The Tower is an ancient fortress and museum in the center of London. Tower of London. History of the Tower of London Entrance to the Tower

- one of the main attractions of London. A medieval fortress, serving at different times as a prison, a mint, a treasure store, and even a zoo. The castle is listed by UNESCO.

History of Tower Castle

The fortress was not built in an empty place; long before the construction, people lived and fortifications were located on the site of the future castle. Traces of people from the Iron Age were found here. Before the Roman invasion, these places were located in Celtic times, and already the Romans built a wooden fort here. Then, after the departure of the Romans, the invasion of the Saxons began, to protect against which a stone wall was already built. Well, then begins the history of the very fortress, which is now located near the center of London.

Early history

The Tower of London was founded by King William I the Conqueror. After the conquest of the Anglo-Saxons, he began the construction of stone fortresses, the first of which was the Tower. The castle was located in the south of what was then London, with one side overlooking the Thames. The place for construction was not chosen by chance, earlier one of the Roman forts was located here, parts of it were also used in the Tower.

Then the size of the fortress was much smaller, initially erected a central tower, which later became a citadel. And at the time of construction, the stone tower was surrounded by a palisade, an earthen rampart and a moat. The fortress walls were completed later.

It is believed that the Tower began to be built in 1078, although this date is inaccurate, it is confirmed both by carbon analysis and by excavations and documents. The exact date of completion of construction is not known, but it is assumed that the Bela Tower was completed no later than 1100.

The White Tower got its name from the color that its walls were painted in 1240.

The Tower of London combined several important functions. In addition to direct military defensive significance, the castle also acted as a symbol of the new power. Built on a hill, very high for that time, the tower was visible from all over London, which inspired fear in the recently conquered Anglo-Saxons. Presumably, the Tower was also the permanent residence of William the Conqueror. Well, the fortress began to fulfill its most famous role, the prison one, from the first years of its construction. The first known prisoner is Ranulf Flambard, adviser to William II and Bishop of Durham. The next king, Henry I, arrested and placed him in custody, but a curious thing happened - Flambard became not only the first prisoner, but also the first fugitive from the Tower.

First expansion

The design of the fortress remained unchanged until the reign of Richard I the Lionheart. Accounting documents by the Lord Chancellor William Longchamp on the allocation of funds for the modernization of the Tower dated approximately 1189 and 1190 have been preserved. Then curtain walls were built and a moat was dug, which unsuccessfully tried to fill with water from the Thames.

It was possible to test the new system of fortifications in action quite quickly - already in 1191 the Tower was besieged for the first time. The younger brother of Richard I - Prince John, who later became the king, known to us as John Landless - broke his promise not to enter England and laid siege to the castle in which Longchamp had taken refuge. However, then no serious battles happened, the siege lasted 3 days and Longchamp decided to surrender to John.

The next participation of the Tower in hostilities was not long in coming, already in 1214 the fortress was besieged by Robert Fitz-Walter, the leader of the barons who rebelled against the king. But John preferred negotiations to war, signed the Magna Carta and lifted the siege.

Second expansion

The following kings of England actively participated in the modernization of the Tower, in particular, Henry III invested in it for 11 years, from 1216 to 1227, quite a lot of money. The king at that time had strained relations with the barons and, fearing another war for the throne, decided to build the most powerful and impregnable castle in Great Britain. At the same time, Henry did not forget about his own comfort, most of the funds went to improve the interior of the citadel. It was during the reign of Henry III in 1240 that the Tower was painted white.

Everything that was built in the Tower under Henry III is now called the "inner courtyard" of the fortress.

But the king did not forget about the military significance of the Tower, since 1238 the fortress was significantly expanded. From the land side, a new defensive perimeter was built and, finally, a full-fledged moat was dug. At that time, the contradictions between the king and the barons intensified, another civil war began and the Tower passed from hand to hand, but without fighting - but as a result of treaties and their violations. The next full-fledged siege of the fortress began in April 1267, Count Gilbert de Clare tried to take the castle, but he failed and he soon retreated, and peace reigned in England. The king died, his son, Edward I, ascended the throne, who took up the Tower even more actively.

The new king had extensive experience in sieges, gained in the Crusade, and he was also afraid of civil wars, so a lot of money was allocated to modernize the castle. This time, almost the entire amount was spent on improving the defensive structures - a new wall was erected with a large number of loopholes, two new bastions (in the northwest and northeast), the moat was expanded to 50 meters and still filled with water. The entrance from the south was moved to the southwest and a barbican was built to protect it, and the old gate was replaced by a brick Beauchamp tower. Edward understood that he could be under a long-term siege, so two watermills were built in the Tower for greater autonomy.

