In the Tower of London

There is so much palace that it takes rather a lot of hours to see it all – and enjoy it all!

2015 England Trip Travel Journal Entry

Wednesday, March 18

We spent most of the day at the Tower of London. That was a well-spent day! After eating lunch on the river with the sun shining and the Tower behind us, surrounded by dozens of school groups and scores of tourists, we began our Yeoman Warder tour.

Walking along the walls of the Tower, enjoying a view of the Tower Bridge.

We got to go inside of the chapel this time, and the White Tower. That was special because much of the structure is what was actually built by William the Conqueror. Just to touch the stones put there by that dynamic and powerful man, who had walked those halls and been used to make decisions that would alter history, was unreal.

The White Tower
It is pretty magnificent!

One of the upper floors in the White Tower.

We also got up on the wall and into the Wakefield and Bloody Towers. The Wakefield Tower took me quite by surprise. We walked unexpectedly into a room that was set up like the court of Henry III, who had built this part of the palace in the 1200s. That was fascinating! I didn't know it was even there! There was a throne room and a bedroom, completely fitted up as they would have been during Henry's reign.

The throne room of Henry III.

The chapel of the Wakefield Tower where Henry VI may have been murdered...

The bedroom of Henry III in the Wakefield Tower.

The Bloody Tower was also fitted up. There was one room that was particularly comfortable. It was where Sir Walter Raleigh had been held prisoner, with a fancy tile floor, desks, chairs, and lots of other hospitable furnishings. The room where the "Princes in the Tower" were supposedly kept was up a flight of the narrowest, steepest, most tightly would stairs, ever. It was a fairly spacious room, but there was something distinctly uncomfortable about it, knowing what might have been its history... It probably didn't help that there was a short animated film about the princes' fate at the hands of their infamous uncle Richard projected onto the wall.

One of the most exciting parts of our visit was the display of royal armor in the White Tower - I have never seen so much armor all together! (Unless you count watching 'The Hollow Crown''s 'Henry V' film...) There were about five suits of armor worn by Henry VIII. Some gave his ownership away by their size alone... My favorite of his was one with the initials of himself and his first wife Katherine stamped all along the border of the "skirt."

Some of Henry VIII's armor.

Notice the "HK" along the armor's edge... Isn't it romantic?

More armor of Henry VIII

The armor of Charles I was a work of art (unsurprisingly, knowing his taste for showing off the king's divine right through ostentatious display). It was etched with intricate patterns that covered the entire suit.

Charles I's armor.

We also saw a sword that was said to have been carried by Henry IV and Henry V during their coronations! (Of course, to me that translates to Jeremy Irons and Tom Hiddleston...) It must have been seven feet long, at least.

The sword of Henry IV and V.

We saw swords belonging to George III and George IV, the Tower uniform of the Duke of Wellington when he was in charge of the palace, and some original coins ranging from the reign of William the Conqueror to George IV!

The swords of George II, George III and George IV.

Wellington's coat

A coin from the time of William the Conqueror.

We saw the Crown Jewels, too. Wow... Those diamonds must be where the definition of "dazzling" comes from! There is a brilliant projection during one part of the exhibit that sort of animates drawings of coronations through the centuries, making it feel like you're watching a televised version of Charles II's or George IV's coronation processions! The robe that has been worn by the monarch since (I think) George IV is quite a fascinating object. It is gold and covered in roses, shamrocks and thistles - which represent England, Northern Ireland, and Scotland, respectively. (I'm not sure where Wales fits in, there...)

One place that is sort of tucked away is the room where Lady Jane Grey was imprisoned. She may have carved her name into the stone wall on the upper story! And she wasn't the only one who did... There are hundreds of names and messages carved into that wall! There is a guide posted on the wall that tells you where some of the more interesting signatures are located. I would recommend trying to see that room.

Of course, our day at the Tower was not all about history, executions and imprisonment, nor was it without it's comic moments. The first occurred on our way out of the Crown Jewels exhibit, and involved two young soldiers returning with some tea. We were sort of trying to watch and admire them without looking like we were, when suddenly one of them tripped, and, as Mom kept the camera rolling, sheepishly said, "I hope nobody saw that!" Well...

We also saw a raven up close! Those things are almost prehistorically sized, they are so big. But there is also something suitably royal about their being so large. :)

Our encounter with a Raven.

We then had dinner and dessert at - where else! - The Kitchen @Tower! It was quite delicious.

Our toffee cake and tea.

© 2015 Anna Morton