THE TOWER OF LONDON

Although the Tower has a fearsome reputation as a prison, it was originally built by William the Conqueror, in the 1070s, as a royal palace; a defensive fortress against Danish attacks in the River Thames; and the seat of administration in the City of London. But its primary purpose, according to William of Poitiers, who wrote about the Conqueror’s deeds from 1066 onwards, was “to overawe the Londoners.” The Conqueror had realised that he was not popular with what William of Poitiers called “the vast and fierce populace”, and so he set about making a great show of strength throughout England. The building of the Tower of London was the first step in that master plan. Of course, the initial building was modest compared to the vast complex of buildings that exist today but it was still more impressive than any Anglo-Saxon building of the time, thanks to the skill of Norman masons.
Successive kings of England, recognizing the importance of having a formidable presence in London, added to the original Norman buildings and, for over 500 years, the Tower was gradually improved and enlarged to the size that it is now.
Mostly, the Tower buildings were used for accommodation; a military garrison; and as a refuge for beleaguered royalty. Kings John; Henry III; Edward II and Richard II all took refuge in the Tower when the barons and/or populace rose up against them.
The first king to use the Tower for another function was Henry III (1216-72), who used it as a prison for the nobility (like the Chief Justice of England and the Welsh Prince Gruffyd). Then his successor, Edward I (1272-1307) erected a new building to house the Royal Mint (where all England’s coinage was minted) and the Royal Treasury (all the Crown Jewels that existed at the time were moved there) and built compounds for the Royal Menagerie (all the exotic animals he had collected).


A True and Exact Draught of the Tower Liberties by G.Haiward and J.Gascoyne, 1597(engraved 1742) Crown Copyright. Historic Royal Palaces.

The Tudor Kings, Henry VII (1485-1509) and Henry VIII (1509-47) were the last monarchs to build anything of note in the Tower complex. It was during Henry VIII’s reign, when the country was in a state of unrest due to Henry’s break with the Church of Rome, that the Tower became a notorious prison and was mostly entered by the water gate that came to be known as Traitor’s Gate. The prisoners were all notable people – high-ranking priests; dukes; earls; knights and so forth. Executions became commonplace within the Tower precincts and included two of Henry’s wives – Anne Boleyn and, later, Catherine Howard.
The most famous prisoner of the Tower was, of course, Elizabeth Tudor, who was accused by her sister, Queen Mary, of plotting against the Crown. It was only Elizabeth’s quick wits and popularity with the English people that saved her from execution. Once Mary died and Elizabeth became Queen, the Tower was, once more, filled with political prisoners, especially during England’s hostilities with Spain.
After the English Civil War, the Tower was used, from time to time, as a prison but its primary function became an Ordnance Depot (weapons storage facility). Weapons had been stored there for centuries but, in the 17th century, it was greatly expanded.
In the 19th century, the Tower of London finally became a tourist attraction. The Royal Mint was moved elsewhere and the Royal Menagerie became the foundation of London Zoo. The first official guidebook was issued in 1841. However, in times of war, the Tower was closed to the public and, once more, became a prison. Eleven spies were held there during World War 1 and the last execution at the Tower was during World War II.