The Tower of London

698 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: History of The Tower of London

The Tower of London, in central London, has a gloomy past. There was bloodshed, ghosts, wars, imprisonment, torture, and jewels. The Towers past maybe dark and gloomy but the history surrounding it is fascinating.
The Tower of London is a 900-year-old castle and fortress (Jarus). William the Conqueror created the first fortifications after the conquest of London in A.D. 1066 (Jarus). The Tower of London is not just one large tower; it is made up of 13 structures on the inside of the fortress, and 6 structures on the outside (McGillick). The entire fortress stretches across 12 acres of land (Jarus). On the outside of the Tower of London there is a large ditch and palisade on the north and west sides of the fortress (McGillick). There are four large turrets at the corners of the fortress. The dome shape of the turrets made it a great place to have first royal observatory in one of them (McGillick).
The Tower of London has a weird way of getting its name. The official name for the Tower of London is Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London (McGillick). The reason the fortress obtained the name the Tower of London is from White Tower. This is a white washed tower in the center of the fortress. Its walls are 15 feet thick and 90 feet tall (McGillick). The tower started as a wood and stone structure, later it was white washed by King Henry III (McGillick)(Jarus). This is the reason the tower is called white tower and the fortress is call the Tower of London.
The Tower of London has been used for a wide variety of affairs. One of the more interesting things it has been used for is holding the crown jewels (Jarus). The estimated value of the crown jewels is 32 billion dollars (25). The jewels were moved to the Tower o...

... middle of paper ...

...titions. One of which involving birds. There are a flock of ravens that live in the tower. These ravens are cared for and protected by the guards in the tower (Jarus). King Charles II is said to have been the first to order that the ravens be cared for (Jarus). The Ravenmaster Yeoman Warder is in charge of taking care of the ravens (Jarus). The reason that the ravens are

Works Cited

Jarus, Owen. “Tower of London: Facts & History.” Live Science. Tech Media, 23 Jan. 2014. Web.29 Apr. 2014
McGillick, Kathy. “The Tower of London.” Britainexpress.com. Kathy McGillick, n.d. Web. 1 May 2014.
“Screaming Lady in the Haunted Gallery.” Historic Royal Palaces. Historic Royal Palaces, n.d. Web. 2 May 2014.
“Torture at the Tower of London.” Destinations-Uk-Ireland n.d. Web. 29 March 2014
“25 Facts About HM Tower Of London.” Royalcentral.co.uk. 13 Jan. 2013. Web. 5 May 2014.

Show More
Related

  • How Did William The Conqueror Get His Patronage

    930 Words  | 2 Pages

    ... was begun in 1077. The main building, included a small cathedral in one corner, and rises three stories. Towers extend from each of the four corners. Exterior walls enclose the premises. The walls were clearly built for defensive purposes with towers on each corner. The tower of London exists, with some later modifications, till this day.

    Read More

  • Castle Development during the Middle Ages

    1316 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...nce of this particular castle differs from other Edwardian castles by the wall shape and use of colored stone scattered throughout the walls. Also, differing from most Edwardian castle designs, the outer towers are not round, but polygonal. Two gates allowed entrance into the castle (The King and Queen’s Gates). Each gateway was very secure and contained murder holes and arrow loops at each.

    Read More

  • The Origin of Norwich Castle

    1064 Words  | 3 Pages

    The once subjugated Saxons were required to raise a knoll that was twenty-one meters high and surrounded by a dry trench. There were wooden pikes or posts that protected the buildings on top of the knoll, while to the south and east of the knoll there were yards that were protected by banks and ditches; this all set in motion the ground work for the castle of Norwich. Edward Boardman, a Norwich born architect, completed the Norwich Castle, a medieval and fantastic defense structure in the city of Norwich. It was one of the greatest castles of its time because of its architecturally advanced structure, a symbol of military power, and a symbol of political control that was founded by the Normans. Norwich Castle, a royal fortification, was founded by William the Conqueror between 1066 and 1075.

