| In the course of its long history the
Tower of London was a residence for the kings and queens of England as
well as being a fortress. The Tower of London was begun in 1078 by
William the Conqueror, who erected it as a huge stone stronghold for his
defence and as prison for his enemies.
The first building on this place was the "White Tower". Around the year
1240, King Henry III turned it into a marvellous palace, widened the grounds
of the Tower to include a church and several other buildings and made the
Tower his residence.
 The
tower of London but still continued to be a stronghold and a prison, surrounded
by a series of massive defensive walls. Several monarchs and famous people
were killed in the Tower of London, among them the thirteen year old King
Edward V and his younger brother. On the scaffold site two of Henry VIII's
wives, Anna Boleyn and Catherin Howard, were beheaded.
For some reason in the 15th cent. King Henry VII eventually formed a
personal bodyguard, called the Yeoman Warders, who combine today their
traditional role with that of a tourist guide.
Since the beginning of the 14th cent. the Tower of London has been
the home of the world famous British Crown Jewels - they are a must of
your visit! |
UNESCO
World Heritage Sites in UK
