Traitors’ Gate

PALACE PRISON

FORTRESS

established c1070

The TOWERof LONDON

Middle Drawbridge (group visits entrance)

Flint Tower

Bloody Tower

St Thomas’s Tower

WH

ARF

To stops

1-3

White Tower

Brick Tower

9

10

7

12

6

4

5

8

13

Climb spiral stairs to upper Beauchamp

Waterloo Barracks

2

3

1 11

TOWER GREEN

Salt Tower

14

15

Martin Tower

To stops 11-14

To stops 8-10

Constable Tower

Beauchamp Tower

Cradle Tower

DOES THE TOWER OF LONDON DESERVE ITS GORY REPUTATION?

0 gore-free

1 potentially gory

2 plain gruesome

3 stomach-turning

GORE

S C O R EChoose one of the

three walks. Rate each stop you

visit on this scale from 0-3

Look for the large, round sculpture with names engraved around the edge

Among those executed near this spot were three queens. Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard and Lady Jane Grey each lost her head inside the Tower. Occasionally, it could get messy. One witness wrote that Margaret Pole’s execution in 1541 was performed by ‘a wretched and blundering youth who literally hacked her head and shoulders to pieces.’

HEADS ROLL4

Execution memorial

Flint Tower

Carl Hans Lody During the First World War, the Tower became an execution site. Carl Lody was one of 11 German spies executed here. His amateurish spycraft had led to his arrest and conviction. But his integrity won him

widespread admiration during his public trial. Lody was executed on

6 November 1914 on an indoor shooting

range. In a final act Lody wrote to thank his guards for their ‘kind and considered treatment.’

3

Pass through the Bowyer Tower. From here, you’ll see the Waterloo Barracks

The Waterloo Barracks was built following a major fire at the Tower. On the evening of 31 October 1841, flames engulfed the Grand Storehouse, a depot for artillery and small arms. Concern grew about the risk to the White Tower, which was the country’s main gunpowder store. A potential explosion could have levelled the Tower and surrounding area. Fortunately, the fire was brought under control.

Battlement Wall

FIRE BOMB2

You can explore the Royal Beasts exhibition here

An ostrich, an elephant, lions and snakes: all were kept at the Tower as part of the royal ‘menagerie’. Monarchs acquired most of the animals as diplomatic gifts or trophies from wars and exploration.

Why do you think monarchs gave each other animals as gifts?

A woodsman’s axe, as used for beheadings

Brick Tower

Climb the spiral stairs to the upper room - it’s filled with prisoner graffiti

This room was probably used for high-ranking prisoners, who paid handsomely for better conditions including servants and cooks. The Tower was often used by monarchs to hold important people on political or religious charges.

Choose your favourite carving. How do you think it was made and by whom?

MARKING TIMEBeauchamp Tower

5

1 LONDON’S FIRST ZOO

THE SPY

The King of Norway gave Henry III a ‘white bear’. It swam and hunted for fish in the Thames

Carving by Thomas Abel (or Abell)1533

Pass through St Thomas’s Tower. Wakefield Tower has a small chapel

Chapels were essential in a royal residence, given the importance of religion. King Henry VI is said to have died in this spot, while at prayer, in 1471. Though he was a king, Henry was a prisoner here. His rivals - the Yorks - had taken control of the throne in a series of civil wars. His rivals’ supporters said he died of sadness (he’d recently lost his son in battle), but it was widely suspected he was murdered on orders of the new king Edward IV.

Wakefield Tower MELANCHOLY KILLS9

Pass through the Medieval Palace until you reach a bedchamber

Edward I (r1272-1307), along with his father Henry III (r1216-72), helped strengthen the Tower by adding its defensive walls. Secure inside, this warrior king also built a comfortable royal palace. This was his bedroom when he stayed. Because the king moved around so much, his bed and furnishings travelled with him. Unusually tall for his time, ‘Longshanks’ had a bed specially made for his 6’2” frame.

St Thomas’s Tower LONGSHANKS RESTS8

Read the ‘Lost Palace’ info sign on the wall. Then continue to Lanthorn Tower

At one time, a grand complex of buildings extended across to the White Tower. This inner palace served medieval monarchs and their families, including young children. Inside Lanthorn Tower you’ll find objects that give a flavour of medieval life here, a toy figure of a knight on horseback from around 1300.

