The Tower of London is a Norman stone fortress in London, England.
It stands on the bank of the River Thames, in the oldest part of the city.
Tower of London | |
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Location | London Borough of Tower Hamlets London, EC3 |
Coordinates | 51°30′29″N 00°04′34″W / 51.50806°N 0.07611°W |
Area | Castle: 12 acres (4.9 ha) Tower Liberties: 6 acres (2.4 ha) |
Height | 27 metres (89 ft) |
Built | White Tower: 1078 Inner Ward: 1190s Re-built: 1285 Wharf expansion: 1377–1399 |
Visitors | 2,741,126 (in 2016) |
Owner | Queen Elizabeth II in right of the Crown |
Type | Cultural |
Criteria | ii, iv |
Designated | 1988 (12th session) |
Reference no. | 488 |
Country | United Kingdom |
Region | Europe and North America |
Listed Building – Grade I | |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The fortress was built by William the Conqueror, King William I, 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:
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.
Ranulf Flambard: 1100, successfully escaped.
Gruffudd ap Llywelyn ap Iorwerth: 1244, fell from the tower and died during escape attempt.
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