The global improvements made by Edward are now considered the "outer courtyard" of the castle. It was also under Edward that they began to keep animals in the Tower - lions.

Both kings, Henry III and Edward I, completed the Tower almost to its present appearance. Of course, not all buildings have been preserved, but the main part of the fortifications has survived to this day and is now available to tourists.

Middle Ages

For some time, the Tower ceases to participate in military conflicts. More prisoners get here, for the first time a woman is imprisoned in the castle walls. The Tower becomes the main prison for noble people.

But Edward II launched the Tower heavily, so that the captured nobles were not very comfortable in it. Although the number of prisoners increased due to the beginning of the Hundred Years War. As a result, Edward III allocated funds for the renovation and repair of the remaining impregnable fortress.

The time of peace came to an end and the next king of England, Richard II, had to keep the siege in the Tower. True, then it was only the rebellious peasants who besieged it, but when the king went to them for negotiations, they broke inside completely without the resistance of the defenders, plundered the treasury and executed several people close to the king. The situation repeated itself after 6 years, but then it did not come to a full-fledged siege, the king simply waited out the riots inside the castle.

The real war in England began in the second half of the 15th century, it is known to us as the War of the White and Scarlet Roses. Then the Tower of London was once again under siege. Despite the active use of artillery, the besiegers only managed to damage part of the buildings, but did not capture the fortifications. The siege was lifted when King Henry VI was captured. However, he soon regained power, but not for long, Henry was placed in the Tower already as a prisoner, and then executed. Although there is no exact evidence for this, it is the execution of Henry VI that is considered the first high-profile execution within the walls of the Tower.

And in 1483, a truly terrible event took place within the walls of the Tower. The heirs to the throne, the young princes Edward and Richard, were imprisoned in the castle by their uncle Richard III, who declared himself king. Both princes disappeared without a trace, most likely they were killed.

But the Tower had already begun to lose its military significance, although they tried to strengthen it to withstand artillery, in general it was too outdated for military affairs. Also, the use of the Tower for applied purposes - as warehouses, an office, etc. - made it impossible for monarchs to live within its walls.

At the beginning of the XIV century, a tradition appeared - all monarchs began the coronation procession from the Tower and ended it in Westminster Abbey. Then, when the rulers ceased to live permanently in this castle, the tradition was added to it to spend here at night before the ceremony. The last king to follow this rite was Charles II, who was crowned in 1660. But the castle was in such a terrible state that the future king did not dare to stay in it for the night.

During the reign of the Tudors, the Tower was actively used as a prison. It became a place of imprisonment for many famous personalities such as Thomas More, Elizabeth Tudor, Anne Boleyn, Guy Fawkes and many others. Prisoners were often publicly executed, this happened on a hill nearby, in total 112 people were killed there. But sometimes the sentence was executed inside the castle, this affected seven people, including three queens, the most famous of which is Anne Boleyn. Now a memorial sign has been erected at the place of execution.

The further fate of the Tower

In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, the fortress no longer performed any military functions. The last time they tried to strengthen it at the end of the 18th century, fearing Scottish uprisings, but to no avail. And an attempt to renew the shredded ditch led to an outbreak of cholera among the garrison.

At this time, the Tower was used both as an armory, and as a quartering station for the London garrison, and as the headquarters of the artillery troops, and as a royal menagerie. All interested citizens could look at the animals, Queen Elizabeth I opened the access.

In an interesting way, the entrance fee to the zoo was charged. You could either buy a regular pass for three halfpenny, or give a cat or a dog to feed the lions.

During the First World War, the Tower was returned to the functions of a prison, and then a scaffold. Eleven German spies were shot within its walls. World War II also left its mark on the history of the castle. Firstly, the arrested Rudolf Hess was placed here, and secondly, more than a hundred arrested people passed through the Tower, who were then sent to camps. And then the last person was executed in the castle - the spy Josef Jacobs. But that's not all, the British military considered the fortress as a basis for creating a long-term defense if the German army landed in London, but, fortunately, it didn’t come to that, the Red Army, with the support of the Allies, won the Second World War.

The last prisoner was beheaded in the Tower (more precisely, on a nearby hill) in 1747, and the last executed person in general was the already mentioned spy Jacobs. And the last prisoners of the fortress were London gangsters - the Cray twins. They went to jail in 1952.

