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
1200
1300
1400
1100
1500
1600
1700
1800
1900
2000
PA
LA
CE
FO
RT
RE
SS
PR
ISO
N
Fir
st: 11
00
- R
an
ulf
Fla
mb
ard
(se
e
tim
elin
e)
Last
: 19
52
- G
an
gst
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Reg
gie
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nn
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ray,
fo
r n
ot
rep
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fo
r n
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rvic
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‘Hig
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riso
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rs -
Use
d f
or
alle
ged
th
reats
to
nati
on
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cu
rity
an
d t
he m
on
arc
hy
Esc
ap
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-
On
e h
isto
rian
est
imate
s 37 s
uccess
ful esc
ap
es
fro
m t
he T
ow
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r 4
per
cen
tury
Tort
ure
- 4
8 k
no
wn
case
s o
f p
hysi
cal to
rtu
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ther
form
s,
such
as
solit
ary
co
nfi
nem
en
t, w
ere
m
ore
co
mm
on
20
th c
en
tury
PO
Ws
- 12
pri
son
ers
o
f w
ar
were
execu
ted
here
du
rin
g
the F
irst
an
d S
eco
nd
Wo
rld
Wars
Str
ate
gic
lo
cati
on
- B
uilt
next
to
the R
iver
Th
am
es
an
d E
ng
lan
d’s
m
ost
po
pu
lou
s cit
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n t
he r
em
ain
s o
f a d
efe
nsi
ve c
ity w
all
(fir
st m
ad
e
by t
he R
om
an
s, A
D4
3-4
10)
De
fen
ce
- H
en
ry III a
nd
Ed
ward
I m
ad
e t
he T
ow
er
En
gla
nd
’s
stro
ng
est
‘co
ncen
tric
’ cast
le (
wit
h
on
e r
ing
of
walls
in
sid
e a
no
ther)
Ro
yal
arm
ou
ry -
Weap
on
s h
ave
been
sto
red
an
d m
ad
e h
ere
fo
r cen
turi
es
Mil
itary
ou
tpo
st -
A g
arr
iso
n o
f so
ldie
rs h
as
alw
ays
been
sta
tio
ned
h
ere
, even
to
day
A r
oyal
ho
me
- K
ing
s an
d q
ueen
s liv
ed
in
lu
xu
ry h
ere
fo
r 5
00
years
Safe
ho
use
- T
he C
row
n J
ew
els
h
ave b
een
kep
t h
ere
fo
r o
ver
60
0 y
ears
Min
t -
Co
ins
were
mad
e h
ere
fo
r cen
turi
es,
help
ing
th
e m
on
arc
h
infl
uen
ce t
he e
co
no
my
Me
nag
eri
e -
Exo
tic a
nim
als
were
kep
t h
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fro
m 1
23
5 u
nti
l th
e
183
0s
Ce
rem
on
y -
Th
e c
oro
nati
on
p
rocess
ion
beg
an
at
the T
ow
er
for
over
30
0 y
ears
HO
W G
OR
Y A
ST
OR
Y?
*
**
*
Fla
mb
ard
befr
ien
ds
his
gu
ard
s, u
sin
g h
is w
ealt
h t
o
pro
vid
e t
hem
wit
h w
ine. O
ne e
ven
ing
, w
hen
th
ey
fall
asl
eep
, h
e s
cale
s th
e W
hit
e T
ow
er
an
d e
scap
es.
SO
ME
GR
EA
T
ES
CA
PE
S
Gera
rd p
lots
a d
ram
ati
c r
iverb
oat
esc
ap
e b
y w
riti
ng
‘in
vis
ible
’ le
tters
to
his
su
pp
ort
ers
in
ora
ng
e ju
ice.
Aid
ed
by h
is w
ife, W
inif
red
, Lo
rd N
ith
sdale
esc
ap
es
dis
gu
ised
as
on
e o
f h
er
lad
ies-
in-w
ait
ing
.
125
5 |
Fre
nch
kin
g s
en
ds
an
ele
ph
an
t to
jo
in
the m
en
ag
eri
e.
Lo
nd
on
ers
flo
ck t
o
‘see t
he n
ovel si
gh
t’
1275
-9 |
Ed
ward
I
(r12
72-1
30
7)
bu
ilds
wate
rgate
an
d S
t T
ho
mas’
s To
wer 10
66
| W
illia
m t
he C
on
qu
ero
r in
vad
es
En
gla
nd
an
d b
eco
mes
kin
g (
r10
66
-87).
