In what year was the tower founded? Medieval fortress Tower of London
Great Britain attractions await all travelers on their way to the Land of Foggy Albion. And, it must be said, there are a lot of them. The Tower of London is held in special esteem by tourists and local residents alike due to its rich historical past. Literally from English “Tower of London” - “tower”. If we talk about the actual structure, it is a majestic fortress, which is located on the northern bank of the Thames.
Mysterious and alluring place
England may be rich in attractions, but this particular building is one of the oldest in the whole country. The Tower of London is rightfully considered the historical center of the capital of Great Britain. If you take an interest in the history of this mysterious (and even gloomy) place, you can learn a lot of interesting things. Thousands of tourists flock to this place in order to touch the most ancient structure in England and get acquainted with its inexplicable facts of the past.
Rich historical past
Even during the Norman Conquest, this fortress towered over the Thames. Over the entire long history of its existence, the residence of the king and his court was located here; there was once a treasury here, and the mint produced money for the whole country. However, even less serious “responsibilities” were assigned to the fortress at different times. So, an observatory and a zoo were located here. But many heard that it was in this place that the noble prisoners of the Kingdom waited for their sentence and believed in the best in those days when the Tower was a prison. Truly, no other London attraction can boast of such a rich past.
The walls of this fortress were also reconstructed more than once, and the building itself was repeatedly completed and refurbished. This led to the fact that over the many centuries of its existence the fortress significantly changed its original appearance.
Tower of London: today
The fortress is famous for its guards, who are called beefeaters. They officially appeared in 1485, but they jealously guard the fortress walls to this day. There is another interesting position here - Ravensmaster - keeper of the ravens. From century to century, these birds are the legal residents of the fortress. And to prevent the birds from flying away, their wings are constantly clipped. This is due to a legend that says: when the ravens leave the tower, the entire English monarchy will fall. So the caretakers are taking such radical measures.
Next to the Tower of London, as if in continuation of the complex, there is an equally famous
The Tower of London (in English “the Tower of London”) is one of the most outstanding architectural monuments in Great Britain. For several centuries of its existence, it was an arsenal, a treasury, a place for storing royal jewelry, but it became most famous for its prison. Behind its high, thick walls, the lives of an infinite number of people ended, among whom were kings and dukes, rebels and rioters. And each of them knew the truth - whoever owns the Tower owns Britain. We invite you to plunge into the history of the great rise and fall of the monarchy.
Panorama of the Tower of London
History of the Tower of London
The history of this place is almost a thousand years old and goes back to the time of the Norman conquests. The Tower was built in 1078 as a fortress for the Norman Duke and then the British King William the Conqueror. After his victory over King Harold at the Battle of Hastings, he took the royal throne. However, troubled times and constant fear of English reprisals forced the king to create a reliable fort that would provide him with peace. With the coming to power of Henry III, in the 13th century, the Tower of London turned from a gloomy fortress into a full-fledged residence. He gave orders to create a treasury, a church and an office. Gardens and walking paths appeared on the territory. And it was at this time that the Tower of London was painted in its already familiar white color.
Drawing with a view of the old Tower During the reign of King Henry, the Tower began to be used as a prison, but during the same period it served as a palace in which important guests were received. They often visited the monarch with gifts in the form of livestock. It was for her that Henry III ordered the construction of the Lion Tower - a mini-zoo, where leopards, donated by the French king, even lived.
Another grandiose building adjacent to the castle is the bridge. It is distinguished by its design: suspended with an adjustable part. This year marks 124 years since its construction. During its existence, it has repeatedly become the cultural center of the city, because art exhibitions are held in special pedestrian corridors of the twin towers, and there is also a permanent exhibition dedicated to the history of the building. So the Tower of London and the bridge became the face of the capital.
Panoramic view of Tower Bridge Tower of London today
Although the history of the prison ended at the end of the 20th century, the fortress still retains most of its traditions today. One of them is the Key Ceremony. Every morning the palace is opened to visitors by Beefeaters - guards of the Tower of London. They received this unofficial name due to their history of serving the royal family. The guards guarding the king received a significant advantage - they could eat the same meat as him. This is where this strange phrase “beef eater” comes from – someone who eats beef. These men also stood out because of their appearance: bright red uniforms similar to Tudor era clothing.
