TOWER OF LONDON

BY ISHAQ

The Tower of London was built nearly a millennium ago. The fortress was built by William the Conqueror. The moat was built by Richard I, using water diverted from the River Thames. The first walls were laid in 1078. the castle has improved over the years. The Tower of London was built for many reasons and it had many uses. Its main function was to protect Norman rule in the years after the conquest. It was a prison, a zoo 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.

Important people were executed (by axe) inside the Tower of London. There were many famous people

George, Duke of Clarence (1478) Anne Boleyn, Queen of England (1536) wife of King Henry VIII

Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury (1541) Jane Boleyn (1542) Queen of England Catherine Howard (1542) wife of King Henry VIII Lady Jane Grey (1554)

Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex (1601)

People that were executed!

The guardians of the Tower

Legend says that the kingdom and the Tower of London will fall if the six black resident ravens ever leave the fortress. It was Charles II, who first insisted that the ravens of the Tower should be protected. There are seven ravens at the Tower today (the required six plus one spare!). They are to be found next to the Wakefield Tower. When the ravens first arrived at the tower a little snip of their wings had to be cut of, so they will never fly away.

THE 6 RAVENS

The ravens eat 170g of raw meat a day, plus bird biscuits soaked in blood.

DID YOU KNOW?

THE CROWN JEWLSThe Tower of London is home to the world famous British crown jewels. The crown jewels have been on display at the Tower of London since 1661. the crown jewels symbolize hundreds of years of British history. DID YOU KNOW?The oldest piece in the jewel collection is the silver gilt medieval coronation spoon, displayed alongside the ampulla. It was made for Henry II or Richard I in the 12th century.

DID YOU KNOW?On 9th May 1671, Thomas Blood (Colonel Blood) attempted to steal the crown jewels from the Tower of London but he failed.