The Historical Sites I Want To See
1. The Tower of London
2. Big Ben
3. St. Paul's Cathedral
4. National Portrait Gallery
2. Big Ben
3. St. Paul's Cathedral
4. National Portrait Gallery
The Tower of London
The Tower's History
In his A Brief History of The Tower of London, Tim Lambert presents the following information:
1078 - Construction of The White Tower Began. When it was completed the White Tower stood 90 feet high. Its walls were 15 feet thick at the bottom and tapered to 11 feet thick at the top. The entrance was on the first floor.
About 1097 - William Rufus built a stone wall around the White Tower to enclose it…
1190-1210 - Bell Tower was built.
1190-1199 -Wardrobe Tower was built
The Tower of London was greatly extended by Henry III (1216-1272). About 1220 Henry began building the Wakefield Tower and the Lanthorn Tower. In 1238 Henry began building a new curtain wall. Several towers strengthened the new curtain wall. The Bloody Tower was originally called Garden Tower because of an adjoining garden. There was also Broad Arrow Tower, The Constable Tower, The Martin Tower, The Brick Tower, The Flint Tower, The Bowyer Tower (a bowyer was a man who made bows), the Salt Tower and The Devereux Tower. (The Devereux Tower is named after Robert Devereux (1566-1601) who was a prisoner in the Tower and was executed.
Henry's son Edward I (1272-1307) continued his father's work. He built the Beauchamp Tower. Edward also built St Thomas's Gate. It had an entrance from the river. Originally it was called Water Gate but in time it became known as Traitor's Gate because so many people accused of treason passed through it. Edward I also built Byward Tower, Well Tower and Develin Tower. He also built another curtain wall around the existing curtain wall. So the Tower of London now had two concentric walls surrounding it.
The Cradle Tower was built in the late-14th century shortly before the Peasants Revolt.
Famous prisoners: Queen Elizabeth I, Mary Queen of Scots, Sir Walter Raleigh
Famous Executions: Edmund Dudley, Sir Richard Simpson, Thomas More, Anne Boleyn, Thomas Cromwell
The last person beheaded in the tower was Simon Frasier. He was killed on April 9, 1747.
Today: The Tower of London is one of London's main tourist attractions.
1078 - Construction of The White Tower Began. When it was completed the White Tower stood 90 feet high. Its walls were 15 feet thick at the bottom and tapered to 11 feet thick at the top. The entrance was on the first floor.
About 1097 - William Rufus built a stone wall around the White Tower to enclose it…
1190-1210 - Bell Tower was built.
1190-1199 -Wardrobe Tower was built
The Tower of London was greatly extended by Henry III (1216-1272). About 1220 Henry began building the Wakefield Tower and the Lanthorn Tower. In 1238 Henry began building a new curtain wall. Several towers strengthened the new curtain wall. The Bloody Tower was originally called Garden Tower because of an adjoining garden. There was also Broad Arrow Tower, The Constable Tower, The Martin Tower, The Brick Tower, The Flint Tower, The Bowyer Tower (a bowyer was a man who made bows), the Salt Tower and The Devereux Tower. (The Devereux Tower is named after Robert Devereux (1566-1601) who was a prisoner in the Tower and was executed.
Henry's son Edward I (1272-1307) continued his father's work. He built the Beauchamp Tower. Edward also built St Thomas's Gate. It had an entrance from the river. Originally it was called Water Gate but in time it became known as Traitor's Gate because so many people accused of treason passed through it. Edward I also built Byward Tower, Well Tower and Develin Tower. He also built another curtain wall around the existing curtain wall. So the Tower of London now had two concentric walls surrounding it.
The Cradle Tower was built in the late-14th century shortly before the Peasants Revolt.
Famous prisoners: Queen Elizabeth I, Mary Queen of Scots, Sir Walter Raleigh
Famous Executions: Edmund Dudley, Sir Richard Simpson, Thomas More, Anne Boleyn, Thomas Cromwell
The last person beheaded in the tower was Simon Frasier. He was killed on April 9, 1747.
Today: The Tower of London is one of London's main tourist attractions.
