The Tower has been many things: a palace, a fortress, a prison, a place of execution, a Zoo. Today, it is best known as a historical museum. About 150 people and six ravens live here.
Kings sometimes get strange gifts. About 700 years ago King Henry III got 3 leopards, 1 elephant and a polar bear. He kept them in the Tower. The elephant died after two years but the polar bear was happy as it went swimming and fishing in the Thames with a strong rope round its neck. That was the start of the London Zoo. In 1835 all animals left the Tower and were sent to the Zoo in Regent's Park. Only the ravens stayed on.
There are always at least 6 ravens at the Tower. The first ones probably built their nests here because they liked the old stone houses and walls. There is a story that they bring good luck to Britain, if they stay at the Tower. That's why they get "paid" meat and biscuits every day. But their wings are cut so that they can't fly away. They are not very friendly. Once one of them bit a German minister.
The Beefeaters used to guard the Tower and its prisoners. Today they work mostly as guides. They show people around and tell stories about all the terrible things that have happened here. They still wear the high ruffs and scarlet tunics assigned to them during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
The Tower was a royal palace long ago. Then it became a prison. Kings, queens and noblemen were locked up here. Many, like Lady Jane Grey, lost their heads on Tower Green inside the walls or nearby on Tower Hill. The last time it was used as a prison was during the Second World War when German spies were kept and sometimes shot there.
The Crown Jewels are shown in the Jewel House. They are well looked after. Once they were stolen by a man called Colonel Blood. But he was caught just as he was leaving the Tower. Thomas Blood didn't have to go to prison. The king gave him a pension instead. It was in 1671.
Tower of London
The Tower was many things: a palace, a fortress, a prison, a place of execution, a zoo. Today it is known as a historical museum. About 150 people and six ravens live here.
Kings sometimes receive strange gifts. About 700 years ago, King Henry III received 3 leopards, an elephant and a polar bear. He kept them in the Tower. The elephant died two years later, but the polar bear was happy when he started swimming and fishing in the Thames with a strong rope around his neck. This was the beginning of the London Zoo. In 1835, all the animals left the Tower and were sent to the zoo in Regent's Park. Only the crows remained.
There are always at least six ravens in the Tower. The first of them probably built their nests here because they loved the old stone houses and walls. There is a legend that they bring good luck to Great Britain if they are in the Tower. That's why they get "paid" - meat and biscuits every day. But their wings are clipped so they can't fly away. They are not very friendly. One day one of them wounded a German minister.
Beefeaters were used to guard the Tower and its prisoners. Today they work mainly as guides. They show and tell about all the terrible things that have happened here. They still wear the high collars and red tunics assigned to them during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
The Tower has been a royal palace for a long time. Then it became a prison. Kings, queens and nobles were locked up here. Many, such as Lady Jane Grey, were beheaded inside the walls of the Green Tower or nearby on Tower Hill. It was last used as a prison during World War II, when German spies were kept here and sometimes shot.
The crown jewels are on display at the Jewel House. They are well guarded. Once they were stolen by a certain Colonel Blood (Colonel Blood). But he was caught leaving the Tower. Thomas Blood didn't have to go to jail. The king gave him a pension instead. This was in 1671.
The Tower of London
The Tower of London is one of the most imposing and popular of London's historical sites. It comprises not one, but 20 towers. The oldest of which, the White Tower, dates back to the llth century and the time of William the Conqueror . Nowadays a lot of tourists visit the Tower of, because of the Tower's evil reputation as a prison. The Tower is famous as home of the Crown Jewels. Today they can be viewed in their new jewel house. They include the Crown of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother which contains the celebrated Indian diamond.
Many stories associated with British history come from the Tower. In 1483 IV "s two sons were murdered in the so-called Bloody Tower. Over two centuries later the skeletons of two little boys were found buried beneath steps in the White Tower.
