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