Britain is one of the most significant and great powers in world history. She always amazed me with her canonicity and tolerance, confidence and greatness. Its towers, castles, cathedrals and bridges are favorite places for tourists on a tour of Europe. And, of course, you can’t come to London without visiting the legendary Tower of London.

Situated on the north bank of the Thames, this truly large complex rises against the gray, often overcast sky of London. In size, reaching 32 meters in length and 36 meters in width, it consists of a number of different buildings. There are 20 towers 30 meters high, 2 bastions, casemates, the Church of St. Peter, the Fusiliers Museum, a hospital, the queen's house, armories, and barracks. As well as a beautiful green meadow and a pier on the banks of the Thames.

This makeshift tourist town has eventually become home to cafeterias and souvenir shops, which visitors often use as shelter from the constant British rains.

Prison or defensive fortress?

The construction of the Tower is credited to William I, Duke of Normandy and King of England, who reigned from 1066. He, as the organizer of the Norman conquest of England, built defensive fortresses throughout the kingdom. It was in this context that the now standing Tower appeared.

At the beginning it was a simple wooden fort, which was later rebuilt into a stone mass with the possibility of defensive actions. The follower of William I, King Henry III, continued the construction and strengthening of the Tower, erecting 9 new towers (7 of them have survived at the moment), a courtyard and adapting the Tower to public life. Thus, in the Archery Tower, bows and arrows were made for the knights of the royal army, and one of the towers was used as a lighthouse. By order of Henry III, the walls were whitewashed, which is why the fort began to be called White tower - white tower. Subsequently, the building simply began to be called the Tower.

There is another idea - that in 1077, Bishop Gandalf of Rochester erected the first white tower, which marked the beginning of historical construction. But this version is less popular and does not match the dates with the historical data of world history.

In 1190, the Tower began to be used as an official prison - the first prisoner appeared here. It is noteworthy that only monarchs or representatives of the highest nobility were prisoners in the tower cells.

Video - History of the Tower of London and its prisoners

King Edward I built a second line of walls in the Tower and equipped the main entrance. And only since the reign of Henry VIII the prison began to fully justify its purpose. Real and imaginary traitors to the king, rebels and conspirators served their sentences here. Two of Henry VIII's wives were executed in the Tower itself: Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, who were accused of treason. Also, in subsequent years, several more people were executed here, including: Jane Gray, Henry XI and Edward V.

Sometimes people were tortured within the prison walls. Thus, the legendary Guy Fawkes, under severe torture, betrayed his accomplices in the coup attempt.

In the 13th century, a water ditch was dug on the borders of the Tower, and three centuries later two bastions were built - Ledges Mount and Brass Mount.

At the beginning of the 18th century, the tower-bastion complex was used as a nursery where lions, leopards, elephants and even polar bears were kept. Anyone who wanted to visit the makeshift zoo had to pay admission or bring a cat or dog as a “treat” for the inhabitants of the enclosures.

In 1843, the Tower underwent its first full reconstruction and landscaping. About ten years later, entrance to the territory became subject to a fee, since tourist excursions to the mint and the tower with the royal regalia were already in full swing. In 1894, the Tower Bridge itself was built.

During World War II, prisoners of war were kept here. In 1940, after being hit by a bomb, the architectural heritage was reconstructed for several years.

The last prisoners to serve their sentences in a London prison were the Kray brothers, leaders of a criminal group in London's East End, in 1952.

Now the Tower is only a tourist and historically important site in London, within whose walls there are museums and several apartments for staff.

London Walls Hoaxes

Like most castles in England, the Tower is the stuff of legends. A favorite theme of locals and tourists is the ghosts of the towers. There are dozens of them, but only the most famous and popular stories are worth mentioning.

The most talked about ghost of the Tower is the spirit of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket. He was a close associate of King Henry II, but after a conflict with the ruler he was captured and brutally executed in Canterbury Cathedral. It is said that his spirit still haunts the castle to this day and frightens visitors.

Margaret Paul is considered the most terrible ghost. She was the Countess of Salisbury and became disliked by the ruling dynasty because of her family tree. Fearing that the countess might interfere with the royal family, the decision was made to execute her. And so, in 1541, the 70-year-old countess was brought to the chopping block, but, for unknown reasons, they could not be beheaded right away. She died only after the third blow from the executioner. The keepers of the castle gossip that Margaret's spirit returns to the walls of the Tower every anniversary of her death with a desire for revenge.

How to get there and what to see?

More than two million tourists visit the Tower every year. If you want to join them, take care of your visa.

You will need: both passports, one photo, application form, document on solvency, certificate from place of work or university, document on movable/immovable property, marriage/divorce certificate, confirmation of place of residence or ordered tour.

For a mandatory visit to the Tower, you will have to pay, for example, about $340 for 3 days.

If you go to the foggy capital on your own, then you will visit the Tower at a time convenient for you. Getting around London on foot is not always convenient, as frequent rain and fog cause discomfort. Therefore, you can use a taxi (50-100 pounds) or the metro (0.7-4 pounds).

In summer, the complex is open from 10 to 17, in winter - from 10 to 16.30. For those who like pre-New Year trips, please note that on December 24-26 and January 1, the entrance to the fortress is closed.

Admission costs £24.5 for adults, £11 for children and £18.7 for students and pensioners. You can take group excursions, but more often tourists use an audio guide, which even tells fascinating stories about the Tower in Russian. The cost of such a guide is 4 pounds.

Walking through the fortress, you can’t help but look at various exhibitions and museums. The most popular exhibitions are two of them - “Row of Kings” and “Kings and Coins”.

The Row of Kings represents 10 equestrian statues in full uniform, collected back in 1688 as an attempt to raise the status of the Stuart dynasty.

Kings and Coins tells the history of coinage and shows rare coins that were created during the work of the mint in the years 1279-1812.

Experienced tourists are advised to take a closer look at the ravenmasters - the caretakers who take care of the eight ravens living on the territory of the Tower. The British believe that if the ravens leave the Tower, England will fall. The birds are watched and cared for with special diligence. About 100 pounds are allocated for each bird per month. Every day the raven receives 200 grams of meat, and once a week raw eggs and rabbit meat. Even the pets of the most loving owners will envy such content.

Tourists travel to London with interest to see with their own eyes the subject of legends and controversy. To wander the towers and feel like a part of British history. To take a few photos with the guards in colorful uniforms or witness the occasional cannon fire. And the British themselves say: “if you haven’t seen the Tower, then you don’t know anything about Great Britain.”

