The White Tower was built using white limestone (thus the name), imported from Caen in northwest France, and Kentish ragstone, a native building material. The Tower of London was built as a battlement but quickly became a prison. It currently holds several royal residences.
The White Tower has three storeys and an attic level. It is about 30 feet high with 17 feet thick walls. The original structure was built between 1171 and 1220. The tallest surviving part of the tower is the octagonal keep, which is 32 feet high and has 14 feet thick walls. This was the setting for many executions over the years. The last beheading in The White Tower took place in 1780, when Charles II's brother, Prince Charles, the Duke of York, died. His body was taken here for burial in St George's Chapel within the Tower grounds.
The word "tower" actually means "high wall". In the days before aerial bombardment, towers were used as defensive structures, providing better protection than their non-towering counterparts. They could also be used as viewing points, or as flagpoles - the White Tower now houses a small museum dedicated to this history of the tower.
Limestone is one of the most common sedimentary rocks in the world. If you put all the limestone on Earth's surface into a single layer, it would be about 200 miles thick.
The White Tower, often known as the Old Keep, is the central tower of the Tower of London. It was erected in the early 1080s by William the Conqueror and afterwards expanded. The present structure is the third version of the tower; the first two were destroyed by fire.
The White Tower is an iconic image of England. It's one of the most important monuments in the country and has been called "the heart of London". The tower has been used for ceremonial purposes by both English monarchs and their successors. Today it functions as a museum devoted to military history.
The White Tower was not originally white; it was painted black to make it look more formidable against the backdrop of ancient London. The black color comes from soot and smoke produced by fires used to protect the castle against invasion. The fires also helped hide any damage the building might have received during wars with France and Scotland.
The White Tower was important for defense because it had large windows that could be opened to allow soldiers inside the castle to shoot arrows into enemy lines without being seen themselves. The arrow-proof glass was installed during renovations in the 12th century.
The word "tower" actually means "watchtower" or "lookout".
The Tower of London is nearly a thousand years old, having been erected about 1070 and still standing tall today. It receives its name from the White Tower, which was completed in 1078 by William the Conquer. For the most part, the Tower has served as a jail. There are also some interesting museums inside including one that focuses on jewelry and another that features medieval weapons.
The White Tower is a massive structure with an exterior wall that can be more than 20 feet thick. Inside it contains rooms devoted to the storage of arms and armor, as well as those where people were imprisoned before they were sent back to Europe for trial. Today, it functions primarily as a museum.
The Tower has been the site of many executions over the years. Some people think that seeing someone being put to death is enough reason alone to visit the Tower but others say it's morbid. Regardless, the sight of bloodthirsty tourists walking around outside the prison cells where these events took place made us never want to go back again!
In addition to being a prison, The Tower has been used for animal testing, human experiments, and even as a radio station. In 1553, King Henry VIII built a palace inside the walls of the Tower for himself and his second wife, Catherine Howard. The couple only lived there for a few months before Catherine's execution but the building remains today as the Palace of Placentia.
In 1066, William the Conqueror erected the White Tower as a symbol of Norman sovereignty, strategically positioning it on the River Thames to serve as both a stronghold and an entrance to the metropolis. It is Europe's most complete example of an 11th-century castle palace. The original tower was about 80 feet high, made of wood, with walls up to 15 feet thick. Over the years, it has been rebuilt several times.
The White Tower has had many uses over time. Under Henry VIII, it became a prison, then a place of execution. In 1770, it lost its thatched roof, which was replaced by a slate one. During World War II, the White Tower was converted into a chemical weapons storage facility for use by the German army. It remained in use after the war by various other government agencies, until 1990 when it was opened to the public.
Today, visitors can explore eight new floors containing exhibits that tell the story of the White Tower through photos, documents, and multimedia displays.
Guided tours of the White Tower are available daily at 9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:15 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. Adult tickets cost £18.95, while children under 13 are free.
The White House In 1996, much of this collection, which is managed as the Royal Armouries, was relocated to a new museum site in Leeds. The London Tower The White Tower is surrounded by a moat and two circular "curtains," or walls. The White Tower is the Tower of London's main stronghold. It was built before 1066 for King Harold II to replace an older wooden tower. The new stone tower was an impressive 70 feet high, with eight levels, each one smaller than the previous one. It was also larger inside than out, measuring 12 meters by 22 meters. The White Tower has been used for many things over the years, including housing prisoners and storing weapons. Today it is a museum containing many exhibits related to military history.
The oldest surviving part of the Tower is the White Tower, which was built before 1066 for King Harold II. He had his palace and capital city at Jerusalem's Old City when he lived there during the summer months. But after the Battle of Hastings, he decided not to move back there and instead build a new palace near the new capital city of London. The new tower was meant to intimidate enemies and warn them not to harm King Harold or else... Well, you know how stories go: bad things will happen if you don't obey the king (or queen). During the time of King Edward III (1327-1377), the White Tower became a prison.
The White Tower was the first stone keep in England and the early castle's strongest point. It also had luxurious accommodations for the king. It was most likely completed by 1100, when Bishop Ranulf Flambard was imprisoned there. The White Tower is a great example of how dramatic architecture can change the appearance of a city. Until the construction of Leeds Castle in 1150, it was the most ambitious project of its time.
Other than the White Tower, the word "castle" usually refers to a military stronghold built during the 11th century or later. These other castles were all made of wood until the construction of Stonegate in 1138. This last wooden castle was almost destroyed during the invasion of 1066 but was quickly rebuilt using stones taken from the demolished Norman castles. Thus began the tradition of building stone castles in England.
During this same period, several large fortresses were being constructed for security purposes alone. These include Dover Castle, Windsor Castle, and York Castle. There are also many smaller castles used primarily as prisons; these include Rockingham Castle in North Carolina and Pendennis Castle in Wales.
Finally, there is the palace. Palaces were built for royal residences or as government offices. They include Westminster Palace (now Parliament) and the Tower of London. Although they were not meant to be defensive structures, many served as refuges during times of war.
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