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  1. Home
  2. Medieval Places
  3. Tower of London
Location
Location
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Tower of London

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 County

Greater London (1 castle) 

 Categories

Stone / Norman Square Keep / Concentric / Royal castle

 Remains

Excellent remains

 Access

Only open at certain times

 Comments

The moat at the Tower of London surrounds the inner ward of the castle. Originally it was filled with water and was connected to the River Thames but now is dry. It was also used as an open sewer and produced a terrible smell. 

 Location51.5076,-0.0763 (Google Maps) DirectionsDirections via Google Maps
 County

Greater London (1 castle) 

 Categories

Stone / Norman Square Keep / Concentric / Royal castle

 Remains

Excellent remains

 Access

Only open at certain times

 Comments

The moat at the Tower of London surrounds the inner ward of the castle. Originally it was filled with water and was connected to the River Thames but now is dry. It was also used as an open sewer and produced a terrible smell. 

 Location
51.5076,-0.0763
 Directions
Directions via Google Maps
hortly after becoming King of England in 1066 William the Conqueror constructed an earth and timber castle in the corner of the old Roman city walls of London. Around this was dug a ditch and a bank was formed with a wooden palisade on top. From this point William could command London and monitor all ship movements up and down the river Thames. About ten years after the Conquest William decided to strengthen the castle. Gundulf the Bishop of Rochester, whose building techniques were admired by William, was brought to London to design and build the new keep. The foundations were laid in 1078 and the structure was completed in the reign of William Rufus in 1097. This is now known as the White Tower after Henry III whitewashed the exterior. The tower has walls fifteen feet thick at the base, a chapel dedicated to St John the Evangelist taking up two of the upper floors, a 40 foot deep well and more than one crypt. Building work again commenced in around 1189 when the chancellor of the time William Longchamp the Bishop of Ely ordered the enlargement of the bailey that surrounded the tower.

When Henry III became King he began improving of the area of the castle between the Tower and the river by building the Wakefield and Lanthorn Towers. Henry used the Wakefield Tower, which is the second largest tower of the castle, as he own private residence. Between 1275 and 1285 Edward I spent large sums of money improving the fortifications. A new moat was dug and a curtain wall was built around it. The land between the Tower and the river was levelled and new apartments were built on the shore. Edward had a complex of gates added which meant it was extremely difficult to attack the castle through the main land entrance.

Location

See Also

People

  • William (I, the Conqueror, King of England 1066-1087)
  • William (II, Rufus, King of England 1087-1100)
  • Gundulf
  • Mandeville, Geoffrey de (Earl of Essex)
  • Mortimer, Roger (of Wigmore)
  • Lucy, Richard de
  • Grey, Jane (Lady)
  • Beauchamp, Thomas (12th earl of Warwick)
  • William (Lord Hastings)
  • John (of Gloucester, Master)
  • A .. Z List of Medieval People

Other

  • London

Related Information

  • Why build and live in castles
  • Castle development timeline
  • Keep and bailey castles
  • Castles of William the Conqueror
  • Motte and bailey castles
  • Shell-Keeps
  • Square keeps
  • Polygonal Keeps
  • Castles of Edward I
  • Parts of a castle
  • Location of lots of castles
  • Castle construction timeline

Related Maps

  • Map of Castles

Related Episodes

Norman Conquest (click here)

Norman Conquest (click here)

Civil War Stephen and Matilda (click here)

Civil War Stephen and Matilda (click here)

The Second Barons' War (click here)

The Second Barons' War (click here)

Lady Jane Grey, the Nine Day Queen (click here)

Lady Jane Grey, the Nine Day Queen (click here)

Henry VIII and his Six Wives (click here)

Henry VIII and his Six Wives (click here)

Wars of the Roses Phase One (click here)

Wars of the Roses Phase One (click here)

Wars of the Roses Phase Two (click here)

Wars of the Roses Phase Two (click here)

Wars of the Roses Phase Three (click here)

Wars of the Roses Phase Three (click here)

Wars of the Roses Phase Four (click here)

Wars of the Roses Phase Four (click here)

White Tower Floor Details

The keep at the Tower of London is about 90 feet high and the thickness of the walls varies from 15 feet in the basement to around 10 feet at the top. A central cross wall runs the complete height of keep providing extra strength and a means of supporting the wooden flooring. Originally the keep was painted with whitewash leading to its name. The keep has three square corner towers and one circular corner tower to the north east in which the main spiral staircase is situated. The south east of the building is rounded providing the circular shape usually found at the east and of a church and in which is located the castle's chapel.

The upper floor of the keep has a passage [1] that runs around the keep. The larger of the two rooms on this floor was the Council Chamber while the other would have been private chambers for the king. The area to south [2] is a viewing gallery above the chapel of St. John.

