The Tower of London

The Tower of London, an amazing architectural monument, has played a huge role on

British History, serving as a prison, palace, and more. How did it come to be, what is this

intriguing building’s purpose, and how has it progressed over the years, are all questions that

people have pondered over the years.

Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, another name for the Tower of London, is a

complex of many towers and structures that began as a single building known as The White

Tower. It was built in 1068 AD on the Thames River. The beginning structures served as a

fortress, prison, and a place of execution. During the Shakespearean the Tower of london

served as a place of execution. In Nigel Jones’ Tower: An Epic History of the Tower of London

he says, “Prisoners would be brought down the river by raft, they would then be unloaded onto

the river bed, there it was decided if they were to be imprisoned or executed.”

How did 20 plus acres of elegant stonework come to be? The Tower of London was

originally built by William the Conqueror starting off only as the White Tower. The tower has

been added onto over the past 900 years. Jones states that, “No building in Britain has been

more intimately involved in our island's story than this mighty, brooding stronghold in the very

heart of the capital, a place which has stood at the epicentre of dramatic, bloody and frequently

cruel events for almost a thousand years.” The Tower of London has served a tremendous

purpose in shaping British History as we know it today.

Today, the Tower of London serves not only as prison, palace, and fortress, but an

armory, mint, observatory, museum and much more. It is the most well known and written about

structure in Britain, few residents walk the streets unaware of this marvel’s history. Currently,

the Tower of London is the national museum of Arms and Armory. The Crown Jewels, worth

approximately 39 million dollars, are kept inside of the palace, open to tourists for viewing.

The Tower of London is an overall amazing historical and architectural feat, dazzling

anyone who chooses to venture onto its campus. This complex has played a huge role in British

history as it has progressed over the years, impacting history in a way few other buildings have.