THE TOWER OF

LONDON

Table of Content
1. The History
2. The Towers Construction
3. The Legends
4. The Crown Jewels

The Tower of London is ahistoric

monument in central London. Its
located near the river Thames and
the Tower of Bridge. The Tower of
London consists of the White Tower
(the oldest part), Waterloo
barracks(Crown Jewels), Site of
Scaffold, Tower green ( there was
acollection of wild animals), Bloody
tower (prison) and Traitors Gate.

The History

The Tower was built on the south-eastern corner of the wall

that the Romans built around Londinium circa AD 200. Parts
of this wall are still visible within the Tower site.

After the successful Norman invasion, William the

Conqueror set about consolidating his new capital by
building three fortifications. The strongest of the three was
the Tower, which controlled and protected the eastern entry
to the City from the river, as well as serving as a palace.
Work on the White Tower began in 1078 and probably took
twenty-five years to complete. It was one of the first great
stone towers to be built in Britain and the tallest tower in
the country, dominating the skyline of the capital.

The History

During the reigns of Richard I (1189-1199) and Henry

III (1216-1272) the Tower defences were strengthened
by the addition of a curtain wall surrounding the keep.
Henry IIIs son, Edward I (1272-1307), built a second
curtain wall, surrounded by a moat. By the end of the
fourteenth century Richard II (1377-1399) had
completed the wharf, separating the outer wall from
the river. Apart from later minor changes, Richards
fortress is the one we know today.

During Henry VIIIs long reign, the Towers use

changed as the Tudor dynasty grew in self-confidence.
Royal palaces were no longer designed as defensive
strongholds and the Kings favoured residences
(Hampton Court, Greenwich, Nonsuch and Whitehall)
emphasised the Kings wealth and splendour. The final
great expenditure on the Tower as a royal residence
was for the splendour of Anne Boleyns coronation.

The History 20th

century

During the First World War eleven German spies

were shot by firing squad in the Tower of London.
Only one bomb was dropped on the Tower during
that war and fortunately it fell on the moat.

During the Second World War the Tower of

London was closed to the public and the crown
jewels were removed to a safer location. During
the war the Tower suffered bomb damage and
two 19th century buildings were destroyed. Part
of the Old Hospital Block was also destroyed.

Meanwhile Rudolf Hess the Deputy Fuhrer flew to

Scotland in May 1941 and was imprisoned in the
Tower. However only one German was actually
shot in the Tower of London during World War II.
He was a man named Josef Jakobs and he was
executed in August 1941.

Today the Tower of London is one of the main

tourist attractions in London.

What does the Tower

represent?
Symbol of power.
Fortress for defense.
Prison for enemies.
Hideout from angry
citizens.

Eight ravens are kept in the Tower to protect the whole the
Kingdom. The legend says that the Kingdom will cease to exist
when the ravens leave the Tower. The oldest raven was Jim
Crow and died when he had 44 years old.

ATower
raven

A Raven of Tower green

Nowdays it is amuseum where tourists go to see an arsenal of weapon

and the Crown Jewels in the Jewel House. The Tower is guarded by the
Yeomen Warders.

The Yeomen
Warders

The Crown Jewels

Reconstruction of the interior of

the Bloody Tower