Beefeaters - Tower Guards Another integral component of the Tower of London is the ravens, the guardians of the kingdom. One of the local legends says that the British monarchy will exist as long as these birds live in the Tower. That is why a separate security worker takes care of the winged family here. Crows even have their wings clipped to prevent them from flying away in search of another home.
The ravens that guard the Tower behind the legend After the gates are closed, the building begins to live its normal life, becoming a cozy home for the guards and her family. However, can a place that has become a dungeon for hundreds of people be completely calm?
In the evening, an atmosphere of wary silence hangs over the castle, from time to time it is broken by the cawing of crows. Adding to the eeriness of the Tower of London are the descriptions of its guards. They talk about ghosts and spirits they have seen over the years. Legends of the Tower of London disturb the sleep of local residents. Beefeaters even claim that after dark they try to avoid going into certain parts of the fortress.
How many guilty and innocent souls remain forever within the stone walls of this castle? How many of them are buried within these walls? Despite all the publicity of the tourist place, how many interesting facts does the Tower hide? There are many, and we will share a few of them with you.
Postcard showing the Tower from the early 16th century The castle became Anne Boleyn's prison for life. The queen who was beheaded here, accused of treason during her lifetime, continues to wander the corridors even after her death. They say that her ghost periodically goes to the church where Anna was reburied.
Visitors are intimidated by ghostly bears. The guards say that from time to time guests are frightened by the ghost of a bear that once got out of the zoo and scared one of the inhabitants of the castle to death.
The peace of visitors to the Tower is disturbed by photographs in which the ghosts of two little boys appear. At the end of the 15th century, two princes, aged 10 and 12, disappeared in the fortress. Almost a hundred years later, their burials were discovered, and recently scientists found out that their relative King Henry VI was the killer of the royal heirs. Restless souls still walk around the Tower.
The last execution in the castle took place less than 80 years ago. During World War II, German spy Joseph Jacobs was shot in the fortress. And although Great Britain abandoned the death penalty almost twenty years later, in the 60s of the last century, the bloody history of the Tower ended there.
Great Britain almost lost its symbol during the German bombing. In the 1940s and 1941s, London suffered devastating damage from Nazi bombing. At the same time, all the crows living in the Tower, except one, died from stress. If you believe the legend, the fortress, and at the same time the monarchy, were one step away from collapse.
Night view of the Tower Where is the Tower: address, opening hours and excursions
The Tower of London is located at St Catherine's & Wapping, London EC3N 4AB. You can get to it by metro. The nearest station is Fenchurch Street, 5 minutes from the fortress, London Bridge station is a 15-minute walk.
The Tower is open from 09:00 to 17:30 on weekdays and from 10:00 on weekends. However, please note that tourists are allowed to enter until 17:00.
Entrance tickets can be purchased online and printed yourself. Electronic tickets are cheaper than those purchased directly on the spot. Entry cost for adults is about 23 pounds, for children from 5 to 16 years old - 11 pounds. Children under 5 years old can enter free of charge. There are also discounts for students, people with disabilities and seniors.
Ganna Koval
Share:For nine centuries, the royal Castle Tower was a grim symbol of cruel judging, imprisonment, torture and execution. Apparently, its gloomy reputation is what attracts so many tourists here. Add beefeaters here (guards) in red uniform, legendary ravens and the shine of royal jewels, and you will understand the enormous popularity of the Tower.
www.hrp.org.uk
Tel: 020-7709 0765
paid entrance
Tower Hill Metro
Construction of the Tower of London began in 1078 by William the Conqueror to control the vital route from the sea to London. The White Tower became England's first stone watchtower. Henry III founded a palace here in the early 13th century, and although no monarch has lived here since Henry VII, the Tower officially remains the Royal Palace.
At various times, it housed an astronomical observatory, royal archives, a royal menagerie and a royal arsenal.
As a result of numerous reconstructions, the Tower turned into an irregular hexagonal fortress, surrounded by a moat and double defensive walls with crenellated towers. The narrow outer courtyard (patrolled area) is guarded by cylindrical towers.
Behind the wall there is a courtyard, a wide space enclosed on all sides. It was here that barracks for soldiers, houses, chapels and other buildings were built over the centuries. In the center rises the donjon - the ancient White Tower, topped with four onion domes on the corner turrets. This is one of the largest dungeons in medieval architecture in Western Europe.
Now the Tower is famous, first of all, for the fact that the treasury of the crown is kept here. However, the Tower's bloody history made it famous, as it remained a prison for torture and execution for centuries.
