History Of London Tower
The moment you think of London, you will get a few images in your mind, namely Buckingham Palace, The Thames, Big Ben and Tower of London. You may be surprised to learn that one of the most visited places in England is the Tower of London, which attracts more than 2.5 million visitors each year. Most people come here to see the building, its unique ceremonies and get some knowledge about its long and at times gory history. |
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The history of London Tower goes back to 1077, when the tower was built. However, it was during the Roman Era that the tower became a fortification. Also, the London Tower is not just a single tower. Rather is a huge castle complex with parts added and altered with each reigning English monarch. The tower is situated on the northern bank of the Thames and was used to house the British royalty. It also was used as a prison to house political prisoners and was used as a warehouse for the army and for conducting executions. Today, the tower is home to the British Crown Jewels, which are guarded by guards known as Beefeaters. The main building of the tower is the White Tower, which is surrounded by concentric walls. Housed within the walls are many smaller buildings, which are known as wards.
The city of London was founded by the Romans right after they conquered England. Soon the city started growing in size and began spreading away from the banks of the Thames River. The Romans constructed a masonry structure at the very spot where the tower was built later on and the marshland around the structure was reclaimed to form the grounds around the tower. Archaeologists have still not been able to figure out what the masonry structure was used for by the Romans. They do believe that the structure was important and may have been used as defensive structure, as was the case during the Roman Era. In addition, the Romans built one wharf at the river front and it is this wharf that became wooden structures and buildings around the bank of the river.
Some time in 200 CE, many of the wooden building were broken down to build a wall around the city as a fortification from marauding armies. This led to the wall cutting through the site of the tower (its north/south entrance) and finishing right at the banks of River Thames. Then between 200 and 300 CE, the Romans added another wall at the river front to protect the city from attacks from the Saxons, who came by ships. This was replaced around 392 CE by a bigger and stronger wall, which was three meters in thickness and it joined the city wall to form a complete enclosure. The city wall was used to house large catapults, which were tossed at enemy ships coming on the Thames.
As the Romans began to leave Britain, construction on the tower continued. However, by the time the Romans forces left, some time in 402 CE, people began leaving London and the tower and its buildings were abandoned and their condition deteriorated. This continued for some centuries. However, there was no sign of ravage on the walls built by the Romans even after a few centuries and by the 9th century again people began migrating to London, as the Danes and Saxons started invading and wanted to conquer England. It was on the order of Alfred the Great that London was rebuilt and restored. Two churches were built in the vicinity of the tower, and later on the churches became a part of the tower, as it continued to expand. By the time Edward the Confessor became the king, London was once again the most important city in the country.
In the year 1066, when William I conquered England, he gave orders that a castle be built at the site of the tower. Then in the year 1077, William I got a huge tower to be built at the site of the castle, so that the defenses of the castle were improved. This tower is the now famous White Tower. Unfortunately, William I did not live long enough to see the completion of the tower, which was finished in the 1100. Thereafter, many kings kept adding fortifications to the tower by adding walls, halls and more towers, and these complex structures together are now called the Tower of London.
During the Tudor reign, the tower was also used as residence for the reigning monarch. In fact, Henry VII was the first Tudor monarch to live here when he built his home around the Lanthorn Tower. It consisted of a private chamber, a library, one long gallery and a garden. His successor and son Henry VIII went on to add lodgings made from timber, which were added when his wife Anne Boleyn was crowned. When Reformation began and Henry VIII did not want anything to do with the Church of Rome, the tower was also used to house and imprison political as well as religious prisoners. The two most popular prisoners, who were also the first prisoners, of the tower were Sir Thomas Moore and Bishop Fisher of Rochester. Even Anne Boleyn was housed here as prisoner when she fell out with Henry VIII. Another wife of the king, Catherine Howard, was executed outside the tower's Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula.
More Articles :
Castles.org: Tower Of London
http://www.castles.org/castles/Europe/Western_Europe/
United_Kingdom/England/england12.htm
About.com; European History: This History Of The Tower Of London
http://europeanhistory.about.com/od/ukandireland/a/prtolsum.htm
About.com: European History: The Origins Of The Tower Of London
http://europeanhistory.about.com/od/ukandireland/a/prtol1.htm
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