Tower (Great Britain) - description, history, location. Exact address, phone number, website. Tourist reviews, photos and videos.

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The Tower of London has become a symbol not only of London, but of the whole of Great Britain. It holds a special place in British history, which is why the Tower is now one of the most visited architectural and historical attractions in the world.

At its core, the Tower is a fortress. It stands on the north bank of the Thames, is one of the oldest buildings in England and the historical center of London. The history of this fortress is checkered: it was originally built as a defensive castle, and then it served as a zoo, a mint, an arsenal, a prison, an observatory, and a repository for royal jewelry.

The size of the Tower is 32 by 36 meters, the height of the towers is 30 meters.

History of the Tower

The Tower was built in 1078, and in 1190 the first prisoner was imprisoned in the fortress. In this prison for high-ranking people and royalty, only 7 executions were carried out, among the victims were Henry VIII’s wives Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, as well as the “queen of the nine days” Jane Grey. From the first years of its existence, the Tower began to acquire all sorts of rumors and legends, sometimes very sinister. Some of them can be heard during tours of this famous fortress.

Museum

These days, the Tower of London looks almost the same as it did in the 11th century. Its main purpose is a museum with a rich collection and an armory; the treasures of the British crown are kept here. Officially, the fortress continues to be considered one of the royal residences. There are several private apartments here, where service personnel and sometimes distinguished guests live. The Tower offers excursions where the guides are Beefeaters - English guards. They are dressed in dark blue uniforms of the Victorian era, and on holidays - in luxurious costumes of the Tudor era, which arouses additional interest among tourists in the fortress.

Events in the Tower

In addition to the traditional viewing of exhibits and interiors, you can also have fun in the Tower: for example, from December 27 to 31, they celebrate the New Year in medieval costumes. Tourists are greeted by King Richard III, knights and minstrels. Even if you don't know how to skate, don't miss the opportunity to have fun at the Tower Ice Rink. People come here in the morning, as a form of fitness at the beginning of the day, and in the evening, when they want romance: the fortress is illuminated with lights that are reflected in the ice. The skating rink is open from November 17 to January 2, ticket prices range from 10.5 to 14.5 EUR. Prices on the page are as of March 2019.

Practical information

Website (in English)

Schedule

• from Tuesday to Saturday 9:00 - 17:30,

• from Tuesday to Saturday 09:00 - 16:30,
• Sunday and Monday 10:00 - 17:30.

The museum is closed annually from December 24 to 26 and January 1. Entrance to the Tower is possible half an hour before closing. It is recommended to spend at least 2-3 hours to visit the Tower.

Entry tickets

Tickets can be purchased on the Tower website, which is much cheaper, or at the box office. Below are the online prices:

• Adults - 24.7 GBP,
• children from 5 to 15 years old - 11.7 GBP, children under 5 years old - free,
• tickets for students (from 16 years old), disabled people and pensioners (from 60 years old) - 19.3 GBP,
• family ticket (2 adults + up to 3 children) - 62.9 GBP,
• family ticket (1 adult + up to 3 children) - 44.4 GBP.

How to get to the Tower of London

Nearest tube station: Tower Hill (Tower of London entrance 5 minutes walk). Nearest train station: Fenchurch Street or London Bridge. Buses No. 15, 42, 78, 100, RV1. There are also waterbuses and high-speed catamarans from Charing Cross, Westminster and Greenwich to Tower Pier every 20 minutes.

Foundation of the Tower of London

After the successful Battle of Hastings in 1066, William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, set about asserting his power. To do this, he founded 36 castles throughout the country, which became administrative centers of royal influence and strongholds in the event of hostilities. Since London was already the largest city in England, it was decided to found a castle here too. The location chosen was the south-eastern corner of the old Roman city walls on the banks of the Thames (separate fragments of the Roman walls and a statue of Emperor Hadrian can still be seen on the territory of the complex today).

The history of the Tower of London begins with its construction White Tower(No. 34 on) - a huge building that combined the functions of a royal residence and a Norman donjon. The exact date of the start of construction is not known, but it is traditionally believed that it was founded in 1077 under the leadership of Gandalf, Bishop of Rochester. Subsequently, the White Tower gave the castle the name Tower.

Norman dungeons had particularly strong walls, since the Normans initially did not surround their castles with other defensive structures. The imposing belts of fortifications with bastions that we see today in the Tower began to be built around the White Tower only in the 13th century, apparently after the Crusades introduced the English to the practice of building castles in the East and in continental Europe. That is why the thickness of the walls of the White Tower reaches almost 4 meters. Its dimensions are also unusual: 32.5 × 36 meters, with a height of 27 meters. It is second only to the keep of Hedingham Castle and is one of the largest dungeons in medieval architecture in Western Europe. In terms of its configuration and layout of the premises, the White Tower belongs to a very rare group of dungeons, characteristic specifically for England, and, moreover, only for the 11th-12th centuries.

In 1097, King William II the Red ordered the construction of stone walls around the White Tower, the construction of which was completely completed at the beginning of the 12th century (the reign of Henry I). The White Tower became the heart of the Tower, its core and the most impregnable part; here were located living quarters for the king, his family and entourage. The structure is considered one of the largest dungeons in Europe (36 × 32 × 27 meters), as well as one of the oldest surviving ones in England.

The White Tower immediately began to perform, in addition to defensive, also a prison function. Its first prisoner was Bishop Ranulf Flambard, and he also became the first fugitive - the clergyman managed to escape with the help of a rope given to him by his accomplices in a bottle of wine. The escape turned out to be so unexpected and daring that one of the chroniclers of that time accused the fugitive bishop of having connections with evil spirits.

According to Norman tradition, the entrance to the White Tower was located well above ground level, so a wooden ladder was used that could be easily removed in case of danger. Like most other dungeons, at the base of the White Tower there is a large basement and a functioning well. In the southeastern part of the building is located. Since its apse was added to the existing walls at that time, we can conclude that the chapel was not part of the original construction plan. The Romanesque chapel is believed to have been built from stone brought from France.

The first floor of the White Tower was apparently intended for the needs of the constable (royal steward of the Tower of London) and the lieutenant (deputy constable). On the second floor there was a large hall and living quarters for the king and his family. Unfortunately, very little of the original interiors has survived. Perhaps only the modest decoration of St. John's Chapel corresponds to the original setting.