Already in 1946, the Tower of London reopened its doors to visitors. Today, in addition to the walls themselves, which have absorbed almost a thousand years of history, tourists can see a collection of weapons, jewelry, and many antiques.

Tower guards

The Tower has two special, living sights - the guards and the ravens. It is worth noting that the Tower is still considered the official residence of the monarch, and no one removed the functions of the fortress and prison from it. So the castle is constantly on duty guards, yeomen, who are called "beefeaters".

The word "beefeater" literally translates as "meat eater" or "meat eater". The main version of the origin of the nickname is that the castle garrison always received very large food rations with a huge amount of meat, which surprised even some kings.

They are responsible for the protection of the castle, the safety of the regalia and the supervision of prisoners who have long been absent from the castle. But in fact, the guards perform various ceremonial functions, in particular, the daily Ceremony of the Keys - the solemn closing of all the gates of the castle, and also take on the role of guides. Although all beefeaters are military.

These guards appeared in 1485, thanks to Henry VII, a representative of the Tudor dynasty. Now 38 guards are serving within the walls of the Tower, all of them wear historical clothes of the late 15th century with the coat of arms of the Tudor house.

Only a retired military man who has served in the army for at least 22 years, received a special award for long service and had the rank of senior non-commissioned officer or higher can become a beefeater. At the same time, there was an interesting incident - the sailors did not have the right to serve in the Tower, since they swear allegiance not to the crown, but to the Lord of the Admiralty.

But Elizabeth II changed this order, giving the post of lord to her husband, Prince Philip, who, as you know, was a sailor and went through the entire Second World War in the Navy. As a result, in 2011, the first sailor joined the Tower.

In 2007, for the first time, a woman was able to become a beefeater. She met all the requirements, because the appointment was legal. But an unpleasant incident occurred - after 2 years, three of the guards were put on trial for "harassment", one was acquitted, but the other two were fired.

Ravens of the Tower

The six ravens are the second living attraction of the castle and an age-old tradition. In the Tower, for various reasons, ravens have always lived and there was a legend that when the ravens leave the Tower, the British monarchy will also fall. According to the most common version, King Charles II issued an interesting decree, according to which at least 6 ravens should always live in the castle, and in order for them not to fly away, their wings should be clipped. So it was or not, but this tradition has been maintained for quite a long time.

Often more than six crows live in the castle, at the moment there are nine of them:

• Bran (male, 2008);
• Portia (female, 2008);
• Erin (female, 2006);
• Merlin (female, 2004);
• Munin (female, 1995);
• Hagin (female, 2008);
• Rocky (male, 2010);
• Grip (male, 2012);
• Jubilee (male, 2012).

One of the beefeaters, who also holds the title of Ravenmaster, is responsible for the care. All birds receive a rich diet, including 170 grams of meat per day, this is not counting the rats that they themselves catch.

Fun fact: Raven Munin once escaped from the Tower and was on the run for 5 whole days until vigilant citizens discovered him in a park in Greenwich.

Usually ravens live for 10-15 years, but in captivity their lifespan is much longer, one of the Tower ravens lived for 44 years. A replacement for a dead raven is found in nurseries or one of their offspring is taken. At the same time, crows are not guaranteed lifelong residence in the castle, some birds were literally fired for misbehavior. In 1986, for example, George the crow was sent to the zoo for attacking a television antenna.

Tour of the Tower

The Tower of London, as one of the most famous landmarks in the UK, attracts many tourists. For those who came to London for the first time, a visit to this castle is always included in the excursion program. The London authorities are well aware of this, because the Tower houses many interesting expositions, and formal guards, yeomen, wear medieval clothes and act as guides.

Crown Treasures

One of the main permanent exhibitions, which has been running since the 17th century, is an exhibition of the ceremonial treasures of the British monarchy. Crowns, royal scepters, mantles, and unique precious stones are on display for visitors.

These are not just museum exhibits, these are real royal regalia, which are still used in various ceremonies.

Kings Row Exhibition and Armor Exhibition

The Tower of Kings is considered by many historians to be one of the oldest exhibition displays in the world. These ten life-size models of mounted knights, each depicting one of the English kings, were created at the end of the 17th century. Since then, the exhibition has been supplemented with several new horsemen, and in its current form it has been merged with the armor museum.

Now the exhibits are in the armory of the White Tower and are the main permanent exhibition of the Tower. In addition to mounted warriors, tourists can see the original samples of the tournament armor of kings, among which the gilded armor of Charles I stands out.

