The Tower of London has reopened again after 100 days in lockdown.
We were there to take you on a tour with virtually no visitors!
It's a surreal and memorable visit. Join us for a brief history and highlights of
this thousand-year-old fortress.
The Tower of London sits majestically on the banks of the River Thames at tower hill.
A strategic position picked by its
founder William the Conqueror so it could be seen from afar.
William built the tower to establish his rule over the city following his victory
in the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. of course London has changed
drastically since then and the tower is dwarfed by the 21st
century skyline.
Currently running a one-way system in
the grounds due to covid you enter under the Byward Tower in the
southwest corner.
Walking through the defenses and the
port callus, we pass a Yeoman Warder or Beefeater as
they're more commonly known. Guardians of the tower they protect the
crown jewels and have given guided tours since the Victorian era.
Just here on Mint Lane the Royal Mint was located until 1810.
Originally a Royal residence, over the centuries it's turned into the
Royal Armory and a prison with a grisly history.
As we move down Water Lane we arrive at Traitors Gate,
a waterway entrance to the Tower from the Thames for King Edward I,
this became more famous for bringing prisoners to the tower.
Speculation has it that Anne Boleyn came through here by barge
before being decapitated the high treason on the orders of King Henry VIII.
The infamous bloody tower gets its name from the mysterious disappearance of
two Princes held there, supposedly for their
protection by Richard III.
They were never seen again until 1674
when two small skeletons were found under the stairs in one of the towers.
Widely believed to be the Prince's bodies they were interred at
Westminster Abbey. Visiting inside the tower is not
possible at present due to covid, in addition the torture in the tower
exhibition covering all the gruesome instruments of
torture was also out of action.
It is said that the kingdom and tower will fall if the six resident ravens
ever leave the fortress. Charles II is thought to have been the first to insist
that the ravens of the tower be protected after he was warned of this
impending disaster. Today tradition is upheld and seven
ravens, six and one spare, are free to roam the
grounds looked after by the warders.
At the heart of the Tower of London is
the iconic White Tower, the largest tower in the castle and the
strongest from a military perspective. It provided accommodation for William
the Conqueror and his representatives and includes a chapel. We'll learn more
about this impressive structure a bit later.
Tower Green looks like a pretty square inside the castle
and it is, but there's more to it than first appears!
The tudor buildings including the Queen's House were built
probably for Anne Boleyn before her coronation in 1533.
Ironically it was also where she was imprisoned before her execution.
A sentry still guards the house to this day.
The other cottages around the green are used as houses and offices for the
yeoman warders, some of which live on site.
By the entrance to the bloody tower there is a recreation of a small
apothecary garden, tended to by the famous explorers
Sir Walter Raleigh. Once a favorite of Elizabeth I,
he fell out with James I and was imprisoned here three times before his
execution in Westminster.
Many heads are rolled on the green in the shadow of the Royal Chapel.
Most notably, three former Queens, Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard.
Both married to Henry VIII and both charged with adultery.
The third, the nine-day Queen Lady Jane Grey,
innocent victim of a failed coup, Mary Tudor ordered her execution.
This sculpture marks a spot and remembers those that were
condemned to death by the state.
We arrive at Waterloo Block, formerly at barracks for 800 soldiers,
now home to the Crown Jewels.
Armed guards patrol the perimeter of the Jewel House.
Inside you can see the powerful symbols of Monarchy with the world famous
collection of jewels worth three billion pounds!
At the heart of the collection is the
Coronation Regalia and Iimperial State Crown.
Sadly no video or photography is allowed inside.
Built to deter foreign invaders and
terrify londoners, the White Tower is probably the most
recognizable castle keep in the world. The Unesco World Heritage site, normally
2.7 million visitors step inside each year,
but you wouldn't think so today. It's hard to believe that this building is
almost a thousand years old.
The arms and armory collection in the
White Tower dates back to the 15th century.
Known then as the King's privy wardrobe, within the walls of the Tower of London
the department made armor and weapons for the monarch and his army.
By the time of Charles II there was a permanent collection of Spanish armory
on display, making it the first museum in Britain.
Today you can see a wonderful collection of artifacts many belonging to the
former Kings of England.
Just a part of the collection can be displayed.
Widely regarded as one of the best examples of Romanesque architecture,
the chapel of Saint John The Evangelist was probably used by the royal family
when they were in residence.
The top floor was closed but here you will find an original executioner's
block of the 18th century with an axe that
possibly dates back to Tudor times.
As we leave the tower behind you get views of the Thames and Tower Bridge
The path takes us to the east side of the tower where the headquarters of the
Royal Regiment of Fusiliers are housed, a former hospital block and a workshop.
You may have noticed the elephant and wonder what it's doing here in the tower.
Well, London's first zoo was actually in the Tower,
as a result of monarchs exchanging exotic animals as gifts.
The King of France sent an elephant in the 12th century
and londoners flocked to see it and the collection grew.
By the 19th century the menagerie was in decline and today's London Zoo is based
on that original collection.
As we exit the Tower of London, you get a chance to see the Thames facing part of
Traitor's Gate as we walk along the banks.
For information on advanced booking check out this website,
this will also include details of what is open inside the tower.
Check out our Icons of London video for more famous London attractions and
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Until the next time happy travels from the Memoryseekers.