Entrance into the Tower of London
One of the most iconic landmarks in London is the Tower of London. This 900 year palace and fortress located right in the center of the city is rich in history. The Tower of London has played a vital role in English history. From the first fortification in the eleventh century after William the Conqueror took seige over London to the present day Tower Attraction, the Tower of London is definitely a must-see during a visit to the city. The Tower of London has played a vital role in English history. This is a huge attraction that you could really spend hours exploring or even just 30 minutes to see the Royal Crown Jewels. The focus of this post will be on the oldest part of the fortress-- the Medieval Towers.
The remains of fireplace from the 13th century that would keep the top floor of the tower warm
The Medieval St. Thomas Tower was built in the 13th century under the rule of Edward I to serve as a watergate; the top floor also served as royal lodging. Edward I would use the large room in the tower to hold royal business matters. It was also under his rule that there was great expansion of the fortress. It is also good to note that much of the general layout from the 12th to 13th century still remains despite activity on the fortress.
The St. Thomas Tower hall that King Edward I would meet with couriers and important officals.
As stated earlier, Edward I first did a lot of expansion of the fortress during his rule. As you continue to walk through the Medieval St. Thomas tower, you will see some of his expansionary work. In the 1270's, Edward I built luxurious royal rooms. While the original bedroom pieces have been lost over time, there is a recreation of what the royal rooms would look like from documents and manuscript images.
Recreation of King Edward I's bedroom c. 1280 a.d.
A small chapel inside King Edward I's bedroom-- very common in Medieval Royal Bedrooms
The Tower of London has been around for centuries and because of that, there is a great deal of incredible history to be seen by visitors. This is just a historical overview on one of oldest parts of the palace/fortress.