But what armor can be without weapons? Dozens of weapons are collected in the same hall - from swords, sabers and rapiers, to firearms from different times, including artillery.

medieval life

Considering that the Tower was also a permanent royal residence, it should have many rooms for the residence of the king, his guests and servants. Unfortunately, this is not entirely true - the original palace house where the monarchs lived was destroyed long ago, and the rest of the rooms, which were located even in the towers, did not retain the original interiors.

But during the reconstruction, various interiors of the Middle Ages were recreated in some rooms of the fortress. In this case, all available historical materials were used, so that the image turned out to be quite accurate.

For example, in the former reception room for guests, in the tower of St. Thomas, the royal bedroom is now recreated, and in the basement of another tower, where King Henry III held meetings, there is a reconstruction of the throne room. The exposition of elements of medieval life is presented separately.

royal menagerie

Although the animals were transported to a normal zoo 150 years ago, their memory remained in the Tower. First of all, visitors can see the sculptures of various animals, which are installed in many places. In addition, an exhibition has been opened in the Brick Tower, which tells about the history of keeping animals presented to the king in this fortress.

Chapel of St. Peter in Chains

Any fortress included a place for religious rituals and a chaplain who was constantly in the service. The Tower is no exception; on its territory there is a church founded in the 12th century and rebuilt in 1520.

It was in front of the chapel that they cut off the heads of prisoners for whom they did not want to arrange a public execution. Now there is a small memorial here, and the chapel itself is famous for its organ, assembled in the 17th century.

In the 19th century, with the development of firearms, flintlock guns appeared. They began to equip the troops, which received the name "fusiliers". One of these regiments was at one time the garrison of the Tower and, formally, remains so to this day, although, of course, they have long been not armed with fusels and are stationed elsewhere.

But in memory of them, an exposition was opened that acquaints tourists not only with the history of a particular regiment, but in general tells about the time that replaced the knightly era. Among the exhibits are weapons, soldier's and officer's uniforms, awards, household items.

Key Ceremony

A tradition that has existed for almost 700 years and is also a kind of attraction. This is a special ritual when the yeomen, the guards of the Tower, solemnly close all the gates for the night.

The ceremony starts at exactly 21:53, but it is not so easy to see it. Although those who wish are allowed to view and it is even free, the number of viewers is very limited and you need to sign up for the presence several months in advance.

Tower on the map

Information for visitors

How to get there

Photos of the Tower of London

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 their tour of Europe. And, of course, you can't come to London and not visit the legendary Tower of London.

Situated on the north bank of the Thames, this truly grand complex rises against the grey, often overcast London skies. In size, reaching 32 meters in length and 36 meters in width, it consists of a number of different buildings. There are 20 towers 30 meters high, 2 bastions, casemates, the Church of St. Peter, the Museum of the Fusiliers, a hospital, the Queen's house, armories, barracks. As well as a beautiful green meadow and a jetty on the banks of the Thames.

This impromptu tourist town eventually developed cafeterias and souvenir shops that visitors often use as shelter from the constant British rains.

Prison or defensive fortress?

The construction of the Tower is attributed 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 presently standing Tower appeared.

At the beginning it was a simple wooden fort, which was later rebuilt into a stone massif with the possibility of defensive actions. The follower of William I - King Henry III, continued the construction and strengthening of the Tower, erecting 9 new towers (at the moment 7 of them have survived), the courtyard and adapting the Tower to public 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 was called the White tower - the white tower. Later, the building was simply called the Tower.

There is another thought - that in 1077 the Bishop of Rochester Gandalf erected the first white tower, which laid the foundation for historical construction. But this version is less popular and does not agree on dates with the historical data of world history.

In 1190, the Tower began to be used as an official prison - the first prisoner appeared here. It is noteworthy that only monarchs or representatives of the highest nobility were prisoners of the tower's cells.

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 Grey, Henry XI and Edward V.

Sometimes people were tortured within the walls of the prison. So, the legendary Guy Fawkes, under severe torture, betrayed his accomplices in the coup attempt.

In the XIII century, a 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 they kept lions, leopards, elephants and even polar bears. Anyone wishing to visit the makeshift zoo had to pay the entrance fee or bring a cat or a dog as a "reception" for the inhabitants of the enclosures.

In 1843, the Tower experienced its first full-fledged reconstruction and landscaping. About ten years later, the entrance to the territory became paid, since tourist excursions to the mint and the tower with royal regalia were already in full swing here. Tower Bridge itself was built in 1894.

