The Tower of London

The Tower of London is located in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and
it stands on the north bank of the River Thames separated from the City of
London by Tower Hill.

The Normans built the earlier parts of the castle. William the Conqueror
constructed the White Tower in 1078 and this gives the whole castle its name.

Richard the Lion heart added to the castle in the 12th century and Edward I
added the outer ward in the 13th century. The layout of the Tower of London
has remained pretty much unchanged since.

The White Tower is a keep. It has 4 corner towers and has 3 storeys. The
Normans intended the keep to be used as a home as well a stronghold.

Following the death of Edward IV, Richard Duke of Gloucester (later to be

Richard III) was named Lord Protector while Edward V (who was 12) was too
young to rule. Richard kept Edward V and his brother, Prince Richard, in the
Tower of London. They were last seen in June 1483. Many people believe that
they were murdered and some believe that Richard III was Responsible.
In Tudors Times, the Tower of London wasn’t used
very often as a royal residence. Instead, it became a
place to house high-status prisoners.

Contrary to popular belief, the Tower of London

did not have its own purpose built torture chamber.
However, that’s not to say its prisoners weren’t
tortured. Guy Fawkes, for example, was brought to
the Tower of London and confessed to the
Gunpowder Plot after being tortured.

Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard were both imprisoned and executed in the
Tower of London.

Sir Walther Raleigh was imprisoned there, and so Elizabeth I (before she was
Queen) on suspicious of her involvement in Wyatt’s Rebellion, a revolt against
Mary I.

Lady Jane Grey was executed within the walls of the Tower of London on
Tower Green.

During World War 2 the Tower of London was used as a prison to secure
prisoners of war. A German spy, Josef Jakobs, was the last person to be
executed at the Tower of London. He was killed by a firing squad in 1941.

On 23rd September 1940 the Tower of

London was bombed during the Blitz.
Several buildings in the castle grounds
were damaged, but luckily the White
Tower wasn’t hit.
 At all times six ravens must be kept at
the Tower of London. Legend says
that if anything happens to the ravens
the kingdom will fall. The birds are
cared for by the Yeoman Warders.

The Crown Jewels have been held at the Tower of London since the reign of
Henry III.

The Tower of London used to house the Royal Menagerie – the Royal Zoo.
Over the years the Tower has been home to a polar bear (who used to go
fishing in the River Thames), an elephant, lions and leopards.

Many people believe that the Tower of London is haunted. People report to
have seen the ghosts of Anne Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey and the murdered
Princes.