The death of King Henry I in 1135 plunged England into dynastic conflict, in which the Tower played a very important role. His constable Geoffrey de Mandeville, relying on the impregnable walls of a strategically important castle, skillfully maneuvered between two contenders for the throne (Princess Matilda and Stephen of Blois), thanks to which he temporarily increased his personal power and wealth. However, he soon had to pay dearly for his political unscrupulousness - Stephen of Blois, having become king, arrested him and deprived him of all his castles and possessions. Since then, the king personally appointed a faithful person to the post of constable of the Tower, which was originally hereditary. At first, the constables, in addition to managing the castle, also had a certain civil power in the city - they ensured public order and tax collection, but after the introduction of the position of Lord Mayor of London in 1191, they ceased to perform these functions.

In the second half of the 12th century (the reign of Henry II), defensively non-functional royal apartments and a castle square were built in the Tower from the south side of the White Tower to the Thames. The area that the Tower included at that time is called Central courtyard.

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Expansion of the Tower under King Richard I the Lionheart

Apparently, the Tower existed without changes until King Richard I the Lionheart (reign: 1189 to 1199). Richard I spent almost his entire reign in constant wars outside England, and real power in the kingdom was exercised by his Lord Chancellor William Longchamp. On the initiative of the latter, given the threat of war with Richard's brother John, the territory of the castle was doubled and surrounded by a moat with water. New defensive fortifications of the Tower of London were tested in 1191, when the castle was besieged for the first time in its history. The siege, however, lasted only 3 days, since Longchamp decided that it was more profitable for him to surrender than to continue resistance.

John did manage to become king of England after Richard's death in 1199, but he was extremely unpopular among the barons and people, which led to war. In 1214, while John was at Windsor Castle, one of the rebel barons besieged the Tower. The garrison defended itself courageously, and the siege was lifted only after the signing of the Magna Carta between the king and the barons - a document that defined the rights and duties of the monarch and his baronial subjects. John, however, was in no hurry to fulfill his promises, which led to the First Baronial War, during which the Tower garrison went over to the side of the rebels.

Extension of the Tower under King Henry III

Henry III (reigned: 1216–1272) spent quite a lot of time in the Tower of London, and held parliament within its walls several times (in 1236 and 1261). Under him, almost all the fortifications were built on the territory that was added to the castle by his two predecessors (Richard I the Lionheart and John the Lackland). Henry III built stone walls and nine towers (seven of which remain unchanged to this day). This territory is today called Courtyard.

All towers of the Tower, in addition to defensive functions, served as the location of residential and administrative premises, as evidenced in some cases by their names: in the Bell Tower (No. 2 on) a guard bell hung, in the Archery Tower (No. 4) there were workshops where they made bows, crossbows and siege weapons, and in Lanthorn Tower (No. 20) there is a large lighthouse (from the Old English lanthorn - “lamp, lantern”), indicating the way for ships passing along the Thames.

The main entrance to the castle under Henry III was located in the western wall. The towers on the south side - Wakefield (No. 36) and Lanthorne (No. 20) - are thought to have served as the personal chambers of the King and Queen respectively. A large hall was built between the towers for special occasions.

Next to Wakefield Tower (No. 36) the Bloody Tower (No. 3) was built to provide access to the castle from the river. It acquired its name after in 1483 it became the site of the murder of 12-year-old Edward V and his 10-year-old brother Richard of York, popularly called the Princes of the Tower, on the orders of their uncle King Richard III. At the time of their death, the boys had already been declared illegitimate by Parliament, which deprived them of their legal basis for the English throne, but this seemed not enough for the usurper.

In 1258, the barons, led by Simon de Montfort, again rebelled against royal power, demanding regular convenings of parliament and the withdrawal of royal troops from the Tower. Henry III initially made such an oath, but after seeking permission from the Pope, he broke it and regained control of the castle in 1261 with the help of mercenaries. In 1265, after the victory at Evesham, Henry III restored power in the country and summoned Cardinal Ottobuon to England to excommunicate the rebellious barons. This caused a new explosion of discontent, and in 1267 a baronial army led by Gilbert de Clare besieged the Tower, where the cardinal's residence was temporarily located. Despite a large army and siege weapons, the rebels failed to take the castle. The rest of the reign of King Henry III passed peacefully for the Tower of London.

Extension of the Tower under King Edward I

Edward I (reigned: 1272–1307), although he rarely visited London, continued the costly expansion of the Tower. The king was a great expert in fortification, and the experience he acquired during numerous military campaigns was used to strengthen London Castle. A second line of walls was built, including two bastions (in the northwestern and northeastern corners) and a new deep ditch 50 meters wide was dug.

A new main entrance was also created (in the southwestern part of the castle), which included internal (No. 8 on) and external gates (No. 25), as well as a barbican (a fortification designed to additionally protect the main entrance), called the Lion Tower ( No. 23), since lions were kept here. The Barbican has not survived to this day.

Edward I also extended the Tower of London southwards towards the Thames. On the river bank was erected the Tower of St. Thomas (No. 32) with the Gate of Traitors (No. 35), so named because new prisoners were brought in by boat through it. Edward also moved the mint to the Tower.

In the middle of the 14th century, the second water gate was the Lullaby Tower (No. 13), built as living quarters.

Under Edward I, loopholes for archers appeared within the walls of the Tower. On the site of the old castle gate, the Beauchamp Tower (No. 1) was erected, which represents the first case in England, since the times of the Roman Empire, of using brick as the main building material. In order to make the castle a self-sufficient complex, two water mills were built.

In 1278, the Tower became a place of imprisonment for 600 London Jews accused of damaging coins (in the Middle Ages, when there were no accurate scales, such a practice was very common - small pieces were chipped or sawed off from coins). The persecution of the Jewish population of England began as early as 1276, and culminated in 1290, when the Edict was issued to expel all Jews from England.

The area developed during the reign of King Edward I (reign: 1272–1307) is now called Outer courtyard. By the beginning of the 14th century, the Tower acquired its modern appearance.

Late Middle Ages

Under Edward II (reign: 1307–1321), little happened within the walls of the Tower. The Secret Chancellery was founded, which is located on the territory of the castle. For the first time, a woman became a prisoner of the Tower - Baroness Margaret de Clare. She refused to let Queen Isabella into her castle, moreover, she ordered the archers to shoot, which led to the death of six people in the royal escort.

