The chopping block and ax used for be headings along with some manacles. Here is a list of the Towers sordid past. Edward V began political executions here and his son Edward VI continued them. Henry VIII had Sir Thomas More, Bishop Fisher, and two of his wives, queens, killed here of Henry VIII. He accused them of alleged adultery and treason. Mary I had Lady Jane Grey, queen for nine days, executed. Parliament executed Charles I here. During the Peasants Revolt of 1831, Simon Sudbury, author of the Poll Tax, was dragged from the Tower and executed on Tower Hill. In 1471, Henry VI dies of mysterious circumstances in the Tower. Two young princes, one to be crowned king go missing in the Tower in 1483. In 1674 during some building works, bones of two young boys were found, believed to be the missing princes. Over a 400 year period, 112 be headings were recorded from Tower Hill. When someone of importance was beheaded, their heads were sewn back on for burial in the Tower's chapel. One such Lord didn't have a proper portrait done of him before he was beheaded so one was commissioned post mortem. the artist neglected to add the stitches in the portrait where his head had been reattached.
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The rack used as a form of torture in the Tower. Another form of torture was this vice grip that would lock a person in between causing just as much pain as being stretched on the rack.
When asking a Yeoman about torture, he will tell you that it wasn't called torturing, but asking questions or questioning a suspect. The only American prisoner ever held in the Tower was Henry Laurens in 1780 at the end of the Revolutionary War. He was a very wealthy plantation owner that was later traded for Cornwallis in a prisoner exchange.
The homes of the Beefeaters family members. Royal guards also guard these properties along with the entrance to the crown jewels display. The only other permanent residence to the Tower are seven ravens. In 1251, the Tower saw its first royal gift of exotic animals, a polar bear. Gifts over the years have included lions, bears, alligators, elephants, and monkeys. All were transferred out of the Tower during the 1800's. The only animals that remain to this day are the ravens because legend says that if the ravens ever left the Tower, Britain and the royalty would crumble. To ensure this, the ravens wings have been clipped. They roam free around the property and are feed fresh meat by the Ravenmaster daily.
A look at the bell tower created early in the 13th century. This tower housed some famous captives before their executions.
The doors to the entrace to the Tower. Every night at precisely 9:30 p.m. they are closed with, of course a ceremony of keys. In the past 700 years the ceremony has been occuring, only once has it been interrupted or late. That was a night during WWII when a Nazi bomb when off close to the Tower knocking over the Yeoman at the gate. Aprroximately six minutes later, he came too and like a good Englishman, finished his ceremonial duties.
The sign reads, the "Bloody Tower". This tower has a dark history, Henry V and his brother were killed here, and an escaped prisoner meeting her death not by guillotine, but by being hacked to death in the tower. One inmate actually escaped due to the ingenuity of his wife who switched clothes with him and let him leave as her. She pretended to faint and when the jailers finally found her, she was let go. She met her husband and off they went, never to be seen again.
This gate is labeled "Traitor's Gate". This is where anyone opposing the current regime would be brought in to be tried, held, and be headed.
The place inside The Tower of London where prisoners were beheaded. The blue pillow is kind of ironic. I don't think those who lost their head would remember it so nicely.
The kids standing with a Beefeater.
The tower that holds the Crown Jewels, the Jewel House. The jewels are guarded 24/7 by the Queen's Guard at this location since 1994. One of the diamonds in one of the crowns weighs over 309 carats.
I still don't know how they see out of those things.
The White Tower, below is a donjon or a keep. In a medieval castle, it is usually the strongest structure because it houses the king and his consorts.
Part of the original Roman wall inside the Tower.
One of Henry V's swords. A little big I would say. I think he must have been overcompensating for some other insecurity or seriously suffered from short man's syndrome.
That must be Henry V's armour to the left. The largest armour in the world reaching a height of 6'8" was most likely a royal gift. Let's hope so, or Henry V would have felt really small.
This is Queen Elizabeth's signature stamp if you may. This is found almost everywhere. The emblem consists of the Crown and the initials ER for Elizabeth Regina. The "II" is for Elizabeth II.
The kids trying their hand at being a guard. Not so exciting when you don't have that cool mysterious uniform.
They're all there, almost.
Guarding the houses.
Yes. Another rainy day and I'm too tired to put my coat on right.
Tanner trying his luck at what might happen if he doesn't like his dinner tonight. Besides no ice cream, we might have to come back and visit this man.
Our favorite little discovery. In this square every weekend, local vendors sell their goods, all food. It is the best place for everyone to get exactly what they want, even gelato for dinner. What has happened to our Dad? I think we have finally broken him in the past five weeks.
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