    Read More

  • Ghostly Residents: The Tower of London

    1044 Words  | 3 Pages

    Founded nearly a millennium ago, The Tower of London has been expanded over the centuries. The first foundations built by William the Conquer have been constantly improved. “The Tower of London is the oldest palace, fortress and prison in Europe (“The Tower of London”, “Tower of London”). The Tower of London was never supposed to be a prison.The Tower was originally a Royal Palace also serving as a defensive fortress (“Twenty-Five Facts”). Phil Wilson, a yeoman sergeant, once commented that “hundreds of people have been held prisoner and died [there]” (Go World Travel).

    Read More

  • Medieval Castle Research Paper

    1453 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Medieval castle, a vast, complex stone-built structure with walls several feet thick, and a drawbridge spanning a deep moat” (Ralph, 3). Originally, medieval castles were not all that advanced. “Earliest castles were made by Normans in the 11th century...often

    Read More

  • The New York Crystal Palace

    1488 Words  | 3 Pages

    "The Crystal Palace is a partial picture of the age; an exposition of the comforts and luxuries, the manners and attainments which belong to our civilization."

    Read More

  • Whittington Castle

    587 Words  | 2 Pages

    Constructing the Whittington castle in 845, the builders designed it after the Motte and Bailey style castles. But it was later remodeled in 1221 replacing the old structure with stone. Originally, the castle was assembled with seven towers, each about 18 meters high, with wall 3.7 meters thick, and a drawbridge over 12 meters long. Now, only the gatehouse remains. Around the castle, extensive marshlands acted as protection in medieval days. The remnants of Whittington castle are situated in the small village of Whittington, a few miles outside of Shrewsbury, England.

    Read More

  • The New Palace And Gothic Architecture In The House Of Westminster

    1796 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament, serves as the meeting place for the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The Old Palace was a medieval building that was destroyed by fire in 1834. After the fire, a competition was held for architects to submit plans for the new building that should be in a Gothic or Elizabethan style hoping to embody the conservative values of England. A Royal commission chose Charles Barry’s designs for a Perpendicular Gothic palace. Barry’s own style was more classical than Gothic which is why Augustus Pugin’s involvement was so crucial in Barry winning the competition. Barry’s plans reflected more of his knowledge of the neo-classical style through its symmetry. Pugin was the leading authority on Gothic architecture at the time. Almost all of the remains of the Old Palace were incorporated into the new design. Their work on the Palace began in 1840 and, while most of the work was finished by 1860, the New Palace of Westminster was not complete until a decade later. One of the most identifiable features of the Palace is the Elizabeth Tower, commonly identified by its main bell, “Big Ben”. The building is also known for two main spaces; the Lord’s Chamber and the Common’s Chamber. It is well identified by its main façade which runs parallel to the River Thames. The Palace, as it stands today, has been conserved very well to best display the designs as Charles Barry and Pugin intended them to be displayed. The Palace was, and remains, the center for political life in the United Kingdom, just as it remains a major iconic landmark of London. Many articles and books have been written discussing and disputing the history and design of the New Palace of Westminster, as well as the...

    Read More

  • Impact of the Eiffel Tower on Society

    1028 Words  | 3 Pages

    Built in 1889 to commemorate the hundred year anniversary of the French Revolution, the Eiffel Tower has been a topic of discussion for numerous years. Designed by Gustave Eiffel and Morris Koechlin, the Tower was built originally as a temporary structure. The pieces of this eye-catching building were to be disassembled and melted down after twenty years. This did not happen, however. The Eiffel Tower has become a colossal icon throughout the world; the Tower has brought in enormous revenue and has a scientific impact on French and all of Europe’s society.

    Read More

  • Comparison Of The Eiffel Tower And The Statue Of Liberty

    1030 Words  | 3 Pages

    Next, The Eiffel Tower is a renowned monument for France. Being that it was originally built as an entrance way, some precautions were made. The safety token was moveable staging, guard rails and screens only one man died during construction. (Eiffel Tower). The tower stands 320 meters tall it uses over 18,000 pieces in the steel structure. Each year the high heats cause the structure to grow six inches, but then retracts back after the summer time. So, that is why the idea of thermal rivets were used in assembly, because the rivets allow the structure to keep its shape. Over 2.5 million rivets were used. (Eiffel ...