Traitor's Gate has steps leading down to the River Thames. Countless prisoners, including the future Queen Elizabeth I of England, were brought to the Tower by barge and ascended the steps before being imprisoned. For many it was their last moment of freedom before their death. But Elizabeth was released from the Tower and became Queen. The King's second wife, Anne Boleyn, was brought to trial there in 1536 and beheaded. Six years later her cousin, Catherine, Henry VIII's fifth wife, suffered the same fate. Sir Thomas More was beheaded there in 1535.
Of course, no visit to the Tower would be complete without seeing the ravens; huge black birds who are an official part of the Tower community. Legend states that if the ravens were to leave the Tower the Crown will fall, and Britain with it. Under the special care of the Raven Master, the ravens are fed a daily diet of raw meat. And there is no danger of them flying away, because their wings are clipped.
[ translation ]
Tower of London
The Tower of London is one of London's most visible and popular historic landmarks. It includes not one, but 20 towers. The oldest of them is the White Tower, which goes back to the history of the 11th century and the times of William the Conqueror. Today, many tourists visit the Tower of London, attracted by its infamous reputation as a prison. The Tower is known as the repository of royal jewels. Today they can be seen in the new jewelry house. Among them is the crown of the mother of Queen Elizabeth, which contains the famous Indian diamond.
Many stories related to British history came from the Tower. In 1483, two sons of King Edward IV were killed in the so-called Tower of Blood. Two centuries later, the skeletons of the two boys were buried under the steps in the White Tower.
The Traitor's Gate has steps descending into the River Thames. A large number of prisoners, including the future Queen of England, Elizabeth I, were brought to the Tower by barge and climbed the steps before becoming prisoners. For many, this was the last moment of freedom before death. But Elizabeth was released from the Tower and became queen. The king's second wife, Anne Boleyn, was put on trial in 1536 and beheaded. Six years later, her cousin Catherine, Henry VIII's fifth wife, met the same fate. Thomas More was beheaded here in 1535.
Of course, a visit to the Tower will not be considered complete unless you see ravens, huge black birds that are the legal inhabitants of the Tower. Legend has it that if the ravens leave the Tower, the crown will fall and Britain will fall with it. Under the special supervision of the owner of the crows, they are given a daily portion of raw meat. And there is no fear that they will fly away, because their wings are clipped.
Questions:
1. How many towers does it include?
2. What is the most imposing and popular site in London?
3. Tell something about Traitor's Gate.
4. Who is an official part of London's community?
5. What is the Tower of London famous for?
Dictionary:
imposing - noticeable
jewel - jewel
raven - crow
to ascend - descend
to comprise - include
to be beheaded - to be decapitated
There are many monuments in the world, the name of which alone breathes medieval history. In Paris, this is the Cathedral of Notre Dame, Moscow is proud of its Kremlin. Can tell a lot about the past Tower, or Tower of London(English) HerMajesty'sRoyalPalaceandFortress,TowerofLondon) is a fortress located in the historical center of London on the north bank of the River Thames. Over the long centuries of its existence, the Tower Castle managed to visit the role of a palace, a mint, a fortress, a prison, a treasury for royal regalia and jewelry, a zoo, an arsenal, an observatory. Now the Tower is a historical monument and a symbol of London, attracting numerous tourists from all over the world. Since 1988, the Tower has been under the protection of UNESCO.
What is the Tower of London famous for? More on this below.
History of the Tower.
The appearance of the fortress dates back to the time of the conquest of England by the troops of William I, Duke of Normandy. To intimidate the inhabitants of London in 1078, a temporary wooden fort was erected on the ruins of ancient Roman fortifications. Subsequently, its walls were replaced with stone ones, and by 1097 the construction of the Tower of London was completed.
The new fortress was rectangular in shape with walls 32 and 36 meters long, which rose to a height of almost 30 meters. A little later, following the order of one of the rulers of England, the building was whitewashed, and the fortress acquired a second name - the White Tower. The construction was continued by King Richard the Lionheart, who ordered to complete the construction of additional defensive towers of the Tower, erect two rows of walls and dig a deep moat. Thanks to this, the Tower of London became one of the impregnable fortresses of the Old World.