Legends and stories
Over the 900 years of the Tower's existence, legends and historical facts have been inextricably intertwined. On the south side of the outer wall is St. Thomas's Tower, and within it is the "Traitor's Gate" overlooking the Thames.
Those convicted of high treason in the Palace of Westminster were taken to this entrance to the Tower by boat, which was considered a great shame.
Just outside the "Traitor's Gate" in the inner wall is the Bloody Tower, facing the courtyard. The heir to the throne, Prince Edward, and his younger brother, Prince Richard, were brought here in 1483, immediately after the death of King Edward IV, on the orders of their uncle Richard, Duke of Gloucester. No one outside the walls of the Tower saw the boys again, and “Humpback Dick” was crowned Richard III that same year. In 1674, the skeletons of two boys were recovered from the ground nearby, which gave even more grounds for speculation that the ambitious duke ordered the death of his nephews. They were not the only royals killed here. Perhaps it was their father who ordered the murder of his predecessor Henry VI, who suffered from mental illness. In 1471 Henry VI was deposed, sent to the Tower and executed, and the people were informed that the king had died of grief.
Torture and execution are an integral part of the Tower's history. Traitors were executed publicly on Tower Hill, the square inside the fortress, but the “privileged” minority lost their heads on the Tower lawn in front of the White Tower. Among them are two wives of Henry VIII: the indomitable six-fingered Anne Boleyn (second wife), mother of Queen Elizabeth I, beheaded by the sword of a French executioner, and the unreasonable Katherine Howard (fifth wife), whose head was also cut off with an ax, like most other traitors.
Beefeaters
The fortress and the 2.5 million annual visitors to the Tower are protected by 42 beefeaters - the Tower's Life Guards. The key handover ceremony takes place daily at 21:35 (if you would like to attend the ceremony, please write in advance to the Constable of the Tower, Tower, ESZ). One of them holds the title of keeper of the ravens, and it is he who is responsible for them. According to legend, if the ravens fly away from the Tower, the kingdom will fall, so their wings are clipped!
Waterloo Barracks
You have to queue to get into Waterloo Barracks, where the English Crown Jewels are on display, but it's worth it. Here you will see the crown of Elizabeth II with the famous Kohinoor diamond and the crown made in 1837 for Queen Victoria. It is decorated with the “Small Star of Africa” diamond and a sapphire that belonged to Edward the Confessor.
Tower Castle in London is one of the main attractions of Great Britain. This is not just a magnificent architectural monument, but a symbol that occupies a significant place in the history of the English monarchy.
Location
The Tower Fortress is located in London, on the banks of the Thames River. This is one of the oldest buildings in England. Over its long history, the Tower has been a palace, a fortress, a prison, an observatory, a zoo, a mint, an arsenal, a repository of the English crown jewels, and also a place attractive to tourists coming from all over the world.
Construction
The Tower of London was built in several stages. History attributes the foundation of this building to the king who, immediately after the conquest of English lands, began building defensive castles in order to intimidate the local residents. As part of this large-scale event, the Tower was erected in 1078 on the site of the old wooden fort. It was a large quadrangular fortress measuring 32x36 m and 30 m high. After the death of William I, the next king of England ordered the building to be painted white, after which the structure was nicknamed the “White Tower”. King Richard the Lionheart built other towers of different heights and powerful fortress walls, encircling the monumental structure in two rows. A deep ditch was dug around the Tower, making it one of the most impregnable defensive structures in Europe.
Famous prisoners
The Tower of London received its first prisoner in 1100. This was Bishop Ralph Flambard, who, by the way, at one time took an active part in the construction of the fortress. The life of the prelate under the castle was very pleasant - he occupied magnificent apartments, used a separate office, and ate exquisite drinks and dishes. However, the prisoner escaped from the Tower at the first opportunity, using a rope that was handed to him in a jug of wine. The next prisoner, Griffin, Duke of Wales, was imprisoned in the fortress 150 years later and died (crashed) while trying to escape. After this, people of blue blood regularly became prisoners in the Tower. The kings of France and Scotland (John II, Charles of Orleans and James I of Scotland), as well as priests and aristocrats of various degrees and titles, visited here. The famous fortress became a place of bloody murders and executions. Here, the young princes were killed - twelve-year-old Edward V and his brother Richard, and King Henry VI was killed.
