| The Tower of London has a fascinating history | | | | known is the mystery of the two boy princes in the |
| spanning nearly 1,000 years. It has served various | | | | 1480s. The two sons of Edward IV, Edward V and his |
| purposes over the centuries - fortress, prison, royal | | | | younger brother Richard, were housed in the Tower |
| palace, jewel house, mint, arsenal and place of | | | | by their Uncle (Richard, Duke of Gloucester) for |
| execution. | | | | 'protection' after the death of their father in 1483. |
| When work was begun by William the Conqueror in | | | | Edward V was to be crowned King. However, the |
| 1078, Londoners had never seen anything of the like | | | | Duke took the throne himself and after remaining in the |
| before. He had stone specially imported from France | | | | Tower for a short while afterwards, the boys |
| to build the White Tower and its unique Norman style | | | | vanished. Their fate is still a mystery today, although it |
| was quite outlandish to the locals. | | | | is commonly believed that their uncle had them |
| William saw the need to build a fortress in this | | | | murdered. |
| powerful and prosperous city not to defend it from | | | | In the 17th century, the Crown Jewels were first put on |
| foreign invasion, but to protect the conquering Normans | | | | public display, and they can still be seen there today. It |
| from the city's own inhabitants. For centuries | | | | was also during this period that the Tower started to |
| afterwards, the Tower served the same purpose, | | | | be used as an arsenal and armoury. During the 19th |
| providing safety and security for various monarchs | | | | century, however, the Tower gradually lost many of its |
| from their own subjects in turbulent times. | | | | functions. As explained above, the menagerie was |
| As time passed and needs changed, the Tower was | | | | moved to London Zoo. The Royal Mint was moved to |
| adapted and extended until it became an extensive | | | | new buildings elsewhere in the city (although it's now |
| complex of fortifications. The 13th century saw the | | | | based in Cardiff) and the War Office moved the |
| establishment of a Royal Mint on the premises, as well | | | | weaponry elsewhere. This wasn't the beginning of the |
| as a menagerie. This private collection of exotic | | | | end for the Tower, though. In fact, it heralded a new |
| beasts is thought to have begun when Henry III | | | | and exciting period for the fortress. Medieval |
| received three big cats (leopards or possibly lions) as a | | | | romanticism had started to become fashionable in |
| wedding present in 1235. The Lion Tower was built to | | | | Victorian times and architectural and historical interest |
| house the collection, which had become a public | | | | in the Tower started to increase. The Victorians |
| attraction by the late 18th century. However, with the | | | | undertook an enormous programme of restoration and |
| opening of London Zoo in the early 19th century, the | | | | reconstruction, paving the way for it to become one of |
| animals were transferred and the menagerie closed | | | | Britain's most popular tourist attractions. Indeed, by the |
| down. The Lion Gate is all that remains of the area | | | | mid 19th century visitors were coming in droves and a |
| where it was housed. | | | | ticket office had to built at the main entrance to cope |
| The Tower of London is probably most well known | | | | with the crowds. |
| today for its notorious history of gunpowder, treason, | | | | The Tower was very much still in use as an official |
| imprisonment and murder. From the early days it was | | | | public building though. Even in the 20th century, it was |
| used as a prison and place of execution, often for | | | | used as a prison during World War Two. The last |
| very high profile or illustrious captives. Henry VIII had | | | | execution took place here in 1941 - a German army |
| two of his wives beheaded on Tower Green - Anne | | | | sergeant was shot in the grounds by firing squad for |
| Boleyn and Catherine Howard. The Reformation was | | | | spying. |
| a particularly gruesome time, when hoards of political | | | | To this day, it still retains its function as a royal |
| and religious prisoners were incarcerated and | | | | residence and home of the Crown Jewels. As a result, |
| executed. Probably the most famous is Lady Jane | | | | it's still guarded by its own ancient regiment of |
| Grey, whom Edward VI declared his successor just | | | | Yeomen Warders (more commonly known as |
| before his death in 1553, fearing that his own daughter | | | | Beefeaters) whose role is to guide and entertain |
| Mary would restore Catholicism. She was only a few | | | | tourists as much as it is to defend the Tower. |
| days into her reign when Mary took the throne from | | | | Although no royals have lived at the Tower for a long |
| her cousin and had her imprisoned and eventually | | | | time, it still has one very important set of residents - |
| executed on Tower Green in 1554. Mary also | | | | the famous ravens. These black, long-beaked birds |
| famously had her half-sister Elizabeth (later to become | | | | have been here for centuries. An old legend states |
| Queen Elizabeth I) imprisoned there for three months | | | | that Britain will never be invaded as longs as ravens |
| under suspicion of plots against her. Elizabeth herself | | | | remain there, so they can still be seen wandering |
| had various notables incarcerated in the Tower upon | | | | around the grounds today and even have their own |
| her succession to the throne after Mary's death - from | | | | guards to look after them. No-one's taking any risks |
| aristocrats and dukes to clergymen and bishops. | | | | though - their wings are clipped to ensure they'll never |
| Another event for which the Tower is infamously | | | | leave! |