Prisoners of the Tower.
Information about the first prisoner contained in the Tower dates back to 1190. From that moment on, it became a place of detention for people with a high position, belonging to noble families, as well as for royalty. During the troubled times of the Reformation, the fortress acquired an ominous reputation. Within its walls, many persons of the royal family were imprisoned, subjected to severe torture and subsequently executed, who could pose a threat to the tranquility of the English throne. This cup did not pass Anne Boleyn and her brothers, Mary Stuart, Walter Raleigh and other famous personalities.
Despite the fact that thousands of people were prisoners of the Tower, only five people were executed on its territory, in whose veins royal blood flowed. The rest parted with their heads on Tower Hill, with a large crowd of onlookers. The bodies were buried in the cellars of the fortress chapel. The last beheading took place in 1747. After the Cray brothers gangsters left the fortress in 1952, it ceased to function as a prison.
Zoo.
For several centuries there was a zoo in the fortress, the beginning of which was laid by animals donated by Emperor Frederick II. The menagerie is constantly replenished with new animals. During the reign of Elizabeth I, any city dweller could visit it for a nominal fee on any day except Sunday. In the 30s of the XIX century, the zoo moved to a new place of residence.
Mint.
For almost five centuries, the mint operated in the fortress, where silver coins were minted. Trusting the strong and impregnable walls of the Tower, weapons were made and stored in it, and very important documents of state importance were in its vaults.
Tower guards.
The prisoners of the Tower and the valuables stored in the fortress needed good protection. Almost until the end of the 15th century, ordinary soldiers were engaged in this, and only from 1485 these functions were transferred to specially trained palace guards. The position of the guard of the Tower of London exists today. Dressed in the uniforms of the guards of the reign of Queen Victoria, they not only guard the castle, but also conduct tours of the castle grounds for visitors.
Tower Ravens are a legend.
Since ancient times, there has been a legend according to which England is safe as long as black crows live in the fortress - tower symbol. As soon as they leave it, misfortunes will fall upon the country. To prevent this, the ravens of the Tower of London have their wings clipped on purpose, and there is a special position of bird keeper to care for them. All birds have their own "personal file" and are officially employees of Her Majesty the Queen. In total, 6 ravens live in the Tower, plus 2 in reserve. Each bird has its own name. Like any worker, a bird can be fired from its position, for example, for bad behavior that is not consistent with the status of "royal crow".
Tower of London at present.
Time has no power over this symbol of Great Britain. The Tower Fortress has not changed much over the past centuries. Today, like many years ago, it belongs neither to the residential areas of the city, nor to the working outskirts, but is the property of the crown, as one of the royal residences.
Tower Castle - excursions.
To the attention of tourists visiting the Tower Fortress, various options for excursions are offered. You can take a walk along the fortress walls and listen to a guide talking about the history of the construction of buildings and how they were used starting from the 13th century. Looking into the White Tower, the first tower of the complex, which served to protect members of the royal family, you can get acquainted with a unique collection of medieval armor and tools that were used to torture the prisoners of the Tower.
Treasures of the Tower.
An obligatory part of all excursions is a visit to the treasure trove belonging to the British Crown. Having examined the collection, you can get acquainted with the regalia and jewelry of the royal family, which they still use today.
An interesting fact: in the Martin Tower, visitors will find an exposition of diamonds that are used to make royal jewelry, among which the Cullinan is the largest faceted diamond in the world.
You can see the living conditions of the English rulers of the 13th century in a medieval palace. There is also an exposition telling about the stages of restoration of the royal premises. Having made a walk along the Water Lane and the Western Entrance, visitors will learn about the methods of protecting the fortress during an enemy attack. They can also walk along the path of the prisoners who entered the Tower Fortress.
All tours include a visit to Tower Meadow. This is an ominous place where more than one thousand inhabitants of England lost their lives. Nearby is the Collegiate Church of St. Peter, in which services are held for those executed on this site.
