The Tower of London was founded in 1078, by William the Conqueror.The massive White Tower is a typical example of Norman military architecture, whose influence was felt throughout the kingdom. To make room for his chief buildings he removed two bastions of the old wall of London, and encroached slightly upon the civic boundaries.The Yeoman Warders, dressed in Tudor period garb, run very informative tours of the Tower of London complex. Also, a good highlight of a visit would be a viewing of the crown jewels. The walls of the White Tower are 15 feet thick and it is 90 feet high. Of interest is that one of the Four Corners (turrets) contained the first royal observatory. The White Tower currently contains the Chapel of St. John, one of the few unchanged areas where the Royal Family and the court worshipped and where the knights of the Order of Bath spent their Vigil the night before the king or queen was crowned. Tickets are available for the famous Ceremony of the Keys, which takes place late at night, is available for public viewing, but application has to be made months in advance in writing. Part therefore of the Tower is in London, and part in Middlesex, but it forms, with its surrounding fortifications, a precinct in itself which belongs neither to the city nor the county. It covers an area of 18 acres within the Garden rails.

It was first built as a fortress, and has a central Keep, called the "White Tower." The Inner Ward is defended by a wall, flanked by thirteen towers, the entrance to it being on the south side under the Bloody Tower. The Outer Ward is defended by a second wall, flanked by six towers on the river face, and by three semicircular bastions on the north face. A Ditch or "Moat," now dry, encircles the whole, crossed at the south-western angle by a stone bridge, leading to the "Byward Tower" from the "Middle Tower," a gateway which had formerly an outwork, called the "Lion Tower."The Tower was occupied as a palace by all our Kings and Queens down to Charles II. It was the custom for each monarch to lodge in the Tower before his coronation, and to ride in procession to Westminster through the city. The Palace buildings stood eastward of the "Bloody Tower."

A recently completed 8-year, £20 million restoration and improvement project has made this UNESCO World Heritage Site even more attractive, accessible, and convenient for visitors.The security of the walls made it convenient as a State prison, the first known prisoner being Ralf Flambard, Bishop of Durham, who had been active under William Rufus in pushing on the buildings. From that time the Tower was seldom without some captive, English or foreign, of rank and importance.The Tower of London – an imposing fortress with many layers of history, which has become one of the symbols of royalty – was built around the White Tower.

Autor runs London city guide site: Flight London

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