of those executed on or near the Tower Green memorial site were three queens: Anne Boleyn (aged about 30), the second wife of Henry VIII, killed on her husband's orders because she had no children; Catherine Howard (aged 20), fifth wife of Henry VIII and Lady Jane Gray (aged 16).
Thomas More was imprisoned in Bell Tower for refusing to recognize King Henry VIII as head of the Church of England. Here he remained until his execution by order of Henry VIII. For some time, even Queen Elizabeth I was imprisoned in the same tower.
Yeoman Warders of the Tower
To get to the Tower of London through the main entrance, you will have to find the Byward Tower, where all guests are greeted by beefeaters or yeoman wardens (jailers). Nowadays, they not only guard the tower, but also conduct excursions around the territory of the fortress. There are about 40 beefeaters in total. They wear historical clothes: in holidays- red, in regular ones - blue. By the way, just recently the first woman in history was hired for this position.
