View source for Tower of London

The Tower of London also called „Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress” is positioned on the north bank of the Thames in central London and is the oldest building used by the government.

The constructions of parts of the Tower started after the Norman invasion after the Battle of Hastings. [[William the Conqueror]] began in the 1070’s to build the White Tower and a surrounding wall as a fortress to demonstrate and to represent his power. The White Tower was completed around 1100 and in this time was an extraordinary and impressive building. However the Tower was not intended as a primary royal residence but as a fortress- stronghold.

In the Middle Ages the Tower of London was updated and expanded by the kings. [[Richard the Lionheart]] started the expansions in his reign from 1189 to 1199. After his return from the crusades he also started keeping lions and other exotic animals there. In addition to that, the Tower still served as a powerbase and a refuge in crises. [[Henry III.]] expanded the royal accomodations by adding two towers, the Wakefield and the Lanthorn and started to strenghten the defense of the tower, a work that was continued by his son, [[Edward I]]. In Edward’s reign the Tower became England’s strongest concentric castle. For the first time the Tower was used as a prison and a secure place for official documents and valuables in this period. Especially in the [[War of the Roses]], it was of high importance as a prison and stronghold and also as place for victory celebrations and executions.

Under the Tudors the Tower more and more became a prison for religious and political opponents. For example [[Anne Boleyn]] and [[Catherine Howard]], two wifes of [[Henry VIII]]. were imprisoned and later executed there. Furthermore [[Elizabeth I]] was arrested under the reign of [[Mary I]].

In the Civil War the Tower was taken by parliamentarians and still used as a prison but after the [[restoration]] of the monarchy in 1660 its function as prison decreased, because the Tower became the headquarters of the.

In the 18th century the buildings of the tower were maintained but no great buildings were added. In the 19th century the Waterloo Baracks were constructed, but also a lot of institutions, like the Royal Mint, the Menagerie and the Office of Ordnance left the Tower and it was re- medievalised and started to become a tourist attraction.

In World War I and World War II again prisoners were held in the Tower and also executions took place; the last one was of Joseph Jakobs in 1941.

Today the Tower is a major tourist attraction in London and a World Heritage Site. Since 1303 the Crown Jewels, which are guarded by the 35 [[Yeomen Warders]] all time, are kept there.

==Sources==
Rowse, Alfred. ''The Tower of London in the history of the Nation'', London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1972.

Minney, Rubeigh James.''Tower of London'',1970.

http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/stories/buildinghistory/default.aspx