Welcome to The Scoop!
We'll be looking at how the White Tower
was a state-of-the-art Norman crib
which showed off the best of Norman culture
Nope! Three words: battlements, arrow loops
Anglo-Saxons-scared-of-massive-tower
'Anglo-Saxons-scared-of-massive-tower' is not a word
Some historian you are
Look at the architecture!
[Squabbling]
Sorry about them
They raise a good point though
How did the White Tower function under the Normans?
Let's get The Scoop!
Zippidee-Scoop-da Zippidee--day
But how did the White Tower
really function under the Normans?
What was it used for?
Nowadays it houses the Royal Armouries
fancy-pants warders and tourists
who definitely think they saw the Queen walk by
But back in the Norman days
it would have been home to absolute units
like this guy
You were a soldier in the White Tower
and can I just say you are looking great
Oh stop it
No, I mean it. I never give up false compliments
Do you have Insta?
Of course you don't
Talk us through your daily routine
Well firstly I might get some new weaponry
from the White Tower's craftsman
You know fletchers, bowyers, blacksmiths,
people like that
Then I go on patrol on these high-level walkways
looking out for anything dangerous or unusual
and what would you do
if you did see anything unusual or threatening?
See it. Say it. Shoot it
[Looses arrow followed by scream]
Oh my.
And we might need a new intern
While we clean up here
Mindiana Bones is live at the White Tower
Thanks Jez.
Get a room you two-
is not something the Normans would have said
Nowadays we expect rooms to have specific uses
such as sleeping in or dining
Not so with the Normans
These sockets were used
for bars that went across great wooden doors
blocking off or opening up these archways
meaning the space could have a whole range of functions
from banquets to councils to sleeping quarters
Everyone loves a banquet
And where does the food come from?
There was likely a kitchen in an outbuilding
and the food was carried over to the White Tower
up long spiral staircases meaning
meaning the food was probably cold
by the time it arrived
Sushi?
Not sushi
Thank you.
Culture kid, Lucian Dursley
Hiya!
Let's be real kids
The White Tower's style reminded everyone
they were in an expensive building
which boasted the latest fashions
in Romanesque architecture
Take a look at these beautiful rounded arch windows
and columns inspired by ancient Greece and Rome
You want more gold?
I've got gold for you
Take a look at the sloping design of this fireplace
designed to keep the room toasty
and take the smoke outside
State-of-the-art features like these
suggest the Normans were interested in
what it would be like to actually live here
and receive guests and dignitaries
No you've missed the most important bit Dursley
This fireplace leads to multiple chimney openings
on the side of the building
which meant that smoke came from loads of places
from just one fire
And why?
Because of those clever Normans
and their military brains
All the smoke deceived the Anglo-Saxons
and made them believe
that there were more soldiers inside
Bish! Bash! Bosh!
Well yes. There are multiple chimney openings
but that's not a military feature
All that smoke made the Tower look luxurious
and expensive and increased its symbolic power
Rubbish!
You only get symbolic power
from soldiers threatening to massively own you
if you mess with the Normans
Can you two try and agree on something please?
No. No.
Oh boy they're annoying
like biscuit crumbs in bed or my unshakeable despair
Time for our next guest
It's the son of William the Conqueror
and second Norman King of England: William Rufus
William Rufus or King William II?
Call me whatever man, we're chill
The year is 1100
The White Tower is nearly finished after hefty construction
Are you looking forward to moving in?
Yeah.
I mean I've been staying in my Palace at Westminster
so I haven't really seen it yet
but it's gonna be mint
What's the mintest bit?
Give us a hint of mint
Right, okay
So we've got all mod cons
like garderobe toilets on the northern and eastern sides
we've got our own well, which is 'well' good
That was a joke
Great joke your majesty
Whatever no worries
These sweet-looking niches by the fireplace are like 'Ooo'
Lovely
And what are those niches for?
They're like cupboards
Shelves for candles, little mouse house
Don't know
And the hall we're looking at here
possibly served as private chambers
and it's just next to the chapel
Why is that?
Oh yeah.
I like to get a chapel as often as I can man
Get my fix of holiness
Keep the church people happy
because they've got a lot of like-
money and power
You had a few run-ins with the church in your time
Didn't you?
Arguments with Archbishops
Taking the church's money for yourself
Oh I see.
The mainstream media spreading lies
about the little guy
You are literally a king
This interview is over!
By the face of Lucca!
Crying shame
But now he's gone
The Scoop can exclusively reveal that William Rufus
didn't enjoy the newly completed White Tower
for very long because he died
In a mysterious hunting accident in 1100
His younger brother Henry seized the throne
and locked up Rufus's right-hand man
Ranulf Flambard in the White Tower
so at the turn of the 12th century
the White Tower fulfilled a whole new function
for which it will become famous: as a prison
Now a final report from the White Tower
[Squabbling]
Look you two
You have both been a total nightmare today
Apologise to each other!
I can't hear you
I'm sorry I'm sorry
You can have different historical interpretations
of this 11th century building
and not get at each other's throats, can't you?
Good
The White Tower served as daily living quarters
a meeting place
a military fortress for defense and control
a status symbol of Norman culture
and the site of an uneasy alliance
between the monarchy and the church
But what do you think of all of this?
And which do you think were the most important
functions of the Norman White Tower?
King William Rufus lying dead in a forest
This sounds like a job
for The Scoop's premiere and only detective
Franklin D. Tective
No we don't have time
Thanks Frank.
Now I won't have time to do a catchphr-