Prisoners were housed in free premises; the terms of restriction of freedom could be any. The founder of Pennsylvania in North America, Penn William, was imprisoned in the Tower for his religious beliefs and spent eight months there. The Duke of Orleans, Charles, was imprisoned in the fortress for a long 25 years and was released after paying a huge ransom for him. Reilly Walter - courtier, scientist and navigator - was imprisoned three times and served a total of thirteen years. He grew tobacco in the fortress garden and brightened up the painful loneliness by writing the multi-volume “History of the World.”
Matrimonial plans and religious differences
The Tower of London became a sinister place of torture after the accession to the throne of Henry VIII, whose keen desire to have a legitimate heir made him one of the greatest villains in English history. Henry broke off relations with the Greco-Roman Church, which refused to recognize his divorce from his first wife, beheaded his second, Anne Boleyn, who failed to bear him a son, and in a similar way got rid of the fifth, Howard Catherine, who also did not meet all his needs. Under this king, many dignitaries laid down their lives in the Tower.
The next king of England became a worthy successor to his father and did not skimp on death sentences. The daughter of Henry VIII - Mary - was a zealous Catholic and fiercely fought for the purity of the faith, which also could not do without bloody sacrifices. In addition, the cruel person, once on the throne, immediately beheaded her main competitor in the struggle for the throne - sixteen years old. Many Protestants died during the reign of Mary, but the next Queen of England - Elizabeth - evened the score and brutally dealt with the Catholics who had previously annoyed her. The history of the Tower of London is replete with brutal reprisals against high-ranking persons who fell into disgrace due to religious beliefs.
Executions and torture
Several thousand prisoners visited the Tower. However, only two men and five women received the honor of being beheaded on the territory of the famous fortress. Three of these high-ranking persons were queens: Jane Gray (lasted nine days on the throne), Catherine Howard and Anne Boleyn. Less high-born prisoners were executed nearby, on Tower Hill, where numerous lovers of bloody massacres gathered. The body of the executed criminal was to be buried in the fortress. The Tower Castle in London houses the remains of 1,500 prisoners in its cellars.
Torture of prisoners in the Tower was carried out only with the permission of official authorities. Thus, Guy Fawkes, a criminal who tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament, ended up on the Tower rack in 1605. This forced him to name the names of the masterminds of the Gunpowder Plot before his execution.
Tower - a place of imprisonment in modern history
After ascending the English throne, the Tower fortress in London was almost never replenished with prisoners. The last execution on Tower Hill took place in 1747, but the famous tower has been a place of imprisonment in modern times. During the First World War, eleven German spies were imprisoned here and then executed. During World War II, prisoners of war were held in the fortress, including Rudolf Hess. The last person executed on the territory of the fortress was Jacob Joseph, accused of espionage activities and executed in 1941. The last prisoners of the Tower were the Kray gangster brothers in 1952.
Other uses of the tower
It enjoyed success as a menagerie populated by exotic animals. The tradition was founded in the 17th century by Henry III, who received several animals as a gift and arranged a residence for them in the famous fortress. During the reign of Elizabeth I, the zoo was opened to visitors. Only in the 1830s was the menagerie in the Tower abolished.
For approximately 500 years, a branch of the Royal Mint operated in the fortress. In addition, significant legal and state papers were kept in the Tower, as well as military equipment of the royal army and the king himself.
Guarding the fortress and treasures of the British Empire
Special guards in the Tower arose in 1485. The palace guards of the fortress were nicknamed beefeaters (from the English “beef,” which means “beef”) because even in the most difficult years for the country, the diet of the brave Tower guards included a substantial portion of meat. Thus, the English monarchy provided itself with reliable defenders.
The Tower serves as a palace “ravenmaster” (raven keeper), whose responsibilities include caring for the flock of ravens that live on the territory of the fortress. An ancient legend says: if these black birds leave the Tower, then misfortune will befall Great Britain. To prevent crows from flying away, their wings are clipped.
The fortress houses the treasures of the British Empire. They are guarded by special caretakers. Visitors had the opportunity to admire royal jewels from the 17th century. Famous pieces include the world's largest cut diamond, the Cullian I.