This second floor of the keep contains the chapel of St. John [3]. The chapel has a row of four columns on each side creating aisles [4] and an arc of four columns to the east forming the apse [5]. The chapel extends up to the third floor. The room to the north of the chapel [6] was used as a court while the main room to the west [7] was used as a banqueting hall. Starting from this floor two extra spiral staircases in the west corners of the keep give access to the floor above and corner turrets.

The only original entrance to the keep was on the south side of the first floor [8]. It is probable that a forebuilding existed on the south side of the keep to protect the entrance and is shown on some ancient prints but has been removed. Again, like the others, this floor is divided into three rooms and this floor was used by the garrison of guards. The room to the south east [9] is the crypt, being directly below the chapel of St. John. In the round tower to the north east is the spiral staircase [10] that gives access to the rest of the keep. This one staircase provides excellent protection for the rest of the keep as any attackers would have to use this one route to reach the other floors and the staircase could be defended by a small number of men.

The basement of the keep is divided into three rooms. The floor is under ground level to the north but is above ground level to the south because the ground that the keep sits on slopes towards the river Thames. The basement was originally only reached by a spiral staircase in the north east round tower. The basement of the keep held the instruments of torture which were used to extract information from prisoners and in the area to the south east [11] is a dungeon known as the 'Little Ease'.

Timeline

1078

...

Work starts on the White Tower

Gundulf began work on the White Tower, the Tower of London. ¹

1091

...

Violent storm hits London

London was hit by a terrible storm, possibly a tornado. Damage was done to the Tower of London, the old wooden London Bridge and many churches and buildings.

1141

June

Matilda enters London

Matilda and her supporters entered London for her coronation. Her supporters included David I, king of the Scots. Geoffrey de Mandeville who controlled the Tower of London, abandoned his king as he saw Matilda had the upper hand. He joined her side and offered her the Tower of London. He did this to ensure he kept the Earldom of Essex which made him one of the most powerful barons of the time.

1143

September

Mandeville is arrested

King Stephen arrested Geoffrey de Mandeville at a meeting of the Royal Court. Mandeville had tried Stephen's patience with his disloyalty and the king did not want the Tower of London (which Mandeville controlled) fall into the hands of Matilda. Mandevilles castles and title of Earl of Essex were taken from him, and he became an outlaw. ¹

1153

...

Richard de Lucy becomes Constable of the Tower

Richard de Lucy was appointed the title of Constable at the Tower of London, an extremely important position, by King Stephen.

1189

(to 1199)

Building work commences at the Tower

While Richard I was away on Crusade, William Longchamp, the Bishop of Ely and Chancellor ordered the enlargement of the bailey surrounding the keep Tower in London. A new ditch and bank were constructed with a new section of curtain wall.

1191

October 6

Tower of London siege

Bishop William Longchamp held the Tower of London against Prince John's supporters for only three days. The Bishop surrendered the Tower and escaped to continue his support for King Richard. ¹

1220

(to 1240)

Henry III's improvements at the Tower

Henry III made large alterations to the Tower of London including new curtain walls, an improved water filled ditch, and a water gate, so the King could enter the castle directly from the Thames. ¹

1235

...

Leopards at the Tower

The Tower of London was home to a menagerie of exotic animals given to the monarchs of England as gifts. In this year three leopards were given to Henry III. ¹

1261

May

Henry back in control

Having obtained a papal bull (a formal proclamation issued by the pope) to absolve himself from the Provision of Oxford, King Henry III hired an army of 300 French knights as bodyguards and took up position in the Tower of London. His objective was to regain the absolute power that the Barons had taken away.

1263

...

Edward raids the Temple in London

On the pretence of removing his mother's jewels, Edward (I) entered the Knights Templar's Temple in London and ransacked the treasury, taking the proceeds to the Tower of London.

1275

(to 1285)

Major rebuilding work at the Tower of London

Edward I spent large sums of money improving the fortifications at the Tower of London. A new moat was dug and a curtain wall was built around it. The land between the Tower and the river was levelled and new apartments were built on the shore. Edward had a complex of gates added which meant it was extremely difficult to attack the castle through the main land entrance.

1281

...

Beauchamp Tower at Tower of London built

Edward I was responsible for the construction of the Beauchamp Tower at the Tower of London on the western side of the curtain wall. It got its name later on in 1397 when Thomas Beauchamp was imprisoned there by Richard II. The three storey tower was large enough to hold not only the captive, but members of his household as well. It has been used to hold other important prisoners since.

1285

May

Welsh relics paraded

Several Welsh holy relics were paraded through London in a procession from the Tower of London to Westminster.

