European Adventure Recap - The Tower of London

Friday October 23, 2009

London, England

This is the Tower of London. It sits at the north end of Tower Bridge on the River Thames.

The original part of the tower (seen in the middle of the picture - the square tower with the cupola on top) was built by William the Conqueror in 1078.

Other parts of the building were added on by successive Monarchs. As it stands today, "the tower as a whole is a complex of several buildings set within two concentric rings of defensive walls and moat." It covers about 18 acres (if you include the moat).

"The Tower has been used as fortress, a palace, and a prison. It has housed the Royal Mint, the Public Records, and the Royal Observatory. And from the 13th century until 1834 it housed the Royal Menagerie."

"For centuries it was the arsenal for arms and armor. And, since it is one of the strongest fortresses in England, it has guarded and continues to guard the crown jewels."

"The Tower was occupied as a palace by all the Kings and Queens down to James I. It was customary for each monarch to lodge in the Tower before his coronation and to ride in procession to Westminster through the city of London from the Tower."

All info was taken from this site and this site.