Note that the Tower as a prison was intended primarily for important prisoners and was the main prison in the country, but far from the most reliable. Cases of escapes were not uncommon. For example, in 1322, Roger Mortimer, Earl of March, was able to escape from prison by bribing the guards. Having fled to France, he started an affair with the king's wife, and together they drew up a plan to seize power. Having landed with an army in England and captured London, Mortimer first of all freed all the prisoners of the Tower. For three years (1327–1330) he ruled England while King Edward III was still too young. However, fortune soon turned away from the usurper - Mortimer was captured, again imprisoned in the Tower, and then hanged in Tyburn Square.

During the Hundred Years' War between England and France (1337–1453), the Tower of London became the place of imprisonment of many noble prisoners, for example, King John II of France, captured at the Battle of Poitiers, King David II of Scotland, captured at the Battle of Neville Cross, and James I, a Scottish prince captured by English pirates, became king of his country after his release in 1424. However, since Edward II ran the castle, during the time of his heirs the Tower became not particularly comfortable for noble prisoners: for example, hunting was not allowed here, which was allowed to prisoners of blue blood in other royal castles.

In 1377, on the day of his coronation, Richard II led a magnificent procession from the Tower to Westminster Abbey. Thus began a tradition that survived until 1660.

During Wat Tyler's Peasants' Revolt in 1381, rebel troops besieged the king at the castle. When the monarch went to negotiate with the leader of the rebels, the crowd broke into the Tower without encountering resistance. The rebels plundered the royal treasury and beheaded the Archbishop of Canterbury, Simon Sudbury, who tried to take refuge in St. John's Chapel in the White Tower. 6 years later, during the next unrest, the king was again forced to take refuge from the rioters in the Tower.

In 1399, King Richard II was removed from power and imprisoned in the White Tower of the Tower by Henry Bollingbroke, a representative of a side branch of the ruling Plantangenet dynasty. Bollingbroke, who ruled under the name Henry IV, more than once found protection behind the walls of the Tower of London during uprisings and riots.

Much of the second half of the 15th century was spent in dynastic conflicts between the two branches of the Plantangenet dynasty - York and Lancaster. Their armed feud was called the War of the Scarlet and White Roses (1455-1485), since these flowers were depicted on the coats of arms of the warring clans. In 1460, the Tower was besieged by Yorkist troops. The castle suffered greatly from artillery fire, but only surrendered after the capture of King Henry VI of Lancaster at the Battle of Northampton. He, however, managed to briefly regain the throne in 1470, but soon Edward IV of York took the crown from him and imprisoned him in the Tower of London, where, apparently, Henry was killed. During the war, the castle was modernized to withstand gunfire, and loopholes were made in the walls for cannons and arquebuses.

Executions were usually carried out not in the castle itself, but nearby - on Tower Hill (over 400 years, 112 people were put to death at this place). In the castle itself, only 7 people were executed until the 20th century - usually these were individuals whose public execution could cause unrest among Londoners. Today, a special memorial has been erected at the site where the scaffold was located. In particular, among the persons executed in the Tower were:

• Ann Bolein(1507-1536) - second wife of Henry VIII, mother of Elizabeth I. Accused of high treason and adultery;
• Katherine Howard(1520-1542) - fifth wife of Henry VIII and cousin of Anne Boleyn. Accused of adultery;
• Jane Gray(1537-1554) - great-granddaughter of King Henry VII, uncrowned queen, reigned for 9 days in 1553. After her deposition, she was imprisoned in a castle and executed along with her husband Guilford Dudley.

Among the famous figures of the 14th-18th centuries who were prisoners of the Tower, but were executed in other places or released, the following individuals should be mentioned:

• William Wallace(1270–1305) - Scottish aristocrat and military leader, leader of the movement for Scottish independence, was held in the Tower before his painful execution in 1305. The famous film “Braveheart” was made about William Wallace;
• Thomas More(1478-1535) - lawyer, philosopher, writer, author of the novel “Utopia”. Refused to accept King Henry VIII's supremacy over the church. Executed in 1535, buried in the “Chapel of St. Peter in Chains” of the White Tower. Recognized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church;
• Elizabeth Tudor(1533–1603), future Queen Elizabeth I, spent two months in Tower prison on charges of plotting a rebellion against Queen Mary I;
• Walter Raleigh(1554-1618) - statesman, adventurer, poet and favorite of Elizabeth I. He spent 13 years in prison, but he was allowed to live in the castle with his family and engage in writing. Raleigh is considered the pioneer of tobacco smoking in Europe; he even tried to grow tobacco on the lawn of the Tower;
• John Gerard(1564-1637) - Jesuit priest who secretly preached Catholicism in England. He was thrown into prison, where he was tortured. In 1597, he managed to escape from the castle using a rope stretched over the castle moat. He left memoirs describing the use of torture;
• Guy Fawkes(1570-1606) - one of the leaders of the Gunpowder Plot, organized by a group of nobles with the aim of overthrowing royal power;
• William Penn(1644-1718) - religious dissident, founder of the colony of Pennsylvania and the city of Philadelphia in North America. Spent seven months in the Tower for writing pamphlets;
• Simon Fraser(1667-1747) - leader of the Scottish uprising against the Hanoverian dynasty. His death was the last public execution in Britain and the last execution by beheading.

During the political conflicts between King Charles I and Parliament in the second quarter of the 17th century, the Tower again acquired strategic importance. The king tried to subjugate the garrison of the fortress, but after an unsuccessful attempt to arrest several members of parliament fled London, and the Tower garrison became a stronghold of parliamentary forces during the civil war (1642–1651).

The last king to lead a ceremonial procession from the Tower to Westminster Abbey before his coronation was Charles II in 1660. By that time, the old palace premises of the castle had fallen into such disrepair that Charles could not even spend the night there on the eve of the ceremony.

The Hanoverian dynasty, which came to power in 1714, in view of a possible rebellion by the newly annexed Scots, tried to strengthen the castle, but their efforts were sporadic and ineffective. According to one of his contemporaries, “the castle would not have lasted even 24 hours against any besieging army.” In 1774 a new gate was added connecting the pier to the outer courtyard. The moat surrounding the castle became flooded and shallow, so in 1830 the Duke of Wellington, who, among others, held the post of constable of the Tower, ordered work to clean the moat. However, this did not solve the problems with sanitation, and in 1841 an epidemic (apparently cholera) broke out among the garrison. In order to prevent this from happening in the future, it was decided to drain the ditch and fill it with earth, which was done in 1845. At the same time, construction began on the Waterloo barracks, which could accommodate up to 1000 soldiers, and several separate quarters for officers. Today they house the headquarters of the Royal Fusiliers.