1323

Autumn

Mortimer escapes from the Tower

Mortimer of Wigmore escaped from the Tower of London. ¹

1340

November

Edward dismisses his Chancellor

Edward travelled back to England and came ashore at the Tower of London. He was horrified to find the castle unguarded. His anger did not stop with those in charge at the Tower. Edward sacked many of his advisors including the Chancellor, John Stratford, the Archbishop of Canterbury. ¹

1348

(to 1355)

Water gate built at Tower of London

At the Tower of London King Edward III had a water gate constructed at the base of the Cradle Tower. This allowed access to royal apartments directly from the river.

1351

...

Eastminster Abbey founded

Edward III founded a new Cistercian abbey near the Tower of London. Monks from Beaulieu Abbey populated the new abbey. ¹

1413

Autumn

Sir John Oldcastle arrested

As the leader of the Lollards, the friend of the King was arrested and sent to the Tower of London.

1445

May 30

Margaret of Anjou crowned

After a triumphant entrance to London a few days earlier Margaret stayed at the Tower of London for a few days before going to Westminster Abbey where she was crowned.  ¹

1450

Summer

Matthew Gough made Captain of the Tower

On his return from Normandy Matthew Gough was made Captain of the Tower of London. Gough was killed in the fighting with Jack Cade and the rebels on London Bridge soon afterwards. ¹

1451

...

Support for Richard in Parliament

Thomas Young, the member of Parliament for Bristol stood up and declared that Richard, Duke of York's claim to the throne should be considered. Thomas Young was quickly arrested and locked up in the Tower of London.

1453

November

Somerset sent to the Tower

With support of the other barons Richard, Duke of York won over the unpopular Edmund Beaufort, the duke of Somerset. He had only kept his position of power with the support of the King and without that support all was lost. Somerset was arrested and sent to the Tower of London.

1460

July 19

Garrison at Tower of London surrenders

The Lancastrian garrison holding the Tower of London surrendered. Lord Scrope tried to escape but was seen and killed by the river, but most of the garrison escaped. ¹

1465

Summer

Henry VI captured

Henry had been helped by Lancastrian supporters in the north but was finally captured at Waddington Hall. He was taken to London and put in the Tower.

1470

October 6

Henry restored as King

The Earl of Warwick and Clarence entered London. King Henry VI was released from the Tower of London. Henry was crowned King of England for the second time.

1471

April 11

London opens its gates to Edward and the Yorkists

The Earl of Warwick was in Coventry and apparently unwilling to confront Edward, so Edward and Richard marched south to London. London was under the control of Warwick's brother, George Neville the Archbishop of York, but the Londoners were Yorkists and they welcomed the return of their true king. Once inside the city Edward had the Archbishop arrested and along with King Henry VI put in the Tower of London.

1478

February 18

Clarence executed

The Duke of Clarence was privately put to death within the walls of the Tower of London. ¹

1483

April 30

Richard captures the young prince

Richard of Gloucester, assisted by the Duke of Buckingham rode to Stony Stratford where they met with the young Prince Edward under the pretence of offering their condolences for the death of his father. Instead, they captured Edward and took him directly to London and safe keeping in the Tower. Anthony Woodville, Earl Rivers was arrested and imprisoned at Sherriff Hutton Castle, near York. ¹

1483

July

Murder of Princes in the Tower

At some point the young King Edward V and his brother Richard disappeared. Whether they were murdered in the Tower of London and by whom is not known, but they were not seen of again. Later, in 1491, a man called Perkin Warbeck appeared in Ireland and claims were made that he was really Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York, one of the princes in the Tower.

1498

June

Warbeck escapes

Perkin Warbeck was able to escape from captivity but was recaptured at Shene, Richmond. He gave himself up on condition of being spared and confessing that he was an imposter. After a public disgrace he was taken to the Tower of London.

1499

Summer

Escape plot

Plans were formed to free the Earl of Warwick from the Tower of London and put him on the throne of England. The plans could have also included or been assisted by Perkin Warbeck. The plot was uncovered and both Warbeck and Warwick were accused of treason.

1499

November

Perkin Warbeck executed

Perkin Warbeck executed at the Tower of London. ¹

1499

November

Execution of Perkin Warbeck and Edward, Earl of Warwick

Both Perkin Warbeck and Edward, Earl of Warwick were executed at the Tower of London, found guilty of treason. Edward had been held captive in the Tower since the age of ten when Henry VII became King of England after defeating Edward's uncle Richard III at the battle of Bosworth. Perkin Warbeck had claimned to be one of the two Princes in the Tower who had mysteriously disappeared during the reign of Richard III.

1501

...

