| The Tower of London is one of the oldest and | | | | The Tower of London has been the setting for |
| most well preserved buildings in the world. | | | | a great number of important historical |
| Over time, the Tower of London has been used | | | | moments in the history of London, and the |
| to protect England from its enemies, as well | | | | history of England as a whole. The Tower of |
| as palace for the royal family. Visiting the | | | | London is also where the crown jewels are |
| Tower of London is a must for any first time | | | | kept. It is unknown what the actual value of |
| London visitor, as well as those who have | | | | all of the gold, silver, and gemstones in the |
| traveled to London a few times. | | | | royal collection. Kings and queens throughout |
| | | | the ages have worn items from the collection. |
| The Tower of London has been watched over by | | | | Having just been worn so long ago, and during |
| yeoman warders since the very beginning of | | | | such key moments in history make the crown |
| its existence in 1078. The warders take care | | | | jewels priceless. |
| of the buildings within the Tower of London | | | | |
| making sure that all of the buildings are | | | | One of the oldest ceremonies at the Tower of |
| kept safe from intruders as well as watch to | | | | London that still survives today is the |
| ensure that none of the prisoners of the | | | | ceremony of the keys. The ceremony of the |
| Tower of London were able to escape. Since | | | | keys is the ceremonial locking up of the |
| their inception yeoman warders have been | | | | tower on London each night. The ceremony has |
| required to take an oath to the Tower of | | | | been completed in the exact same way, every |
| London, and their servitude of the structure | | | | single night for almost seven hundred years. |
| and the monarchy. In early years the yeoman | | | | Each night just before 10pm the chief warder |
| warders would have preformed their duties in | | | | comes from byward tower carrying the |
| plain clothes, today the warders have much | | | | traditional lantern lit with a candle and |
| more stately attire. | | | | precedes to a place a bloody tower. An |
| | | | exchange commences; as the doors are locked |
| Over time the Tower of London has become | | | | the chief warder and sentry perform the |
| known for the great number of people that | | | | famous exchange: |
| have been executed at the Tower of London. | | | | |
| Some of the more famous executions include | | | | "Halt" "Who comes there?" "The Keys" "Who's |
| Anne Boleyn in 1530, which was Henry VIII | | | | Keys?" "Queen Elizabeth's Keys" "Pass Queen |
| second wife. She was beheaded and burned | | | | Elizabeth's Keys - All's well". The Tower of |
| because Henry suspected her of committing | | | | London is a structure filled with history. A |
| adultery, and Sir Walter Raleigh an explorer | | | | visit to the tower can be a great learning |
| to the Americas who fell out of favor with | | | | experience for young children as well as |
| Elizabeth I. He spent twelve years in the | | | | adults. Each time you visit the tower you |
| tower to be released for only two short years | | | | can learn something new about the tower, its |
| before finding himself back there again being | | | | content, and walk away with a new piece of |
| beheaded in 1618. | | | | knowledge about English history. |
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