100 places I want to go: Tower of London

 

The history buff in me doesn’t just want to go the Tower of London, it needs to go – the building is over 900 years old for goodness sake! Now one of England’s most frequented tourist attractions, it draws 2.4 million visitors annually and I am determined that soon it will be 2.4 million plus one (two if Vadim will come with me).

Interesting history stuff

Just like Alcatraz, although the Tower had many uses, I’m primarily interested in its time as a prison. The castle was first used as a prison in 1100 with the first prisoner being Bishop Ranulf Flambard who was hated throughout England for levying heavy taxes on the people. He lived in somewhat luxury and was even allowed servants and was also the first to escape from the prison. As the War of the Roses heated up the Tower began to be used less and less as a residence and during the Tudor reign it was primarily used as an armoury and prison. Many interesting and famous prisoners were kept here including:

Anne Boleyn - Long time mistress of King Henry VIII who she eventually married in 1533. The marriage was hasty perhaps to hide a pregnancy for in the same year she gave birth to Elizabeth. Henry and Anne were devastated as they had thought Elizabeth was to be Henry’s first legitimate male heir. They continued to try to conceive successor for Henry but after two miscarriages (the last of which took place in February 1536), Henry took Jane Seymour as his mistress and began distancing himself from Anne. In May of 1536 a servant of Anne’s (perhaps after being tortured) admitted to being her lover and was arrested. Later more men, including Anne’s brother George, were arrested on the same charge of adultery. Anne was also arrested, tried and found guilty on the charges of incest, adultery and treason – she was sentenced to death. After her trial Anne was taken to the Tower of London to await her execution which took place on a makeshift scaffold just outside the Tower on May 19, 1536.

The Princes in the Tower – Edward V and Richard of Shrewsbury were the only sons of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. Edward V was to take his father’s place on the throne following Edward IV’s death in April of 1483 so in May of that year Edward V arrived in London for his coronation where he stayed in the Tower. Shortly after Edward’s arrival Richard left his mother in sanctuary and joined his brother in the castle. While the boys were in the Tower their uncle, Richard Duke of Glouscester, had them declared illegitimate and took the crown for himself. Although the boys were seen playing on the castle’s grounds in June 1483, there was no sign of them after that summer. They were presumed to have been murdered and in 1674 workers doing a renovation dug up two small human skeletons. in 1933 the skeletons were examined and found to be of a 11-13 year old and a 7-11 year old – sex was not able to be determined.

Other interesting prisoners include: Margaret de Clare (the first female prisoner), Elizabeth I, Guy Fawkes, Lady Jane Grey, Sir Walter Raleigh and William Wallace.

Tourist stuff

Today you can visit the Tower’s exhibits year round for 19.80 pounds (CAD $32.09) which grants you access to a wide variety of activities at the castle. For instance you can: wander the castle and grounds, ogle the Crown Jewels, embark on one of 5 available audio tours (for an extra charge), check out the Royal Beasts exhibit (which explores the Royal Menagerie through interactive displays and life sized wire mesh sculptures), ice skate on the moat in the winter months (additional charge) or visit the Fit for a King exhibit (a display of 500 years worth of royal armour). I can easily see myself spending the whole day here.

       

For more information on the history of the Tower and how to visit check out the official site, it’s full of trip planning tips and information about the Tower and its exhibits.

Have you been to the Tower? Is it on your list?