Tower of London

The **Tower of London** is a Norman stone fortress in London, England. It stands on the bank of the River Thames in the East End of London and is in the oldest part of the city.

It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

## History

The fortress was built by William the Conqueror, King William I during the Norman occupation of England, starting in 1078. The moat was built by Richard I, using water diverted from the River Thames.

The Tower had many uses. Its main function was to protect Norman rule in the years after the conquest. It was a prison, and a place of execution. Today, the Crown Jewels are kept there. This is the collection of jewels owned by the British state, and sometimes worn by the monarch. There is also a museum of armour.

Only the most important people were executed (by axe) inside the Tower of London. Among the most famous were:

- George, Duke of Clarence (1478)
- Anne Boleyn, Queen of England (1536) wife of King Henry VIII
- Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex (1540)
- Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury (1541)
- Jane Boleyn, Viscountess Rochford (1542)
- Catherine Howard, Queen of England (1542), wife of King Henry VIII
- Lady Jane Grey (1554)
- Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex (1601)

The Tower of London has a collection of ravens, large black birds of the Crow family. They are taken care of by the staff who work there. The ravens' wing feathers are kept short so they cannot fly away. This is because a legend (story) says that if the ravens leave the Tower, the Tower and the Kingdom will fall.

The closest Underground station to the Tower of London is Tower Hill.

## Escape attempts

Ranulf Flambard: 1100, successfully escaped.
 Gruffudd ap Llywelyn ap Iorwerth: 1244, fell from the tower and died during his escape attempt.

## Related pages

- List of World Heritage Sites of the United Kingdom

## Other websites

- Tower of London website

## Infobox (historic site)

- **name**: Tower of London
- **image**: Tower of London viewed from the River Thames.jpg
- **image size**: 300
- **caption**: The Tower of London, seen from the River Thames, with a view of the water-gate called "Traitors' Gate"
- **locmapin**: United Kingdom Central London
- **map width**: 275
- **map caption**: Location of the castle in central London
- **location**: London Borough of Tower Hamlets
London, EC postcode area, EC3
- **area**: Castle:
Liberties of the Tower of London, Tower Liberties:
- **built**: White Tower: 1078
Inner Ward: 1190s
Re-built: 1285
Wharf expansion: 1377–1399
- **designation1**: WHS
- **designation1 date**: 1988 <small>(12th World Heritage Committee, session)</small>
- **designation1 type**: Cultural
- **designation1 criteria**: ii, iv
- **designation1 number**: [http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/488 488]
- **designation1 free1name**: Country
- **designation1 free1value**: United Kingdom
- **designation1 free2name**: Region
- **designation1 free2value**: List of World Heritage Sites in Europe, Europe and North America
- **designation2**: UK Grade I
- **designation3**: UK Grade II
- **visitation num**: 2,741,126
- **visitation year**: 2016
- **owner**: Queen Elizabeth II in right of Corporation sole#The Crown, the Crown