| Do you know that the Tower Of London is probably | | | | At one time there was a moat that was drained in the |
| one of the the most famous prisons besides Sing Sing | | | | 1800's. Other buildings have been added through the |
| Prison in New York? It has been in existence for well | | | | years to make it a complete complex housing a Middle |
| over 800 years. It is twenty towers high and is filled | | | | Tower, Byward Tower, Garden Tower and a gate. |
| with a mixture of ancient history, culture and jewels. | | | | It is a study in history as there were at one time, |
| The initial structure was a fort used by William the | | | | famous tenants housed there such as Henry the VIII's |
| Conqueror. It was completed in 1000 AD. It stands over | | | | second wife, Little Princess and other victims of |
| a hundred feet high with walls as thick as sixteen feet | | | | former Kings. There are torture devices on display and |
| thick. It was obviously built to be very sturdy and to | | | | other items to view and other items to confirm that it |
| withstand all weather conditions and it remains a | | | | was indeed used, such as particles of blood on stones. |
| fortress. Once completed, it was the tallest building in | | | | Under King Henry's orders, his wife Anne Boleyn was |
| London. A king had it painted white in the 12th century | | | | executed in the Tower. She had been accused of |
| and thereby named, White Tower. | | | | inappropriate acts. However, she was executed |
| It then became and is still a prison. It also houses a | | | | because she had a daughter and not a son. Her |
| crown jewel collection Many former kings housed their | | | | daughter became the future Queen Of England. There |
| collections here. It has also been used throughout the | | | | are rumors of Anne's Boleyn's ghost lingering, so if you |
| years as a storage facility for records, the Royal Mint, | | | | go there, be careful! |
| the beginning of the Zoo, and an observatory. The | | | | The Crown Jewels is definitely worth seeing. There is |
| observatory was built in the 1600's. | | | | an actual Jewel House that contains stunning |
| Since the 1400's the Tower has been guarded by | | | | necklaces, earrings, rings and other beautiful jewelry. |
| wardens known as Beefeaters. They have bright red | | | | Former Queens have their jewelry stored here such |
| costumes on. Military personnel now provide this | | | | as Queen Victoria and others. There is also the Star |
| function. The distinct spiral staircase runs through the | | | | of Africa which is a large diamond which contains over |
| Towers. There is also a national museum of arms, | | | | 2,000 carats. This gem was found in an African mine in |
| which is London's oldest museum. The museum | | | | the 20th century. |
| contains over 30,000 pieces of armor. | | | | |