The History of the Tower of London

By Tim Lambert

The Tower of London in The Middle Ages

The Tower of London is one of London's most famous monuments (although it is actually a number of towers and other buildings). It has stood guard over the city since Norman times.

The first part of the Tower of London to be built was the White Tower. It was probably begun in 1078 and finished by 1100. The new tower was designed by a Norman bishop called Gundulf, who was a famous builder.

White limestone was brought from Caen in ships. A local stone called Kentish ragstone was brought by barge along the Medway and the Thames.

When it was completed the White Tower stood 90 feet high. Its walls were 15 feet thick at the bottom and tapered to 11 feet thick at the top. The entrance was on the first floor.

About 1097 William Rufus built a stone wall around the White Tower to enclose it.

For centuries the Tower of London was used to hold important prisoners. The first was Rannulf Flambard the Bishop of Durham. When an arrow in the New Forest killed William Rufus in 1100 his brother became Henry I. The new king promptly arrested the bishop for simony (selling positions in the church for money).

However the bishop escaped. He was allowed certain privileges such as buying able to buy his own food and wine. On 2 February 1101 the bishop generously invited his guards to a feast. When the guards became drunk he managed to squeeze through a window and climb down a rope. However the rope was not long enough and he had to drop the final distance. The bishop was met by friends who rowed him across the river and he then rode a horse to the coast where he escaped on a ship.

Richard II became king in 1189. He soon went on a crusade and he left his chancellor William Longchamp in charge of England. Longchamp began to strengthen the Tower. However in 1191 Richard's brother John rebelled and led a force against Longchamp who took refuge in the Tower of London. Longchamp was soon forced to surrender but afterwards John continued the work of strengthening the Tower.

Bell Tower was built in 1190-1210. The bell at the top was rung in an emergency. Wardrobe Tower was built in 1190-1199. As its name suggests it was used to hold clothes and jewels.

The Tower of London was greatly extended by Henry III (1216-1272). About 1220 Henry began building the Wakefield Tower and the Lanthorn Tower. (Lanthorn is an old word for lantern. In the Middle Ages a lantern was placed on this tower to guide ships sailing on the Thames).

In 1238 Henry began building a new curtain wall. Several towers strengthened the new curtain wall. The Bloody Tower was originally called Garden Tower because of an adjoining garden. There was also Broad Arrow Tower, The Constable Tower, The Martin Tower, The Brick Tower, The Flint Tower, The Bowyer Tower (a bowyer was a man who made bows),the Salt Tower and The Devereux Tower. (The Devereux Tower is named after Robert Devereux (1566-1601) who was a prisoner in the Tower and was executed.

Furthermore in 1255 Henry built an Elephant House for an elephant, which was given to him as a present by the French king. He already had a private zoo or menagerie at Woodstock in Oxfordshire and its exotic animals were moved to the Tower of London. The menagerie remained in the Tower until the 19th century

Henry's son Edward I (1272-1307) continued his father's work. He built the Beauchamp Tower. Edward also built St Thomas's Gate. It had an entrance from the river. Originally it was called Water Gate but in time it became known as Traitor's Gate because so many people accused of treason passed through it. Edward I also built Byward Tower, Well Tower and Develin Tower. He also built another curtain wall around the existing curtain wall. So the Tower of London now had two concentric walls surrounding it.

Edward I also established a mint in the Tower. It finally closed in 1968.

The Cradle Tower was built in the late-14th century shortly before the Peasants Revolt.

In May 1381 an army of rebel peasants from Kent led by Wat Tyler marched on London. More rebels from Essex marched on the city from the east. The rebels entered London, helped by sympathisers who opened the gates for them and the king and his minister took refuge in the Tower. Finally the king went out to negotiate with the rebels. While he was away some angry peasants entered the Tower and ransacked it. The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Treasurer Sir Robert Hales were both beheaded.

However the king eventually persuaded the rebels to disperse by making them promises, which he did not keep.

In the late 15th century England suffered a series of civil wars known as the Wars of the Roses. During them King Edward VI was murdered in the Tower of London in 1471.

However the most infamous murders in the Tower were those of two young princes. When Edward IV died in 1483 he left a 12-year-old son, Edward V and his 9 year old brother Richard. Since Edward was too young to rule his uncle Richard was appointed Protector. However Richard sent the boys to the Tower. He also declared them illegitimate and made himself king. The two boys disappeared. Obviously they were murdered but it is not certain who killed them.

The Tower of London has always been guarded by armed men. However the Yeomen Warders were founded by Henry VII in 1485.