Battlement Wall LUXURY LOST10

From here you can see both the Bloody Tower and White Tower

The Bloody Tower gets its name as the alleged location of a suspected murder. In 1483, the king died and his two young sons came to the Tower under the care of their uncle Richard. Twelve-year-old Edward expected to inherit his father’s throne, but he and his nine-year-old brother were declared illegitimate. Soon after, their uncle was crowned Richard III and the potential heirs vanished from the Tower. Rumours circulated they were murdered by their uncle.

What do you think could have happened to the princes?

Tower Green

A MURDER MYSTERY?6

Elizabeth I Legend says when Princess Elizabeth came here as a prisoner in 1554, she arrived through this river gate (she probably didn’t). She was locked up in the Tower by her half-sister Mary I (r1553-8), who suspected Elizabeth of

plotting against her. After a stressful stay, lack of evidence led to her release. Her next visit to

the Tower was much happier. She stayed here

the night before her coronation in 1558.

THE MONARCH7

In 1674, the bones of two children were discovered during works on the White Tower

SENT TO THE TOWER

MONARCHMYSTERIES

TORTURE & REVOLT Constable Tower

You’ll find replicas of the massive Cullinan diamond here

Today the priceless Crown Jewels are stored behind bulletproof glass in the Waterloo Barracks. But in the late 1660s, they were kept here - in a locked cabinet. The public could even handle them for a small fee. This ended in 1671, however, after thieves plotted to overpower the jewel keeper and nearly got away. The alarm was raised and the jewels recovered, as the shadowy Colonel Blood and his band were captured on the wharf. Amazingly, after a private meeting with Charles II, Blood was pardoned.

Martin Tower HEIST!14

Johanna Ferrour In 1381 an army of protesters marched on London. They were angry about the hated poll tax. Ferrour led a group that successfully stormed the Tower. Once inside, they arrested the Lord Chancellor and dragged him to Tower Hill. Ferrour had him beheaded. Court records described her as ‘chief perpetrator and leader of rebellious evildoers’. Despite this, there is no evidence she was ever convicted.

It’s said the White Tower’s basement was a site of torture and interrogation

Anne Askew is the only recorded instance of a woman being tortured at the Tower. In 1546, the authorities tried to uncover the names of Askew’s fellow Protestants. They stretched her on the rack - the Tower’s principal torture instrument. As a result, her shoulders and hips were pulled from their sockets and elbows and knees dislocated. She never talked and was later burnt at the stake at Smithfield.

White Tower RACK AND RUIN15

12 THE REBEL

15

The manacles, as used on John Gerard - how many people do you think were tortured at the Tower?

Discover prisoner graffiti andstories of those locked up here

John Gerard was a Jesuit priest imprisoned here in the 1590s. He was also tortured during his stay. Catholic worship was outlawed at the time and the authorities were trying to persuade Gerard to reveal his conspirators (he didn’t). Gerard, who later escaped, recalled being left to hang, wrists bound in manacles.

Visit the Cradle Tower for the full story of Gerard’s daring escape

Salt TowerHANGING TOUGH11

Soldiers stationed here live in cottages built into the outer wall

Yeoman Warders have been guarding the Tower for over 500 years. Today, all warders have a distinguished record of military service and live within the Tower with their families. In addition to providing security, their duties include giving visitor tours.

Battlement WallA SOLDIER’S HOME13

THE WALKS

TORTURE & REVOLT

MONARCH MYSTERIES

SENT TO THE TOWER(suggested start stop 1)

(suggested start stop 6)

(suggested start stop 11)

KS3-trail-portrait-v6.indd 1 30/08/2019 17:16

DOES THE TOWER OF LONDONDESERVE ITS GORY REPUTATION?

0 gore-free

1 potentially gory

2 plain gruesome

3 stomach-turning

GORE

SCORE

trail map & timeline

Does the Tower of London deserve its gory reputation?

BEFORE YOU START: WHAT DO YOU THINK? 1

YESNOMAYBE

IN THE TOWER: GIVE EACH STOP A GORE SCORE 2

Follow one of the three walks around the Tower. Rate the ‘goriness’ of each stop you visit.

BEFORE YOU LEAVE: THINK AGAIN! 3

Once you’ve explored, re-consider the main question: Does the Tower of London deserve its gory reputation?

YESNOMAYBE

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*

Why do you think that?

Has your view changed? If so, why?

How gory a story?

Th

e T

ower

of

Lon

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This trail is full of walks, stops and information to help you investigate more than 950 years of Tower history.

See if you agree (or disagree) that this ancient castle deserves its reputation as a fearsome site of torture and execution.

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