During the Second World War, prisoners of war were kept here. In 1940, after a bomb hit, the architectural heritage was reconstructed for several years.

The last prisoners who had to serve their sentences in a London prison were the Kray brothers - the leaders of a criminal group in the East End of London, in 1952.

Now the Tower is only a tourist and historically important object of London, within the walls of which there are museums and several apartments for accommodation of staff.

London Walls hoaxes

Like most castles in England, the Tower is legendary. A favorite theme of locals and tourists 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 the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket. He was close to King Henry II, but after a conflict with the ruler, he was captured and brutally executed in Canterbury Cathedral. It is said that his spirit haunts the castle to this day and frightens visitors.

The scariest ghost is Margaret Paul. She was the Countess of Salisbury and became objectionable to the ruling dynasty because of her family tree. In fear 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 brought to the chopping block, but, for unknown reasons, they could not be beheaded immediately. She died only after the third blow of the executioner. 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 for 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 your visa as well.

You will need: both passports, one photo, an application form, a document of solvency, a certificate from a place of work or a university, a document for movable / immovable property, a marriage / divorce certificate, confirmation of the place of residence or the booked tour.

For a mandatory visit to the Tower, you will have to pay, for example, about 340 dollars for 3 days.

If you go to the foggy capital on your own, then you will visit the Tower at a time that suits you. Moving around London on foot is not always convenient, as frequent rains and fog cause discomfort. Therefore, you can use a taxi (50-100 pounds) or the subway (0.7-4 pounds).

In summer, the complex is open from 10 to 17, in winter - from 10 to 16.30. For lovers of New Year 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 tours, 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 pounds.

Passing through the fortress, one cannot help but look into various expositions and museums. The most popular expositions are two of them - "Row of Kings" and "Kings and Coins".

A number of kings are 10 equestrian statues in full uniform, collected back in 1688, as an attempt to raise the status of the Stuart dynasty.

Kings and Coins tells about the history of the coinage and shows rare coins that were created during the operation of the mint in 1279-1812.

Experienced tourists are advised to take a closer look at the ravenmasters - caretakers who take care of the eight ravens living on the territory of the Tower. The British believe that if the ravens leave the Tower, England will fall. Birds are watched and cared for with special diligence. For a month, about 100 pounds are allocated for each bird. Every day, the crow receives 200 grams of meat, and once a week, raw eggs and rabbit meat. Even pets of the most loving owners will envy such content.

Tourists go to London with interest to see with their own eyes the subject of legends and disputes. To wander around the towers and feel like a part of British history. To take a few photos with the guards in colorful uniforms or witness rare cannon blasts. Yes, and the British themselves say: "If you have not seen the Tower, then you do not know anything about Great Britain."

The Tower of London has been a fortress for nine hundred years, which was the residence of kings, an armory and treasury, as well as a prison and a place of execution.

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

In 1066, Duke William of Normandy began the conquest of England. By the end of the Anglo-Saxon period, London becomes the dominant city in England, with a rich port, located near the royal palace and the main cathedral. Securing the city was William's main goal during his coronation. He gives the order to start building a fortress around the city. So in 1100 the construction of the White Tower ends. The tower is protected by huge walls from the north, west and south sides. In 1377, all buildings in the Tower were completed.

The first prisoner was imprisoned in the Tower in 1100. At that time, the 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 their families, as well as representatives of the aristocracy and priests who fell into disgrace on charges of treason. The walls of the Tower also remember many executions and murders: Henry VI was killed in the Tower, as well as 12-year-old Edward V and his younger brother.

The prisoners were kept in those premises that were not occupied at that time. The terms of the conclusions were very different. So, 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 the defeat in the battle, spent a total of 25 years in the walls of the castle, until an incredible ransom was paid for him. Courtier Walter Raleigh, a navigator, poet and playwright, tried to brighten up 13 dreary years of imprisonment by working on the multi-volume work History of the World. After his temporary release, he was again imprisoned in the Tower and then executed. In the photo - the main gate of the fortress

The Tower gained its reputation as a sinister place of torture during the Reformation. Henry VIII, obsessed with the desire to have a son-heir, severed all relations with the Roman Catholic Church and began to persecute anyone 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 betrayal 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 of the royal family, who posed a threat to the English throne, were escorted to the Tower and then executed.

