Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-13
THE QUEENS KEYS.
4 NIGHTLY CUSTOM OBSERVED IN
THE TOWER OF LONDON.
ORIGIN LOST IN ANTIQUE MISTS
An Ancient Ceremony That Has
Never Before Been So often Per-
formed I'm the Life of One Sow
ereiEu.
creign.

LONDON, March 1.-The ceremony
....gr as Queens Keys" has been per-
..--s5 so many times during the long
-.rq Of the present ruler that all re-
cords for this quaint and ancient nightly
custom have been broken. Never before
.- the reign Of any king or queen OF
.--sin since the Tower of London was
built have the massive gates been locked
with the same question and answer from
..a-rv and patrol for so many consecutive
NIGHTS
NO place in the world is more carefully
.-arded than the Tower Of London and
since the date Of the dynamite explosion
.sse precautions have been douply
.--ict. So none Of the visitors ever
see the quaint old ceremony known %
me Queens Keys -.
During the day the large gates at the
..yo entrance towers are kept open. Ihese
are the gates Of the first entrance
-nown as the Middle Tower, and those
70 the second entrance, called the BY
yard Tower. Just within the gates OF TINS
r.-uding is the Warders' Hall, and mere
-ra yvarder on duty for-the night remains
-. open the wicket for those who are al
owed TO remain out and enter the tower
otter u o'clock at night. But lhOSS
r.r, do enter the gates at this time must
-.ye the countersign, which is generally
,ns name Of a well-known town III the
United Kingdom.
ma ola gates, which still exist beneath
ya Bloody Tower, are never closed now
but remain open all night. But sentry
walks lust in front Of them, under the
wallis OF St. Thomas's Tower, ana just
beyond at the main guard another sentry
rs posted. Both these sentries charge
any one who enters the tower after u
s-Iock and demand the countersign.
DESCRIPTION OF THE CEREMONY
The interesting ceremony in connection
with these gates take place at i O'CLOCK
a. night. The following is an accurate
.ser.ption: About five minutes before 'no
hour OF locking the gates'-that IS just
before II o'clock--the yeoman porter ap-
pies 20 the sergeant Of the guard loF
... ae-ort for the Queens Keys" The
..resaut acuuaints the officer that the
escort IS called for, who furnishes a
sergeant and six men for this duty ct
taa same time placing his guard uhuel
arms
The yeoman porter. accompanied by a
guard hearing an old-fashioued lantern,
with a candle In Il, locks the outer gate
end then shuts the gate OF the Mludle
Tower. He then proceeds with the escort
20 tho Onward Tower and locks the gates
tr.re The yeOman porter then HaIChes
90 the Bloody Tower with the escort
and lalts under the arch OF the tower
The sentry at the guard-room challenges
.HaItl Who comes there?" The yeomah
porter answers. ''The Keys" The sentry
calls "yybose keys?" And the answer be-
uy given. Queen Victorias Keys, inc
yalman porter places himself with the
rt IN front Of and facing the suaIu'
ana then the officer OF the guard gives the
word "Preeent arms" in which the es-
ccrt joins. The yeoman porter theh say y
ia an audible voice, "God preserve queen
Victorian and the whole guard answer
Amen" The keys are then carried oy
The woman porter to the Queens mousse
A SURVIVAL OF BYGONE DAYS.
This quaint old ceremony is a surViVal
o. 5yrone days; but it must be seen u
be- properly understood. The yeoHah Pol-
Ter Mr. penrose. comes 10 the gates IN
his Ior, rsd overcoat. and he has en-
r-J.dered on his right arm, the Keys
ae the emblem OF his post lie IS the
chief warder. and is the only warder Who
ms tho KEYS on his uniform 10y tpe
Queens Regulations, he IS 'ahsWeI"D
r9r the discipline OF the warders' ana Ic.
ports any irregularity in their cononc'
% the major. He has charge OF tI'
g.tes. wlckets. drawbridges. ana ~
trance. He has the care OF the warner ,
uniforms, accoutrements, and arms. ~
lne1ects the warders' quarters quar'elIs
and examines the cisterns, drains rooi
and general condition OF their hou ,'-
and IS responsible that none but warmers
in1ablt them. -
ON these occasions he requires Al ol
each warder a return OF every person nv
ing In his house, which return ne IdyS
lore tho major lie makes out az re9u I
su9us FOR repairs or articles REQUIRE
from her Maiesty's Office Of Works loi
Tue Queens House and warders quar- ?
All applications from the warders mus
come through his hands. He inspecl'
Tho boundary marks OF the Tower LIDO,
Ties once year, and reports their colu,
tien 10 the major. lie closes the IRON - o.,
in Postern Row and George street To- ol
one hour on the first working-day :,
August yearly. lie acts as clerk III ~,
constsble's office, and has charge OF e''
books ana papers therein
ORIGIN or THE CUSTOM.
The origin OF this curious ceremony !, !,
lost Ia tho mlsts OF antiquity. tpSsS