    Read More

  • St. Paul's Cathedral in London, England

    1136 Words  | 3 Pages

    St. Paul’s Cathedral, in London, England, was designed by architect Sir Christopher Wren. Approval of this most significant architectural project took six years just for the plan. Construction, which began in 1675, took thirty-five years until finally complete in 1710. It was built to replace a church that had been leveled by the Great Fire of 1666. St. Paul's is the largest cathedral in England, and said to be Wren's masterpiece. He brought a range of new forms, and architectural combination into English architecture. Masonry, brick, timber, and cut stone were used to form the structure of the cathedral. St. Paul’s Cathedral has been one of the main socially significant buildings in London. Cathedrals all around, have always played a large role in the communities they serve. Their fundamental purpose is to bring people closer to God, but over the centuries they have served as a focal point for trade, as a stronghold and a place of safety in times of war, and as immense status symbols. The functions, of a cathedral, take on an additional significance for St Paul's, because it’s known as the cathedral of the capital city and, of the nation. The present building is also the first cathedral to have been built since the creation of the Church of England in 1534, when religion was brought under the direct control of the monarch. This quote from Simon Thurley, Chief Executive of English Heritage really shows the significance the Church has made in England. “St Paul's Cathedral is the internationally recognized signature of London and the capital's most important historic and architectural focal point. Only St Paul's and the Palace of Westminster are protected by strategic views but the proposed tower disregards this legal protection and the significance of the Cathedral as the icon of London.” The West Front, which faces the heart of the City of London, is an iconic image with great national significance. It is through the famous West Doors that so many British monarchs and distinguished figures have entered the Cathedral. The nation’s “best-loved” church, St Paul’s has hosted some of the most important commemorative events in British history. In recent years the memorial service for the victims of 9/11, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and the Queen Mother’s 100th birthday. Also, it was where the funeral services of Nelson, the Duke of Wellington, and Winston Churchi...

    Read More

  • The Eiffel Tower and The Statue of Liberty

    1324 Words  | 3 Pages

    Even though, the Eiffel Tower is a renowned monument for France. Being that it was originally built as an entrance way, some precautions were made. The safety procedures distributed were moveable staging, guard rails and screens. So, only one man died during construction (“Building Eiffel Tower”). The tower stands 320 meters tall, it uses over 18,000 pieces in the steel structure. Each year the high heats cause the structure to grow six inches, but then retracts back after the summer time. So, that is why the idea of thermal rivets were used in assembly because the rivets allow the structure to keep its shape. Over 2.5 million rivets were used (“Building Eiffel Tower”). This construction cost France over 7.31 million francs. The tower was many different colors until they officially settled for bronze. It was red, mustard yellow, and even chestnut brown (“Chisholm”).

    Read More

  • Importance Of Medieval Architecture

    1068 Words  | 3 Pages

    The first castles built (Motte and Bailey) were made of wood and quick to build, but they were burnt and worn down easily, so the next castles were made of stone. (Square keeps) They were tall, strong, large and lasted long, but attackers would surround the castle and wait for ages for the people inside to come out. The third castles (Shell Keeps) were even stronger, but because they were made of heavy stone, they might collapse. So finally, the fourth castles (concentric) were built and they were the strongest, largest most defensive and most expensive castles built.

    Read More

  • The Taj Mahal

    1370 Words  | 3 Pages

    One of the world’s greatest love stories produced a timeless monument. The structure’s sheer beauty inspired poetic words from the builder himself. The monument is an engineering marvel that has been studied by scholars and historians alike. Visitors throughout history have been infatuated by the shrine’s elegance. Count Hermann Keyserling describes the monument as, "A massive marble structure, without weight, as if formed of ether, perfectly rational and at the same time entirely decorative (Taj Mahal, 2008).Keyserling went on to say, “It is perhaps the greatest art work which the forming spirit of mankind has ever brought forth (Taj Mahal, 2008)." An American novelist, Bayard Taylor referred to this structure as a castle in the air (Taj Mahal, 2008). Constructed as a tomb for the emperor’s deceased wife, the Taj Mahal stands as one of the greatest manmade creations in the history of the world.

    Read More

  • History of the Eiffel Tower

    918 Words  | 2 Pages

    Palermo, Elizabeth. "Eiffel Tower: Information & Facts." LiveScience. TechMedia Network, 07 May 2013. Web. 14 May 2014.

    Read More

More about The Tower of London

Open Document