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The Tower of London is an ancient building complex at the edge of the city of London on the north bank of the Thames River. It stands on a small rise known as Tower Hill. The famous "Crown Jewels" of England are locked up here. Crown jewels are valuables that belong to a king or queen. The tower is really more than one tower: it is a group of buildings. Long ago one building was a fortress, another was a home for royalty and another was a prison until the 19th century. The outer walls of the Tower of London were once surrounded by a foully polluted moat, which was drained under the direction of the Duke of Wellington in the 19th century. London's notable ravens are kept inside the Tower grounds with clipped wings. Legend tells that when the ravens disappear it will mark the erosion of the Kingdom.
The Tower of London has been residence to every Monarch from William the Conqueror in the 11th century to Henry the VIII in the 16th century. William I (r.1066-87) began the first section called the White Tower in 1078. The White Tower or "The Keep" is the original tower, now over 900 years old. Later buildings included a barracks, and a Norman chapel built in the 14th century. The inner fort has 12 towers including Bloody Tower, Wakefield Tower, Beauchamp Tower, Devereux Tower and the Jewel Tower. The Beauchamp Tower probably dates back to the 13th century and named for Thomas de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick. Richard II imprisoned de Beauchamp here in 1397.
The Bloody Tower held many inmates, including children. The two little prince's Edward V and his younger brother were locked up inside the Bloody Tower in 1483 on orders from their wicked uncle. He then lay claim to the throne as Richard III immediately after the little princes suddenly disappeared. He declared them to be assumed dead. The Tower has been the setting of countless executions. Many notable English people heard the frightful words: "You are sentenced to the Tower!" Some of the more famous people imprisoned in the Tower included Lady Jane Grey, Thomas Moore, Anne Boleyn and Sir Walter Raleigh, and the Duke of York.
Sir Walter Raleigh was imprisoned from 1603-1616. He passed the days writing the "History of the World." His sentence was lighten by the fact that he was allowed to keep two servants. His wife and his two sons were sometimes permitted to stay with him. Sir Walter was released to head an expedition to find El Dorado. When his assignment ended in failure he was taken back to the Tower and executed at Westminster. Others executed there were the Duke of York; Henry VI and it is assumed the two little Princes were executed in the Tower. Executions were held either in the White Tower or outside on Tower Hill, with thousands of spectators watching. Tower Green, the grounds around the little chapel was the location of a small number of private executions. It was considered an honor to be granted a private execution on Tower Green.
The Crown Jewels are on display in an underground vault under the parade ground in front of Waterloo Barracks. Among them are The Royal Sceptre, which holds the largest cut diamond in the world; the Imperial State Crown, for the coronation of Queen Victoria in 1838. It contains 3000 priceless stones including the second largest cut diamond in the world and the Kohinoor diamond which sets in the special crown made in 1937 for the coronation of Elizabeth (present Queen Mother) George VI's queen.
Today the Tower is no longer a prison holding people against their will but a fabulous showplace where the Crown Jewels are on display. Inside you can see crowns, rings, scepters, staffs, spurs, orbs and swords. A special treat to see are the salt shakers standing a foot high and adorned with diamonds. The treasures are so precious that special guards called Yeomen Warders or Beefeaters who still wear striking Tudor uniforms guard them. In modern times the Tower of London is considered a major tourist attraction.
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