The young son of Henry, the Protestant Edward VI, who ascended the throne, continued the series of cruel 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 turned out to be pawns in a bitter struggle for power. Now it is 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, when she became queen, she dealt with those who refused to change 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 on the territory of 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 only lasted nine days on the throne. Most of the other executions - mostly beheadings - took place on the nearby Tower Hill, where huge crowds of fans of such spectacles flocked. The severed head was put on a stake and put on public display on London Bridge as a warning to others. The headless body was taken to the Tower and buried in the cellars of the chapel. In total, more than 1,500 bodies were buried in these cellars.

In some cases, usually only with official permission, prisoners were tortured into confessing their guilt. In 1605, Fox, Guy Fawkes, who tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament and the King during the Gunpowder Plot, was hung on the tower rack before execution, which forced him to name his accomplices.

In the 17th century, England and the Tower for some time fell into the hands of Oliver Cromwell and the Parliamentarians, but after Charles II was again elevated to the throne, the Tower prison was not particularly replenished. In 1747, the last beheading took place on Tower Hill. However, the history of the Tower as a state prison did not end there. During World War I, 11 German spies were imprisoned and shot in the Tower. During the Second World War, prisoners of war were temporarily kept there, among whom Rudolf Hess also spent several days. The last victim executed within the walls of the fortress was Josef Jacobs, accused of espionage and shot in August 1941.

At the beginning of the 13th century, John the Landless kept lions in the Tower. However, the royal menagerie came about when John's successor Henry III received three leopards, a polar bear and an elephant as a gift from European monarchs. Although the animals were kept for the amusement of the king and his retinue, one day all of London witnessed a unique spectacle when a bear on a leash rushed into the Thames to catch a fish. Over time, the menagerie was replenished with an even greater 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. Pictured below is the model. Tower of London

For more than 500 years, the Tower housed the main branch of the royal mint. One of its most tumultuous periods came under the reign of Henry VIII, when coins were minted from silver requisitioned from ruined monasteries. In addition, important state 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. In the photo below - weapons

Effective, right?)

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 along the river and entered the Tower through the “Traitors' Gate”. When the accused was being led from the trial, the observers watched where the prison guard's ax was pointed. The blade aimed at the prisoner foreshadowed another execution.

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

Keepers of the royal treasury guard the famous jewels of the British Empire. The treasury has been open to visitors since the 17th century. Among the gems that adorn crowns, orbs and scepters - which are still used by members of the royal family during solemn ceremonies - you can see the world's largest high-quality faceted diamond, Cullinan I.

The current Tower bears little resemblance to the formidable fortress that it went down in history. Back in 1843, the moat was filled up, and instead of water, a bright green lawn appeared here, shading the gray stone of the walls. During numerous restorations, windows were enlarged, including those in the White Tower. A large number of trees have been planted. In the past, such a harsh and literally blood-stained courtyard was largely sown with grass, and black tower ravens roamed importantly around it. When the menagerie was moved to Regent's Park in 1831, the ravens were left in the fort. They are surrounded by special care - the state pays the garrison of the Tower two shillings fourpence a week to feed the birds. The palace “ravenmaster”, or Ravenmaster, takes care of a flock of black crows. The fact is that, according to legend, the foundations of Britain are unshakable until the ravens leave the Tower. For greater security, however, the wings of the birds are clipped.

Today Tower of London- one of the main attractions of the UK. It hasn't changed much since the past. The symbol of the ominous past of the Tower is the place where the scaffold of Tower Hill used to be. Now a small memorial plaque has been 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.” At present, the main buildings of the Tower are a museum and an 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, which are mainly inhabited by service personnel and distinguished guests.

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 of London (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 Lighthelm / flickr.com) Francesco Gasparetti / flickr .com maureen / flickr.com Inside exterior 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 the royal power and the power of the state. The treasures of the king were kept here, and state criminals were kept in prison under the supervision of guards.

The Tower was founded in 1066. It was built after the conquest of England by the Normans. The Tower of London was founded by William the Conqueror. He began to strengthen his power in the field and built 36 castles. London, as a fairly large city, is no exception. Near the Thames, ancient Roman walls have been preserved, and it was decided to build a fortress in this place. The sculpture of Hadrian, the emperor of Rome, is in the modern castle, in the Tower Museum.

White Tower - The Heart of the Tower

The first building 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 later came from the White Tower, since the Tower (English) is translated as a tower.

The construction called the White Tower is famous for the fact that the chronology of the Tower began with it. It was the residence of kings and the Norman keep.

White Tower Tower (Lee Penney / flickr.com)

For a long time, the Tower did not have the fortifications that can be seen today in the castle museum. The first fortifications for defense were created only in the 13th century, when, after the Crusades, England became acquainted with the Eastern tradition of building castles.