Tournament at the Tower of London

King Henry VII held a tournament at the Tower of London. ¹

1512

...

Fire at the Tower of London

A fire at the Tower of London damages St. Peter's chapel within the castle grounds. ¹

1536

May 19

Execution of Anne Boleyn

Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII, was executed for treason and adultery at the Tower of London.

1542

February 13

Catherine Howard executed

Catherine Howard was executed on Tower Green within the Tower of London. She had been found guilty of adultery and therefore treason and sentenced to death.

1542

November 24

Battle of Solway Moss

The battle at Solway Moss ended in a terrible defeat for the Scottish when they were overrun by a much smaller force of English troops led by Sir Thomas Wharton. Several high-worth Scottish prisoners were taken and transported to the Tower of London for future ransom. The shock of the defeat is supposed to have been so great for the Scottish king, James V, that he died just a few weeks later.

1549

March

Execution of Lord Seymour

Thomas Seymour, the Protector's brother, had married the late king's widow Catherine Parr. Suspicion fell on Thomas after the untimely death of Catherine in late 1548 and it was suspected that he wanted to marry Elizabeth, Henry VIII's daughter. He may have also tried to bribe the young king Edward VI into giving him more power. Thomas was arrested, charged with treason and sent to the Tower of London. Without much of a trial he was exectuted.

1553

August 3

Mary Tudor arrives in London

Mary Tudor arrived at London to a huge welcome. Entering through Aldgate she was met by Elizabeth, Anne of Cleves and many others. Mary quickly ordered the release of her supporters that had been locked up at the Tower of London. The Duke of Northumberland and his supporters were placed in the Tower of London to await trial and execution.

1554

April 11

Wyatt executed

Sir Thomas Wyatt was executed at Tower Hill for leading the rebellion against Queen Mary. Wyatt denied that Elizabeth had been involved in any part of rebellion. ¹

1558

November 24

Elizabeth enters London

Several days after the death of her sister Mary, Elizabeth entered London. She made her way through the crowds of loyal Londoners to the Tower where she stayed for a few days while she sorted out her affairs and selected her advisres.

1583

November

Throckmorton Plot

Francis Throckmorton was found guilty of carrying messages with details of an assassination attempt to murder Queen Elizabeth, an invasion by Spain and the freeing of Mary Stuart from captivity. Along with the Earl of Northumberland, Throckmorton was put in the Tower of London before being executed for treason. Before his death, Throckmorton revealed that Queen Mary knew about the plot. ¹

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Medieval people

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Selection of references used:

  • 1. E.B.D'Auvergne, The English Castles, 1926
  • 2. Derek Wilson, The Tower (1078 - 1978)
  • 3. Richard Cavendish, Kings and Queens The Concise Guide, ISBN:978-0-7153-2376-2
  • 4. Caroline Bingham, The Life and Times of Edward II
  • 5. Hubert Cole, The Black Prince, 1976, ISBN:0-246-10778-2
  • 6. Hubert Cole, The Wars of the Roses, 1973, ISBN:0-246-10618-2
  • 7. H.T. Evans, Wales and the Ware of the Roses, ISBN:ISBN-0-905-778-278
  • 8. C. W. Oman, Warwick
  • 9. Anthony Cheetham, Life and times of Richard III, ISBN:0-297-83167-4
  • 10. Peter Potter, Data Donation
  • 11. John Grey, Tudor England, ISBN:0-19-285213-2
  • 12. J.B.Black, The Reign of Elizabeth 1558-1603

    Location

    See Also

    People

    • William (I, the Conqueror, King of England 1066-1087)
    • William (II, Rufus, King of England 1087-1100)
    • Gundulf
    • Mandeville, Geoffrey de (Earl of Essex)
    • Mortimer, Roger (of Wigmore)
    • Lucy, Richard de
    • Grey, Jane (Lady)
    • Beauchamp, Thomas (12th earl of Warwick)
    • William (Lord Hastings)
    • John (of Gloucester, Master)
    • A .. Z List of Medieval People

    Other

    • London

    Related Information

    • Why build and live in castles
    • Castle development timeline
    • Keep and bailey castles
    • Castles of William the Conqueror
    • Motte and bailey castles
    • Shell-Keeps
    • Square keeps
    • Polygonal Keeps
    • Castles of Edward I
    • Parts of a castle
    • Location of lots of castles
    • Castle construction timeline

    Related Maps

    • Map of Castles

    Explore the White Tower

    Explore all four floors of the White Tower at the Tower of London using the Unity 3d game engine.

    3D/VR

    Virtual Buildings

    Transport yourself back up to a thousand years and explore historical buildings as they may have appeared in the past.

    Explore the White Tower

    Explore four floors of the keep at the Tower of London.

     

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