And to visit the Fusiliers Museum, you will have to pay an additional fee. In it, visitors will be introduced to the history of the Royal Regiment.
The order in the Tower is monitored by the Constable, to whom the guards hand over the keys to the fortress every evening. To watch this ceremony, you need to book a few months in advance.
After visiting the Tower of London, you can buy souvenirs in a shop located nearby.
Have you been to the Tower? Tell us about it in your comments!
The Tower of London (in English “the Tower of London”) is one of the most outstanding architectural monuments in Great Britain. For several centuries of its existence, it was an arsenal, a treasury, a place for storing royal jewels, but it became the most famous for its prison. Behind its high thick walls, the lives of an infinite number of people ended, among which were kings and dukes, rebels and rebels. And each of them knew the truth - who owns the Tower, owns Britain. We invite you to plunge into the history of the great rise and fall of the monarchy.
Panorama of the Tower of London
History of the Tower of London
The history of this place is almost a thousand years and goes back to the time of the Norman conquests. The Tower was built in 1078 as a fortress of the Duke of Normandy, and then the British King William the Conqueror. After his victory over King Harold at the Battle of Hastings, he took the royal throne. However, troubled times and the constant fear of English reprisals forced the king to create a reliable fort that would provide him with peace. With the coming to power of Henry III, in the 13th century, the Tower of London turned from a gloomy fortress into a full-fledged residence. He gave orders to create a treasury, a church and an office. Gardens and walking paths appeared on the territory. And it was at this time that the Tower of London was painted in its already familiar white color.
Drawing with a view of the old Tower During the reign of King Henry, the Tower began to be used as a prison, but during the same period it served as a palace in which important guests were received. Often they visited the monarch with gifts in the form of living creatures. It was for her that Henry III ordered the construction of the Lion Tower - a mini-zoo, where even leopards, donated by the French king, lived.
Another grandiose building adjacent to the castle is the bridge. It is distinguished by its design: suspended with an adjustable part. This year marks the 124th anniversary of its construction. During its existence, it has repeatedly become the cultural center of the city, because art exhibitions are held in special pedestrian corridors of the twin towers, and there is also a permanent exhibition dedicated to the history of the building. So the Tower of London and the bridge became the face of the capital.
Panoramic view of Tower Bridge Tower of London today
Although the history of the prison ended at the end of the 20th century, the fortress keeps most of its traditions today. One of them is the key ceremony. Every morning the palace is opened for visitors by beefeaters - the guards of the Tower of London. They received this unofficial name due to their history of serving the royal family. The guards who guarded the king received a significant advantage - they could eat the same meat as he. This is where this strange phrase “beef eater” (in English “beef eater”) comes from - one who eats beef. These men also stood out for their appearance: bright red uniforms, similar to Tudor era clothing.
Beefeaters - Guardians of the Tower Another integral part of the Tower of London is the ravens, the guards of the kingdom. One of the local legends says that the British Monarchy will exist as long as these birds live in the Tower. That is why a separate security worker takes care of the winged family here. Crows even have their wings clipped to prevent them from flying away in search of another home.
The crows behind the legend guarding the Tower After the gates are closed, the building begins to live its normal life, becoming a cozy home for the guards and her family. However, can a place that has become a dungeon for hundreds of people be completely calm?
In the evening, an atmosphere of watchful silence hangs over the castle, from time to time it is broken by the cawing of crows. Add horror to the Tower of London descriptions of its guards. They talk about ghosts and spirits that they have seen over the years of work. The legends of the Tower of London disturb the sleep of the locals. Beefeaters even assure that after dark they try not to get into certain places of the fortress.
How many guilty and innocent souls remained forever in the stone walls of this castle? How many are buried within these walls? Despite all the publicity of the tourist place, how many interesting facts does the Tower hide? Many, and we will share a few of them with you.
Postcard depicting the Tower from the early 16th century The castle became Anne Boleyn's life prison. The queen beheaded here, who was accused of treason during her lifetime, continues to wander the corridors even after her death. They say that her ghost periodically goes to the church where Anna was reburied.