For this reason, the thickness of the walls 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, but also a prison. The first prisoner who came here was Bishop Ranulf Flambard. At the same time, he was the first who managed to escape from the custody of the guards. He managed to escape thanks to the rope, which was given to him in a bottle.

White Tower inside and out

The entrance to the White Tower was located much higher than the ground level. This is a tribute to the Norman tradition. A wooden ladder was attached to it, from which, in the event of a sudden attack, it might have been possible to quickly get rid of. As in other donjons, the White Tower has a vast basement and a well.

The lowest floor of the White Tower was assigned to the constable - ruling in the absence of the ruler in London. And also for the lieutenant who replaced the manager.

On the second floor there is the 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 controlled by Chancellor William Longchept.

Inner side of outer wall, Tower of London (Orangeaurochs / flickr.com)

Since there was a threat of an attack on the castle by the brother of the king, the chancellor began to strengthen the protection of the Tower. For this, defensive fortifications were built, a moat with water appeared around the fortress.

Under the reign of Richard, the area occupied by the Tower 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 the Landless. He ascended the throne, but failed to win the favor of the barons. Therefore, the Tower of London was again besieged. To stay on the throne, the king was forced to make concessions. The Magna Carta was signed. Since then, the stage of constitutional monarchy has begun. But the king was in no hurry to fulfill the promise, and this led to the First Baronial War.

Tower menagerie

John Landless is also famous for having founded a menagerie in the Tower. During his reign, lions were kept here. Henry III, who ascended the throne after him, added leopards to the zoo, as well as a polar bear and a real elephant.

During the history of the castle, the menagerie was constantly replenished with various rare and exotic animals. Elizabeth I even allowed Londoners to visit the menagerie and the 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 those animals that were kept here were exhibited in the castle.

Ravens of the Tower

Crows of the Tower - a population of ravens permanently living on the territory of the castle. This is another attraction of the castle-museum of Great Britain. Under King Charles II, a legend appeared that ravens were an important part of the castle, and without them the Tower of London could not exist.

These birds are the black guardians of the castle. Therefore, since then, a tradition has developed to take care of these ravens, which is followed to this day, and now the Raven Keeper works in the castle.

Changes under Henry III

Under Henry III, the Tower thoroughly expanded its territory. Stone walls and 9 towers were built. This area is now designated as the Courtyard. The purpose of many towers is indicated by their very names. For example, the Bell Tower. It housed the main bell. Or Archery Tower. It was engaged in the manufacture of bows and crossbows, as well as siege weapons.

View of the Tower from the Shard (Rick Lighthelm / flickr.com)

Lanthorn Tower - its name comes from the Old English word for "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 chambers and other living quarters of the royal family. Between these towers a spacious room for the hall was specially built.

Also during the reign of Henry, the Bloody Tower was built. She is famous for a very sad story. Edward V and his brother, another heir to the throne, Richard of York, were killed in it. The people called them the princes of the Tower, they were imprisoned in the tower under the supervision of the 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 were already 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 has a width of 50 meters and a great depth. A new main entrance has been made. Gates were divided into external and internal. A barbican was also built, which was called the Lion Tower. They kept lions 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 the famous Traitor's Gate was located - another of the attractions of the museum-castle. Through them, the guards brought new prisoners of the prison along the water.

The king also moved the mint to the Tower. The fortress walls of the Tower under Edward began to have loopholes for shooters - the guards of the castle. The Beauchamp Tower grew, for the construction of which, for the first time in English history, brickwork was used. To make the castle less dependent on external conditions, water mills were made. The area occupied by buildings under King Edward is now called the Outer Court.

Tower at present

After King Edward, the Tower became the way it can be seen 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 landmark of Great Britain. Until now, this castle is very popular among tourists.

The Tower of London (in English “the Tower of London”) is one of the most outstanding architectural monuments in Great Britain. For several centuries of its existence, it was an arsenal, a treasury, a place for storing royal jewels, but it became the most famous for its prison. Behind its high thick walls, the lives of an infinite number of people ended, among which were kings and dukes, rebels and rebels. And each of them knew the truth - who owns the Tower, owns Britain. We invite you to plunge into the history of the great rise and fall of the monarchy.