The democratic Chartist movement (1828–1858) was responsible for the last major program to strengthen the castle's defences. Most of the surviving structures for artillery and rifle fire date from this period.

During the First World War, 11 people convicted as German spies were shot in the Tower. And during World War II, the castle again became a prison. One of the prisoners was a high-ranking member of the Nazi Party, Rudolf Hess, who flew to England on his own initiative in 1941. He became the last state criminal held in the Tower. In the same 1941, the last death penalty was carried out in the castle - the German spy Joseph Jacobz was shot. Also during the war, the Tower performed defensive functions for the last time: in the event of a German landing in England, the castle was to become one of the long-term defense points of London.

Rehabilitation and tourism

Today the Tower of London is one of the most popular historical attractions in England. Interest in the castle as a tourist attraction arose during the time of Elizabeth I (1533-1603) thanks to the unique menagerie and exhibition of weapons and armor. Since 1669, royal regalia began to be displayed in the Tower. Already in the 19th century there were so many visitors that entry became paid and regulated.

In many ways, the reason for the awakening of public interest in the Tower was literary works, in particular, the historical novel “The Tower of London” by William Ainsworth, in which the author created a gloomy atmosphere of torture and torment that captivated readers. He also proposed making the Beauchamp Tower (No. 1 on) open to visitors so that everyone could familiarize themselves with the inscriptions scratched on the walls by prisoners.

By the end of the 19th century, more than 500 thousand people visited the Tower annually. And this despite the fact that over the last two centuries the palace buildings fell into complete disrepair. Many institutions located in the Tower moved, and the vacated buildings were either abandoned or destroyed. The only positive moment of the 19th century in the history of the castle was the construction of the stables in 1825 and the Waterloo barracks in 1845. Both buildings were made in the “Gothic Revival” architectural style, which appeared in the 18th century as a result of awakened interest in the country’s medieval past.

During the First World War, the castle was not damaged, although one German bomb fell into the moat (fortunately, it did not explode). But the Second World War left more serious traces - on September 23, 1940, during the “Battle of England,” German bombs destroyed several buildings, miraculously not damaging the White Tower. After the war, it took several years to completely restore the destroyed buildings.

In the 21st century, tourism has become the main function of the Tower. Almost all the military establishments once housed in the castle have moved, although the ceremonial headquarters of the Royal Fusiliers and the regiment's museum are still located here. Also, one of the units of the Royal Guard guarding Buckingham Palace still stands guard over the Tower and, together with the beefeaters, takes part in the nightly Ceremony of the Keys. Several times a year, the Tower's cannons also remind themselves of themselves - they fire 62 salvos on the occasion of events related to the royal family, and 41 salvos on all other occasions.

Administratively, the Tower of London is managed by the independent organization Historic Royal Palaces, which does not receive government funding. In 1988, the castle was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as a site of special historical importance. According to the “Historical Royal Palaces”, the castle is visited annually by about 2.5 million tourists from different countries.

Plan diagram of the Tower

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41

Beauchamp Tower Bell Tower Bloody Tower Archer's Tower Bastion Copper Mountain brick tower Tower Wide Arrow internal gate casemates Coldharbour Gate ruins Constable's Tower Lullaby Tower Devereux Tower Davelin Tower flint tower hospital Henry III's water gate Lanthorn Tower Goraa Legg Bastion fragment of an ancient Roman wall pit of the Lion Tower drawbridge Martin Tower Middle tower Mint street New armories queen's house Salt Tower scaffold Central courtyard tower of st. Thomas Tower Meadow wall of the central courtyard Wardrobe tower Vodny Lane Waterloo Barracks, Treasury Well Tower berth

Tower (photo gallery)

Treasures and coronation regalia in the Tower

The tradition of storing royal treasures in the Tower seems to date back to the reign of Henry III (1216–1272), when the House of Jewels was built in the castle specifically for the purpose of storing gold, valuables and royal regalia used in the coronation ceremony. In cases of urgent need, monarchs took out loans from moneylenders against the security of these jewels, that is, the treasures gave the kings a certain financial independence from the barons and parliament, and were therefore carefully guarded. Already in the 14th century, a very prestigious and highly paid position of treasure keeper arose, whose duties, in addition to protecting jewelry, also included acquiring new valuables and hiring jewelers.

In 1649, by order of Oliver Cromwell, all treasures, including royal regalia, were melted down, symbolizing the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of the English Republic (lasted from 1649 to 1660). When the monarchy was restored, it turned out that of all the treasures, only a 13th-century spoon and three swords had survived. Therefore, all coronation regalia had to be created anew.

Exhibition "Row of Kings" in the Tower

Row of Kings(Line of Kings) - a unique exhibition of 10 life-size equestrian statues in full knightly garb. It is believed to be the oldest continuously operating exhibition in the world. The exhibition was created in 1688 to raise the prestige of the unpopular Stuart dynasty in the country. Several statues from the Tudor dynasty (16th century) were brought to the Tower from Greenwich Castle, the rest were made by the best sculptors and carvers in England, including Grinling Gibbons, who also worked on the carvings in St. Paul's Cathedral.

Since the "Row of Kings" served a propaganda function, it included "good kings" such as Edward III and Henry VIII, and absent the "bad" ones - Edward II and Richard III. Sculptures of William III, George I and George II were later added.

Today, the Row of Kings exhibition is located in The Royal Armories of the White Tower (No. 34 on) and additionally includes a large collection of medieval armor and weapons. The best exhibits are the magnificent armor of Henry VIII (three suits: 1515, 1520 and 1540), the gilded armor of Charles I (1612), the children's armor of Prince Henry Stuart (1608) and the Japanese armor of the late 16th century, presented to King James I in 1613 year. Note the dimensions of Henry VIII's later armor compared to the armor of his youth.

- retrace the long path of the castle-prison, get acquainted with its symbols and admire the royal regalia - 2 hours, 45 pounds

- where, how and what kind of tea do true connoisseurs drink in modern London - 3 hours, 30 pounds

- discover the most colorful, musical and iconic area of ​​the city - 2 hours, 30 pounds

Exhibition of armor and weapons

Royal Menagerie

One of the Tower's exhibitions dedicated to the history of the castle is the "Royal Animals" exhibition. It is located in the Brick Tower (No. 6 on) and tells about the royal menagerie, the first mention of which dates back to the reign of Henry III (1216–1272). In addition, in memory of some animals, their modern life-size sculptural figures are located in certain corners of the Tower.