Tower Bridge
Another glorious landmark of England is the famous Tower Bridge in London. It got its name due to its close location to the famous fortress. The drawbridge over the Thames was built in 1886-1894. Its length is 244 meters. The structure is located between two towers, the height of which is 65 meters. The central span is 61 meters long and is divided into two wings, which can be raised at an angle of 83° if necessary. Each wing weighs about one thousand tons, however, thanks to special counterweights, it deploys in about one minute. The span was initially driven by a water hydraulic system. In 1974, the bridge extension mechanism was equipped with an electric drive.
Pedestrians can cross the bridge even when it is open - for this purpose, connecting towers are provided in the middle part of the structure at a height of 44 m of the gallery. You can climb them using stairs located inside the towers. In 1982, the galleries began to serve as an observation deck and museum. in London is no less popular than the famous fortress itself.
View of the Tower from the Shard (DncnH / flickr.com) Main entrance to the Tower of London (dynamosquito / flickr.com) Alan Piper / flickr.com Francesco Gasparetti / flickr.com Jim Linwood / flickr.com White Tower of the Tower (Lee Penney / flickr.com) August / flickr.com shining.darkness / flickr.com Francesco Gasparetti / flickr.com Christian Reimer / flickr.com View of the Tower from the Shard (Rick Ligthelm / flickr.com) Francesco Gasparetti / flickr .com maureen / flickr.com Interior of external wall, Tower of London (Orangeaurochs / flickr.com) Gail Frederick / flickr.com
Throughout its existence, the castle was constantly being completed, its territory grew. The most important events for Great Britain took place here. During its history, the castle served as a fortress, royal residence and prison.
The Tower of London played a very important role in medieval England. It symbolized royal power and the power of the state. The king's treasures were kept here, and state criminals were kept in the prison under the supervision of guards.
The Tower was founded in 1066. It was built after the Norman conquest of England. The Tower of London was founded by William the Conqueror. He began to strengthen his local power and built 36 castles. London, as a fairly large city, was no exception. Ancient Roman walls have been preserved near the Thames, and in this place they decided to build a fortress. The sculpture of Hadrian, Emperor of Rome, is in the modern castle, in the Tower Museum.
White Tower – Heart of the Tower
The first structure that was erected here is the White Tower. Its construction began in 1077. The work was led by the Bishop of Rochester, Gandalf. The name of the castle subsequently came from the White Tower, since Tower (English) is translated as tower.
The building called the White Tower is famous for the fact that the chronology of the Tower began with it. It was the seat of kings and a Norman donjon.
White Tower Tower (Lee Penney / flickr.com)
For a long time, the Tower did not have the fortifications that can be seen today in the castle museum. The first fortifications for defense were created only in the 13th century, when, after the Crusades, England became acquainted with the eastern tradition of building castles.
For this reason, the thickness of the walls of the White Tower is 4 meters; it played the role of a fortress. In 1097, another ruler, William II the Red, built a stone wall.
The White Tower, the construction of which was completed only in the 12th century, is currently located in the center of the entire modern castle museum and is considered the Heart of the Tower. It contains rooms for the royal family.
When the White Tower was built, it immediately began to have not only a defensive purpose, but also a prison. The first prisoner to come here was Bishop Ranulf Flambard. At the same time, he was the first who managed to escape from the supervision of the guards. He managed to escape thanks to a rope that was given to him in a bottle.
White Tower inside and outside
The entrance to the White Tower was located significantly above ground level. This is a tribute to the Norman tradition. There was a wooden ladder attached to it, which might have been quickly removed in the event of a surprise attack. Like other dungeons, the White Tower has a large basement and a well.
The lowest floor of the White Tower was assigned to the constable - who ruled in the absence of the ruler in London. And also for the lieutenant who was replacing the manager.
On the second floor there is a Great Hall and rooms for the royal family.
Museum inside the Tower of London
Simon Gibson / flickr.com Doug Kerr / flickr.com Doug Kerr / flickr.com Kent Wang / flickr.com Francesco Gasparetti / flickr.com PROFrancesco Gasparetti / flickr.com Francesco Gasparetti / flickr.com *SHERWOOD* / flickr.com Maria Morri / flickr.com Chapel of St. John the Evangelist (eefeewahfah / flickr.com) Crossbow exhibit inside the White Tower of the Tower (Xiquinho Silva / flickr.com) elyob / flickr.com elyob / flickr.com elyob / flickr.com Rudolf Schuba / flickr.com Rudolf Schuba / flickr.com Rudolf Schuba / flickr.com
Changes to the castle under Kings Richard and John
Before the reign of Richard the Lionheart, the Tower of London did not undergo any changes for a long time. When Richard the Lionheart occupied the royal throne, his brother John claimed the role of ruler of the state. King Richard was often on campaign; his castle in the capital was ruled by Chancellor William Longchapt.