Visitors are intimidated by ghost bears. The guards say that from time to time guests are frightened by the ghost of a bear that once got out of the zoo and scared one of the inhabitants of the castle to death.
The photos disturb the peace of visitors to the Tower, in which the ghosts of two little boys appear. At the end of the 15th century, two princes, aged 10 and 12, disappeared from the fortress. Almost a hundred years later, their burials were discovered, and recently scientists found out that their relative King Henry VI became the murderer of the royal heirs. Restless souls still walk around the Tower.
The last execution in the castle took place less than 80 years ago. During World War II, the German spy Joseph Jacobs was shot in the fortress. And although Great Britain abandoned the death penalty almost twenty years later, in the 60s of the last century, the bloody history of the Tower ended there.
Great Britain almost lost its symbol during the German bombardment. In 1940-1941, London suffered devastating destruction from Nazi bombings. At the same time, all the ravens that lived in the Tower, except for one, died from stress. According to the legend, the fortress, and at the same time the monarchy, were on the verge of falling.
Night view of the Tower Where is the Tower located: address, opening hours and excursions
The Tower of London is located at St Katharine's & Wapping, London EC3N 4AB. You can get to it by metro. The nearest station is Fenchurch Street, 5 minutes from the fort, London Bridge station, 15 minutes walk.
The tower is open from 09:00 to 17:30 on weekdays and from 10:00 on weekends. However, please note that tourists are allowed to enter until 17:00.
Entrance tickets can be bought online and printed out by yourself. E-tickets are cheaper than those bought directly on the spot. The entrance fee for adults is about 23 pounds, for children from 5 to 16 years old - 11 pounds. Children under 5 years of age can enter free of charge. There are also discounts for students, people with disabilities and the elderly.
Hanna Koval
share:The Tower of London is one of the most famous and most interesting places in the city. The Tower was once a palace, a fortress, a prison and even a Zoo. Today it is known as a historical museum.
Despite being called “The Tower of London”, the place consists of 20 towers. The White Tower is the oldest of them. It was built at the time of William the Conqueror. The Tower of London used to be a place where many famous people lived their last days before execution. Anne Boleyn was beheaded there and future Queen Elizabeth was kept in the prison but later she was released and became Queen.
The guardians of the Tower still tell tourists many thrilling stories about things happened there when the place was a prison. Even a more interesting story is considered to be the one about the start of the Zoo. It is said that King Henry III was given an elephant, a polar bear and several leopards as gifts and he had no place to keep them in except for the Tower of London.
Nowadays the Tower of London is a place of great interest for millions of people. Tourists come there to visit the museum of Royal Armories, the Fusilier museum and a new Jewel Tower where Crown Jewels are exhibited. Tourists can also speak with the guardians who wear special uniform which was assigned to them during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
Translation:
The Tower of London is one of the most famous and interesting places in the city. The Tower was once a palace, a fortress, a prison and even a zoo. Today it is known as a historical museum.
Despite its name, the Tower consists of 20 towers. The White Tower is the oldest of them. It was built during the time of William the Conqueror. The Tower of London used to be the place where many famous people lived their last days before execution. Anne Boleyn was beheaded there, and the future Queen Elizabeth was imprisoned and then released to become queen.
To this day, the Tower guards tell tourists exciting stories about the events that took place at the time when the site was set aside for the prison. Even more interesting is the history of the zoo. It is said that King Henry III received an elephant, a polar bear and several leopards as gifts. The king had nowhere to keep animals, except in the Tower.
Today, the Tower of London is of great interest to millions of people. Tourists come there to visit the Royal Arms Museum, the Historical Museum and the new Tower of Jewels, where the royal jewels are on display. Tourists can also interact with the guards, who wear a special uniform assigned during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
Useful phrases and words:
Fortress - fortress
Conqueror - conqueror
Execution - execution
To behead - behead, cut off the head
To release - release, release
Except for - except
Of great interest - to be of great interest
To assign - assign, determine
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