For example, in 1251, the sheriffs (royal officials) of London were required to contribute 4 pence daily for the maintenance of a polar bear donated by King Hakon of Norway. The bear attracted everyone's attention from the townspeople when he was occasionally released on a long leash to swim and fish in the Thames. In 1254, sheriffs were ordered to contribute money to build an elephant enclosure in the Tower of London, a gift from King Louis XI of France.

As a rule, the collection of animals was replenished by gifts from foreign rulers. For example, the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III gave the English king three lions. The exact location of the menagerie is unknown, but it has been established that the lions were kept in the barbican (bridgehead), eventually called the Lion Tower (No. 23 on).

In the 18th century, the menagerie was opened to the general public: the visitor had to pay one and a half pence for entry or bring a dog or cat to feed the predators. Here, for the first time in Europe, a grizzly bear was kept, given to King George III by the Hudson's Bay Company in 1811. In 1828, the menagerie already included 280 animals of 60 different species, but a few years later, in 1835, they were all transported to the zoo in Regent's Park after a lion injured one of the soldiers.

Fusiliers in the 17th-18th centuries were riflemen armed with flintlocks (fusils), which were called fusees, in contrast to musketeers armed with muskets. Initially, fusiliers were used to cover artillery and as light infantry.

The Fusiliers Museum, No. 17 on) and a number of residential premises of lesser importance. The internal space of all defensive towers, as a rule, was also functionally used. For example, in the tower of St. Thomas (No. 32) Edward I received guests in front of a huge a fireplace (now here you can see the king’s huge sleeping bed, carefully restored from 13th-century records), and in the basement of Wakefield Tower under Henry III there was a Council Chamber (today you can see a reconstruction of the royal throne in it).

Note that at the beginning of the 16th century, the Tower ceased to serve as a royal residence, which in practice meant that there was no need for high-status residential premises (for the monarch and his family).

Chapel of St. Peter in Chains

The Chapel of St. Peter in Chains (St. Peter ad vincula, no. 10), erected in the 12th century and significantly rebuilt in 1520, went down in history as the burial place of some Tower prisoners. Here, in front of the chapel, on rare occasions, closed executions took place, for which a temporary scaffold was installed. A total of 7 people were executed in front of the chapel (these were individuals whose public execution could cause unrest among the townspeople). Nowadays, on the site of the scaffold there is a glass memorial, the central element of which is a crystal pillow for executions, symbolizing the high status of those sentenced to death.

Mint

From 1279 to 1812 the Royal Mint was located in the Tower. In the Kings and Coins exhibition you can learn about the history of coinage and see some of the rarest and most valuable coins ever produced by the Tower of London Mint.

Yeomen (beefeaters)

Beefeaters- a popular nickname for the yeomen (ceremonial guards) of the Tower of London. The name (English beefeater - literally “beef eaters”) occurred either because yeomen, as privileged servants, could eat an unlimited amount of meat from the royal table, or because they received a large amount of beef in their rations.

In principle, the historical function of beefeaters was to guard prisoners and royal regalia in the castle, but in modern times they all serve as guides for tourists. Their official name is "Yeomen Warders of Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London, and Members of the Sovereign"s Body Guard of the Yeoman Guard Extraordinary).

The Yeomanry Unit was created by Henry VII Tudor in 1485, and was intended as the king's personal guard during his stay in the Tower. Since 1509, the castle has ceased to be an official residence, but the beefeaters remained its guardians. Over time, when the Tower began to be actively used as a state prison, supervision of the castle's prisoners was added to their duties.

Today, like five hundred years ago, 37 yeomen serve in the Tower. All are retired Army and Air Force personnel who served at least 22 years in the military and earned the Long Service and Exemplary Conduct Medal. Until recently, the Beefeaters did not accept retired naval officers (as they swear an oath to the Admiralty rather than the Crown), but in 2011 the first Yeoman of the Navy, as well as the first female Yeoman, was admitted.

On normal days, beefeaters wear a dark blue uniform with red embroidery. On occasions of the arrival of the monarch at the castle or other ceremonial events, they dress in ceremonial scarlet robes embroidered with gold. The uniform has remained virtually unchanged since the Tudor dynasty; according to the beefeaters themselves, it is “extremely uncomfortable.”

Every evening at exactly 21:53, the Chief Yeoman Warden takes part in the traditional ceremony of handing over the keys to the Tower to members of the Tower of London Guard, another unit guarding the castle. The Ceremony of the Keys is one of the oldest military rituals in the world. It has been performed consistently since 1340. The tradition has not been interrupted for almost 700 years.

Castle Ravens

The Tower contains 8 ravens, surrounded by honor and care. According to legend, if they leave the fortress, the kingdom will fall apart. Therefore, just in case, their wings are clipped. These large, majestic birds are cared for by a dedicated beefeater keeper, who personally buys their meat from the nearby market every morning. A special allowance is allocated from the royal budget for the maintenance of birds - about 100 pounds per bird per month. Each Tower Raven receives 200 grams of fresh meat daily, and once a week additionally fresh eggs and part of a rabbit.

The earliest evidence of these birds being kept at the castle dates back to 1883, but the tradition appears to have started much earlier. There is even a monument to the dead crows in the castle moat. Feeding birds to tourists, as well as stroking or handling them, is strictly prohibited.

Ghosts

As befits any self-respecting English castle, the Tower is also haunted. The ghost of Henry VIII's wife Anne Boleyn, who was executed in 1536, is periodically seen in the Chapel of St Peter in Chains, where she is buried. Rumor has it that a ghost wanders around the White Tower, carrying a severed head under his arm. Other otherworldly inhabitants of the castle are the ghosts of Lady Jane Grey, Margaret Pole, Arbella Stewart and

London has a lot of attractions that attract avid travelers, but one of the main ones is the Tower. The famous Tower of London is located on the north bank of the Thames. It is a fortress - several buildings of different times, around which are built two rows of wide fortress walls with towers.

The thickness of the walls in the Tower is about 4.6 meters, so it is not surprising that no one has ever been able to take it by storm.

Over its vast history, and the Tower was built more than 900 years ago, the fortress housed a variety of services. The Tower of London was both a prison, which is a complex and terrifying page in the history of England, and a zoo, and a defensive fortress, and a mint, and a repository for the jewels of monarchs, and an observatory, and an archive in which important historical and legal papers were kept.