Interior of an outer wall, Tower of London (Orangeaurochs / flickr.com)
Since there was a threat of an attack on the castle by the king's brother, the chancellor began to strengthen the defense of the Tower. For this purpose, defensive fortifications were built, and a moat with water appeared around the fortress.
During Richard's reign, the area occupied by the Tower increased significantly. In 1191 the castle was besieged. It was more profitable for Longchapt to surrender, and John took the Tower of London.
John became king after Richard the Lionheart died. They began to call him John the Landless. He ascended the throne, but was unable to win the favor of the barons. Therefore, the Tower of London was again besieged. To remain on the throne, the king was forced to make concessions. The Magna Carta was signed. From then on, the stage of constitutional monarchy began. But the king was in no hurry to fulfill his promise, and this led to the First Baronial War.
Tower Menagerie
John the Landless is also famous for having founded a menagerie in the Tower. During his reign, lions were kept here. Henry III, who ascended the throne after him, added leopards to the zoo, as well as a polar bear and a real elephant.
During the history of the castle, the menagerie was constantly replenished with various rare and exotic animals. Elizabeth I even allowed London residents to visit the menagerie and weapons museum. Such a zoo operated here until 1830, after which it was closed, and the animals moved to the London Zoo. In memory of the menagerie, sculptures of the animals that were kept here were exhibited in the castle.
Ravens of the Tower
The Tower Ravens are a population of ravens that permanently live on the grounds of the castle. This is another attraction of the UK Castle Museum. Under King Charles II, a legend appeared that ravens were an important component of the castle, and without them the Tower of London could not exist.
These birds are the black guards of the castle. Therefore, since then, a tradition has developed to take care of these ravens, which is followed to this day, and there is now a Raven Keeper working in the castle.
Changes under Henry III
Under Henry III, the Tower thoroughly expanded its territory. The construction of stone walls and 9 towers was completed. This area is now designated as the Inner Courtyard. The purpose of many towers is indicated by their very names. For example, the Bell Tower. It housed the main bell. Or the Archer's Tower. It produced bows and crossbows, as well as siege weapons.
View of the Tower from the Shard skyscraper (Rick Ligthelm / flickr.com)
Lanthorne Tower - its name comes from the Old English word meaning "light" or "shine". This tower played the role of a lighthouse for ships passing along the river. The main entrance is now in the western wall. The Wakefield and Lanthorn towers housed the royal family's chambers and other living rooms. A spacious room for a hall was specially built between these towers.
Also during the reign of Henry, the Bloody Tower was built. It is famous for a very sad story. Edward V and his brother, another heir to the throne, Richard of York, were killed in it. People called them the princes of the Tower; they were imprisoned in a tower under the supervision of guards. No one saw them alive anymore; most likely, they were killed.
At the time of death, the first was 12 years old, and the second was 10. Richard III ordered their execution because of possible claims to the throne (although he was their uncle). Before the execution, the children had already been officially declared illegitimate, but this did not stop Richard.
Changes under King Edward I
Under King Edward I, another line of walls grew, as well as 2 bastions. The dug ditch is 50 meters wide and deep. A new main entrance was made. Gates were divided into external and internal. A barbican was also built, which was called the Lion Tower. Lions were kept in it.
Main entrance to the Tower of London (dynamosquito / flickr.com)
Under Edward the Tower expanded to the south. The Tower of St. Thomas was built here, in which there was the famous Traitor's Gate - another of the attractions of the castle museum. Through them, the guards brought new prisoners to the prison by water.
The king also moved the mint to the Tower. Under Edward, the fortress walls of the Tower began to have loopholes for riflemen - the castle guards. The Beauchamp Tower grew, for the construction of which brickwork was used for the first time in English history. To make the castle less dependent on external conditions, water mills were made. The area occupied by the buildings under King Edward is now called the Outer Court.
Tower at present
After King Edward, the Tower became what it is today.
Since the time of Elizabeth, interest in visiting the Tower has grown every year. Many people wanted to visit it as a museum, including because of Ainsworth’s historical novel “The Tower of London.” There are legends about this UK landmark. Until now, this castle is very popular among tourists.