Panorama of the Tower of London

History of the Tower of London

The history of this place is almost a thousand years and goes back to the time of the Norman conquests. The Tower was built in 1078 as a fortress of the Duke of Normandy, and then the British King William the Conqueror. After his victory over King Harold at the Battle of Hastings, he took the royal throne. However, troubled times and the constant fear of English reprisals forced the king to create a reliable fort that would provide him with peace. With the coming to power of Henry III, in the 13th century, the Tower of London turned from a gloomy fortress into a full-fledged residence. He gave orders to create a treasury, a church and an office. Gardens and walking paths appeared on the territory. And it was at this time that the Tower of London was painted in its already familiar white color.

During the reign of King Henry, the Tower began to be used as a prison, but during the same period it served as a palace in which important guests were received. Often they visited the monarch with gifts in the form of living creatures. It was for her that Henry III ordered the construction of the Lion Tower - a mini-zoo, where even leopards, donated by the French king, lived.

Another grandiose building adjacent to the castle is the bridge. It is distinguished by its design: suspended with an adjustable part. This year marks the 124th anniversary of its construction. During its existence, it has repeatedly become the cultural center of the city, because art exhibitions are held in special pedestrian corridors of the twin towers, and there is also a permanent exhibition dedicated to the history of the building. So the Tower of London and the bridge became the face of the capital.

Tower of London today

Although the history of the prison ended at the end of the 20th century, the fortress keeps most of its traditions today. One of them is the key ceremony. Every morning the palace is opened for visitors by beefeaters - the guards of the Tower of London. They received this unofficial name due to their history of serving the royal family. The guards who guarded the king received a significant advantage - they could eat the same meat as he. This is where this strange phrase “beef eater” (in English “beef eater”) comes from - one who eats beef. These men also stood out for their appearance: bright red uniforms, similar to Tudor era clothing.

Another integral part of the Tower of London is the ravens, the guards of the kingdom. One of the local legends says that the British Monarchy will exist as long as these birds live in the Tower. That is why a separate security worker takes care of the winged family here. Crows even have their wings clipped to prevent them from flying away in search of another home.

After the gates are closed, the building begins to live its normal life, becoming a cozy home for the guards and her family. However, can a place that has become a dungeon for hundreds of people be completely calm?

In the evening, an atmosphere of watchful silence hangs over the castle, from time to time it is broken by the cawing of crows. Add horror to the Tower of London descriptions of its guards. They talk about ghosts and spirits that they have seen over the years of work. The legends of the Tower of London disturb the sleep of the locals. Beefeaters even assure that after dark they try not to get into certain places of the fortress.

How many guilty and innocent souls remained forever in the stone walls of this castle? How many are buried within these walls? Despite all the publicity of the tourist place, how many interesting facts does the Tower hide? Many, and we will share a few of them with you.

The castle became Anne Boleyn's life prison. The queen beheaded here, who was accused of treason during her lifetime, continues to wander the corridors even after her death. They say that her ghost periodically goes to the church where Anna was reburied.

Visitors are intimidated by ghost bears. The guards say that from time to time guests are frightened by the ghost of a bear that once got out of the zoo and scared one of the inhabitants of the castle to death.

The photos disturb the peace of visitors to the Tower, in which the ghosts of two little boys appear. At the end of the 15th century, two princes, aged 10 and 12, disappeared from the fortress. Almost a hundred years later, their burials were discovered, and recently scientists found out that their relative King Henry VI became the murderer of the royal heirs. Restless souls still walk around the Tower.

The last execution in the castle took place less than 80 years ago. During World War II, the German spy Joseph Jacobs was shot in the fortress. And although Great Britain abandoned the death penalty almost twenty years later, in the 60s of the last century, the bloody history of the Tower ended there.

Great Britain almost lost its symbol during the German bombardment. In 1940-1941, London suffered devastating destruction from Nazi bombings. At the same time, all the ravens that lived in the Tower, except for one, died from stress. According to the legend, the fortress, and at the same time the monarchy, were on the verge of falling.

Where is the Tower located: address, opening hours and excursions

The Tower of London is located at St Katharine's & Wapping, London EC3N 4AB. You can get to it by metro. The nearest station is Fenchurch Street, 5 minutes from the fort, London Bridge station, 15 minutes walk.
The tower is open from 09:00 to 17:30 on weekdays and from 10:00 on weekends. However, please note that tourists are allowed to enter until 17:00.

Entrance tickets can be bought online and printed out by yourself. E-tickets are cheaper than those bought directly on the spot. The entrance fee for adults is about 23 pounds, for children from 5 to 16 years old - 11 pounds. Children under 5 years of age can enter free of charge. There are also discounts for students, people with disabilities and the elderly.

Hanna Koval