Now one thing remains unchanged: Tower is a place that attracts an incredible number of tourists.

The emergence of the fortress

It is officially believed that the Tower was founded in 1078, and the grandiose construction of this castle was started by William the Conqueror to intimidate the population of the conquered lands. But before that, for a long time, Roman fortifications were laid on the site of the modern fortress, which were partially preserved in the castle.

In place of the wooden Roman fortifications, a stone building appeared - the Great Tower, which had the shape of a quadrangle measuring 32 by 36 meters and about 30 meters high.

In the 13th century, by order of the King, the Tower was whitewashed and began to be called the White Tower. Then towers and two rows of powerful fortress walls were erected around the castle. To strengthen the defense, a deep ditch was dug around the fortress, which made the Tower of London one of the most impregnable European structures.

The White Tower was the first building on this territory, and it was from here that the Tower of London began..

Tower as a state prison

In London, the ominous glory of the Tower is still preserved, because from the moment of its foundation it became a state prison, where not only prisoners were kept, but also executions took place, including open ones, put on public display.

In addition, at certain times, guards used cruel torture of prisoners. The prison mainly held high-ranking officials, aristocrats, and priests accused of treason.

Among the prisoners of the Tower were the kings of Scotland, France and their families, William Penn - one of the founders of the English colony in America, who was imprisoned for religious beliefs, executed in the fortress Henry VI - a participant in the Gunpowder Plot, who tried to overthrow King James I.

Some executions took place closed, on the territory of the fortress itself, for example, famous queens were executed in this way: Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII, who could not bear him a son, his fifth wife Catherine Howard, as well as Jane Gray, who remained queen for only 9 days.

Most executions took place in public, on Tower Hill, located near the fortress. A crowd of people, hungry for such spectacles, gathered at the execution. The head of the culprit was cut off and put on public display as intimidation and warning. The headless body itself was buried in the basements of the fortress.

In the 17th century, almost no new prisoners appeared in the Tower prison in London. The last public execution occurred in 1747. Then only during the First World War the Tower became a place of imprisonment and execution of German spies. During World War II, prisoners of war were kept in the Tower. The last prisoners in the Tower in 1952 were the Kray twins.

Tower as a peaceful place

The sinister era in the history of the Tower ended with the rise to power of John the Landless, who gave rise to a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. He gave some power to parliament, and turned the Tower of London into a zoo. John began keeping lions in the Tower. The menagerie was replenished under John's successor, Henry III, when he received a polar bear, an elephant and leopards as a gift.

At first, the animals were kept there only for the amusement of the king and his retinue. Gradually, new exotic animals appeared in the menagerie, and under Elizabeth I the Tower was opened to visitors as a zoo.

The Tower's history as a zoo ended in 1830, when it was decided to close it and move the animals to a new zoo built in London in Regent's Park.

For almost 500 years, the Tower of London was also the main department of the mint; military equipment and weapons of the king and his army were also manufactured and stored there.

Anyone who decides to visit the Tower will be greeted by palace guards. It has existed since 1475. Representatives of the guards brought the accused into the territory of the fortress through the gate, which is called the “Gate of Traitors.”

Modern representatives of the guards are not so aggressive, but are still on alert, because the Tower of London is the repository of the royal family's jewelry: the crown of England, a scepter decorated with precious stones, other regalia, as well as the largest diamond in the world, Cullinan I, are kept here.

Guard representatives also conduct excursions to the fortress, prison, zoo, mint. Since the 15th century, guards have been popularly called “beefeaters” (from the English “beef” - beef), to make it clearer to us, “meat eaters.” Then the English people were starving, but the guards were always fed and received huge portions of meat. So the monarchs sought to provide themselves with reliable protection.

Anyone who has been at least a little interested in London, England, and the Tower knows that in addition to human guards, there are bird guards in the Tower. One of the symbols of the Tower is a flock of ravens. Here, from ancient times, a legend arose that if the ravens suddenly left the Tower, some kind of misfortune would befall England.

The English, with their traditions, sacredly preserve this legend, believe in it and keep six ravens on the territory of the Tower. To prevent crows from flying away, their wings are clipped. But the local crows would hardly be planning to fly away somewhere, because here they are fed veal and sometimes rabbit meat. The ravens in the Tower have names and pedigrees.

Only thrifty Englishmen keep seven birds just in case, and they built seven houses for the birds. Although with such care, birds live for more than 200 years. There is a separate position for the proper care and care of birds - palace raven keeper.

In the museum, tourists can see various exhibitions dedicated to different eras in the history of the Tower. The infamous Tower Hill, where executions took place, now houses a memorial complex with a pillow-shaped monument and a plaque listing the names of the executed monarchs.

Memorial to those executed within the prison walls - seven famous prisoners who were beheaded

The Tower ghost stories are also widely known and interesting. Even some reputable scientists do not deny the appearance of ghosts here. Sometimes you manage to catch some entities in the camera lens. This fact attracts adventure-seeking youngsters here during Halloween.

A centuries-old tradition of the Tower is the Ceremony of the Keys. For 700 years, this ritual has been performed every day at exactly 21:53. Only once, in 1941, was he detained for half an hour during an attack on the fortress by Nazi bombers.

At this time, the keeper of the keys leaves the tower, and the Guard of the Keys goes to meet him. The guards lock the Main Gate and approach the Bloody Tower. A traditional dialogue sounds, which ends with the words “God bless.” At night, the keys are located in the manager's residence. Anyone can see the key ceremony by writing a letter in advance and receiving an invitation card.

Officially, the Tower is considered a royal residence. Today, there are even private apartments in the Tower where service personnel live or distinguished guests stay.

In conclusion, it is worth saying that there are a huge number of reasons to visit Tower. If you are going to London, no matter what personal business, visiting the Tower is a top priority. Such special impressions and atmosphere cannot be obtained anywhere in the world.

Tower Castle in London is one of the main attractions of Great Britain. This is not just a magnificent architectural monument, but a symbol that occupies a significant place in the history of the English monarchy.

Location

The Tower Fortress is located in London, on the banks of the River Thames. This is one of the oldest buildings in England. Over its long history, the Tower has been a palace, a fortress, a prison, an observatory, a zoo, a mint, an arsenal, a repository of the English crown jewels, and also a place attractive to tourists coming from all over the world.

