Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, or Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London.
William the Conqueror Duke of Normandy was victorious at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066, but the Saxon forces defending London did not surrender the city until December of the same year. From 1066 to 1087 William the Conqueror founded 36 castles and fortresses, which served as military fortifications, centres of the new administration, and living quarters.
London Fortress
At that time London was the largest city in England, and the Westminster Abbey and Palace of Westminster, founded under Edward the Confessor, made London the administrative centre. In addition, London has always remained a major port. With all this in mind, it is clear that gaining control of London was a high priority for William. Two other London castles, Baynard and Monfiche, were founded at the same time. The third castle - the one that would later become the Tower of London - was founded near the river, on the remains of Roman defence walls. The castle was originally surrounded by a moat and a wooden palisade and most likely served as William's residence.
The Tower is one of the first Norman castles built in stone. The White Tower, which gave its name to the entire fortress, was the first to be erected. The dimensions of the Tower are 36 by 32 metres at the base and 27 metres in height. It is one of the largest citadels in the world and the most perfect palace of the 11th century. The entrance to the tower is located at the level of the first floor, to it led a wooden staircase, which can be quickly removed in case of enemy attack. The ground floor is devoted to warehouses, the tower has a well, a chapel, and, as the Tower was also intended for habitation, four fireplaces heat the inner halls.
Under Richard the Lionheart, construction of the outer range of castle walls began. This wall was rebuilt and reinforced later, and four more towers were added to the original nine. The third row of walls appeared under Edward I.
Prison, treasure, ghosts...
The Tower held prisoners of noble birth and high rank, and its walls could tell many dark and scary stories. Prisoners were last held in the Tower during World War II.
As the country's main citadel, the Tower served and still serves as a repository for royal regalia and jewellery. The treasury is open to the public and tourists can see with their own eyes the largest cut diamond, the Cullinan, crowning the royal sceptre. The mint was also located here for a long time.
Until 1835, the Tower had a royal menagerie, which attracted many visitors; then the animals were transferred to the London Zoo.
And of course, a castle with such a history can not help but be inhabited by ghosts. Anne Boleyn is most often seen carrying her head under her arm, while Henry VI, Margaret Pole and Lady Jane Grey - "the queen for nine days" - are less frequently seen.
Beefeaters and Royal Crows
The Tower's ceremonial guards - the "yeoman guards" or "Beefeaters" - are themselves a London landmark and its hallmark. They trace their origins back to 1485, but their duties now consist mainly of carrying a guard of honour and giving tours of the Tower. In 1997, the first woman wore the famous red uniform with white collar.
"Beefeater" translates to "beef eater", but the guards themselves joke that the real "beef eaters" are the ravens that live in the Tower. Their diet includes raw meat. Legend has it that if the ravens leave the Tower, the fortress and the kingdom will fall. The birds have their feathers clipped on one wing so they can't fly away. Ravens are in Her Majesty's service, each has a personal card, and the bird can be dismissed from service - for example, "for improper behaviour".
On a side note
- Location: Tower Hill, London.
- Nearest tube station: Tower Hill
- Official website: http://www.hrp.org.uk
- Opening hours: daily March to October 9.00am to 5.30pm, Sunday and Monday 10.00am to 5.30pm; November to February 9.00am to 4.30pm, Sunday and Monday 10.00am to 4.30pm.
- Tickets: adult - £25pp, children from 5 to 15 years old - 12 p.s.f., students, disabled, visitors over 60 years old - 19.50 p.s.f., family (1 adult + 3 children 5-15 years old) - 45 p.s.f., family (2 adults + 3 children 5-15 years old) - 60 p.s.f.
