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London Tower
The Tower of London is a historic castle located on the north bank of the River Thames in the center of London, which began construction at the end of the year 1066 AD and completed in the year 1078, where William the Conqueror ordered the construction of the White Tower as part of the Norman conquest of England and a symbol of conquering the new ruling family of their enemies in London .
About the Tower of London
The area of the tower and its surrounding areas is about 48 km, which is a gathering of several buildings within two rings of defensive walls and a moat. There was a lot of expansion of the tower, especially under the administration of King Richard the Lionheart, Henry III and Edward I in the twelfth century and the thirteenth century, The boundaries of the tower have settled as they are since the late thirteenth century with some subsequent improvements, as it is classified as a UNESCO heritage site.
The historical significance of the Tower of London
- The Tower of London played an important role in English history, as it was besieged several times, and controlling it was one of the most important steps in controlling the country.
- The tower was used as a prison in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and one of the most prominent figures in which Elizabeth I was imprisoned before becoming queen.
- During the First and Second World Wars, the tower was used again as a prison, and witnessed the execution of 12 men on charges of espionage. After the wars, it underwent restorations and reopened to the public, as it is one of the most important tourist attractions in England today and is visited by about three million tourists annually.
- The tower was added to the World Heritage sites in 1988.
- The tower consists of three wings, the deepest wing that contains the white tower, and wraps around it from the north, east and west, and the inner wing that was built during the reign of Richard the Lionheart between 1189 and 1199 AD, then the outer wing that surrounds the castle and which was built during the era of Edward I.
- The tower includes the restricted Peter Church, a Norman church.
The importance of the London Tower economic
- The tower was used as a warehouse for keeping weapons, money, public records and animals, a coin minting house, and a headquarters for preserving royal treasures.
- The White Tower is one of the largest forts in the Christian world and the most complete 11th century palace in Europe, with a length of 32 to 36 meters at the base and a height of about 27 meters.
- The tower contains three sculptures of black.
- At least six ravens are always kept in the tower, because it is a common belief that in the absence of this number in the tower it will lead to the fall of the kingdom, and the royal guardians take care of these ravens.