Construction

The Tower of London was built in several stages. History attributes the foundation of this building to the king who, immediately after the conquest of English lands, began building defensive castles in order to intimidate the local residents. As part of this large-scale event, the Tower was erected in 1078 on the site of the old wooden fort. It was a large quadrangular fortress measuring 32x36 m and 30 m high. After the death of William I, the next king of England ordered the building to be painted white, after which the structure was nicknamed the “White Tower”. King Richard the Lionheart built other towers of varying heights and powerful fortress walls, encircling the monumental structure in two rows. A deep ditch was dug around the Tower, making it one of the most impregnable defensive structures in Europe.

Famous prisoners

The Tower of London received its first prisoner in 1100. This was Bishop Ralph Flambard, who, by the way, at one time took an active part in the construction of the fortress. The life of the prelate under the castle was very pleasant - he occupied magnificent apartments, used a separate office, and ate exquisite drinks and dishes. However, the prisoner escaped from the Tower at the first opportunity, using a rope that was handed to him in a jug of wine. The next prisoner, Griffin, Duke of Wales, was imprisoned in the fortress 150 years later and died (crashed) while trying to escape. After this, people of blue blood regularly became prisoners in the Tower. The kings of France and Scotland (John II, Charles of Orleans and James I of Scotland), as well as priests and aristocrats of various degrees and titles, visited here. The famous fortress became a place of bloody murders and executions. Here, the young princes were killed - twelve-year-old Edward V and his brother Richard, and King Henry VI was killed.

Prisoners were housed in free premises; the terms of restriction of freedom could be any. The founder of Pennsylvania in North America, Penn William, was imprisoned in the Tower for his religious beliefs and spent eight months there. The Duke of Orleans, Charles, was imprisoned in the fortress for a long 25 years and was released after paying a huge ransom for him. Reilly Walter - courtier, scientist and navigator - was imprisoned three times and served a total of thirteen years. He grew tobacco in the fortress garden and brightened up the painful loneliness by writing the multi-volume “History of the World.”

Matrimonial plans and religious differences

The Tower of London became a sinister place of torture after the accession to the throne of Henry VIII, whose keen desire to have a legitimate heir made him one of the greatest villains in English history. Henry broke off relations with the Greco-Roman Church, which refused to recognize his divorce from his first wife, beheaded his second, Anne Boleyn, who failed to bear him a son, and in a similar way got rid of the fifth, Howard Catherine, who also did not meet all his needs. Under this king, many dignitaries laid down their lives in the Tower.

The next king of England became a worthy successor to his father and did not skimp on death sentences. The daughter of Henry VIII - Mary - was a zealous Catholic and fiercely fought for the purity of the faith, which also could not do without bloody sacrifices. In addition, the cruel person, once on the throne, immediately beheaded her main competitor in the struggle for the throne - sixteen years old. Many Protestants died during the reign of Mary, but the next Queen of England - Elizabeth - evened the score and brutally dealt with the Catholics who had previously annoyed her. The history of the Tower of London is replete with brutal reprisals against high-ranking persons who fell into disgrace due to religious beliefs.

Executions and torture

Several thousand prisoners visited the Tower. However, only two men and five women received the honor of being beheaded on the territory of the famous fortress. Three of these high-ranking persons were queens: Jane Gray (lasted nine days on the throne), Catherine Howard and Anne Boleyn. Less high-born prisoners were executed nearby, on Tower Hill, where numerous lovers of bloody massacres gathered. The body of the executed criminal was to be buried in the fortress. The Tower Castle in London houses the remains of 1,500 prisoners in its cellars.

Torture of prisoners in the Tower was carried out only with the permission of official authorities. Thus, Guy Fawkes, a criminal who tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament, ended up on the Tower rack in 1605. This forced him to name the names of the masterminds of the Gunpowder Plot before his execution.

Tower - a place of imprisonment in modern history

After ascending the English throne, the Tower fortress in London was almost never replenished with prisoners. The last execution on Tower Hill took place in 1747, but the famous tower has been a place of imprisonment in modern times. During the First World War, eleven German spies were imprisoned here and then executed. During World War II, prisoners of war were held in the fortress, including Rudolf Hess. The last person executed on the territory of the fortress was Jacob Joseph, accused of espionage activities and executed in 1941. The last prisoners of the Tower were the Kray gangster brothers in 1952.

Other uses of the tower

It enjoyed success as a menagerie populated by exotic animals. The tradition was founded in the 17th century by Henry III, who received several animals as a gift and arranged a residence for them in the famous fortress. During the reign of Elizabeth I, the zoo was opened to visitors. It was only in the 1830s that the menagerie in the Tower was abolished.

For approximately 500 years, a branch of the Royal Mint operated in the fortress. In addition, significant legal and state papers were kept in the Tower, as well as military equipment of the royal army and the king himself.

Guarding the fortress and treasures of the British Empire

Special guards in the Tower arose in 1485. The palace guards of the fortress were nicknamed beefeaters (from the English “beef,” which means “beef”) because even in the most difficult years for the country, the diet of the brave Tower guards included a substantial portion of meat. Thus, the English monarchy provided itself with reliable defenders.

The Tower serves as a palace “ravenmaster” (raven keeper), whose responsibilities include caring for the flock of ravens that live on the territory of the fortress. An ancient legend says: if these black birds leave the Tower, then misfortune will befall Great Britain. To prevent crows from flying away, their wings are clipped.

The fortress houses the treasures of the British Empire. They are guarded by special caretakers. Visitors had the opportunity to admire royal jewels from the 17th century. Famous pieces include the world's largest cut diamond, the Cullian I.

Tower Bridge

Another glorious landmark of England is the famous Tower Bridge in London. It got its name due to its close location to the famous fortress. The drawbridge over the Thames was built in 1886-1894. Its length is 244 meters. The structure is located between two towers, the height of which is 65 meters. The central span is 61 meters long and is divided into two wings, which can be raised at an angle of 83° if necessary. Each wing weighs about one thousand tons, however, thanks to special counterweights, it deploys in about one minute. The span was initially driven by a water hydraulic system. In 1974, the bridge extension mechanism was equipped with an electric drive.

Pedestrians can cross the bridge even when it is open - for this purpose, connecting towers are provided in the middle part of the structure at a height of 44 m of the gallery. You can climb them using stairs located inside the towers. In 1982, the galleries began to serve as an observation deck and museum. in London is no less popular than the famous fortress itself.