He e
stab
lish
es
the
Tow
er
to k
eep
ho
stile
Lo
nd
on
ers
at
bay
109
0s
| W
hit
e T
ow
er
is
co
mp
lete
d; E
ng
lan
d’s
fir
st e
ver
cast
le k
eep
mad
e o
f st
on
e11
00
| T
he T
ow
er’
s fi
rst
pri
son
er
is
go
vern
men
t m
inis
ter
an
d B
ish
op
Ran
ulf
F
lam
bard
, ch
arg
ed
w
ith
ste
alin
g f
rom
H
en
ry I (
r110
0-3
5)
116
2 |
Hen
ry II (r
115
4-
89
) ap
po
ints
Th
om
as
Becket
as
Co
nst
ab
le
of
the T
ow
er. B
ecket
go
es
on
to
beco
me
Arc
hb
ish
op
an
d is
late
r m
ad
e a
sain
t
120
4 |
Cro
ssb
ow
m
an
ufa
ctu
re a
t th
e T
ow
er
can
be
traced
back t
o
this
date
127
9 |
Ed
ward
I
mo
ves
co
in-
makin
g a
t th
eL
on
do
n m
int
insi
de t
he
Tow
er’
s w
alls
123
5 |
Hen
ry III
(r12
16-7
2)
is g
iven
th
ree leo
pard
s as
a
gif
t b
y H
oly
Ro
man
E
mp
ero
r F
red
eri
ck II
133
6 |
A n
igh
tly
cere
mo
ny lo
ckin
g
up
th
e T
ow
er
is
est
ab
lish
ed
. It
co
nti
nu
es
to t
his
d
ay
132
6 |
Ed
ward
II
(13
07-2
7)
takes
refu
ge f
rom
his
en
em
ies
here
. A
ng
ry m
ob
s att
ack t
he T
ow
er.
Ed
ward
fle
es,
b
ut
is p
rob
ab
ly
mu
rdere
d
1415
| F
ren
ch
man
Ch
arl
es
of
Orl
éan
s liv
es
in lu
xu
ry a
s a
pri
son
er
of
war. H
e s
pen
ds
24
years
in
cu
sto
dy
138
1 |
40
0 r
eb
els
m
arc
h o
n L
on
do
n
an
d r
un
th
rou
gh
o
pen
gate
s d
uri
ng
th
e P
easa
nts
’ R
evo
lt, b
reach
ing
th
e T
ow
er’
s d
efe
nces
147
1 |
Hen
ry V
I (r
1422-6
1; 1
470
-1)
die
s w
hile
im
pri
son
ed
here
. S
om
e s
ay h
e is
mu
rdere
d b
y h
is e
nem
ies
wh
ile p
rayin
g
in W
akefi
eld
To
wer
147
8 |
Im
pri
son
ed
fo
r tr
easo
n, th
e
Du
ke o
f C
lare
nce
die
s h
ere
. H
e’s
alle
ged
ly d
row
ned
in
a b
arr
el o
f w
ine
150
9 |
Th
e
bo
dy o
f Y
eo
man
W
ard
ers
, o
r ‘B
eefe
ate
rs’
is f
ou
nd
ed
153
3 |
An
ne
Bo
leyn
, se
co
nd
w
ife o
f H
en
ry V
III
(r15
09
-47),
arr
ives
for
her
co
ron
ati
on
p
rocess
ion
1
2
34, 6
155
4 |
Qu
een
M
ary
I (
r15
53
-58
) im
pri
son
s P
rin
cess
E
lizab
eth
(la
ter
Eliz
ab
eth
I)
7
5
148
3
Will
iam
Hast
ing
sexecu
ted
wit
ho
ut
tria
l
BE
HE
AD
ING
S
(on
or
near
Tow
er
Gre
en
)
153
6
An
ne B
ole
yn
Qu
een
of
En
gla
nd
154
1M
arg
are
t P
ole
C
ou
nte
ss o
f S
alis
bu
ry
154
2C
ath
eri
ne H
ow
ard
Qu
een
of
En
gla
nd
154
2Jan
e B
ole
yn
Vis
co
un
tess
Ro
ch
ford
155
4L
ad
y J
an
e G
rey
Qu
een
of
En
gla
nd
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
160
5 |
Gu
y F
aw
kes
is t
ort
ure
d
aft
er
a f
aile
d
plo
t to
ass
asi
nate
Jam
es
I (r
160
3-2
5)
an
d b
low
up
th
e
Ho
use
s o
f P
arl
iam
en
t
164
9 |
Fo
llow
ing
th
e C
ivil
War
Oliv
er
Cro
mw
ell
(r16
49
-58
) is
nam
ed
L
ord
Pro
tecto
r. H
e
melt
s d
ow
n t
he
Cro
wn
Jew
els
167
1 |
Co
lon
el B
loo
d
att
em
pts
to
ste
al th
e n
ew
C
row
n J
ew
els
. H
e’s
fo
iled
, b
ut
is p
ard
on
ed
by C
harl
es
II
(r16
60
-85
)
174
1 |
Fir
st
gu
ideb
oo
k a
imed
at
ch
ildre
n is
pu
blis
hed
185
0 |
Th
e K
oh
-i-n
ur
dia
mo
nd
is
pre
sen
ted
to
Qu
een
Vic
tori
afo
llow
ing
th
e
an
nexati
on
o
f P
un
jab
1618
| A
fter
years
o
f im
pri
son
men
t,
Sir
Walt
er
Rale
igh
is
execu
ted
on
To
wer
Hil
20
14 |
Fir
st W
orl
d W
ar
cen
ten
ary
is
mark
ed
by a
n a
rt in
stalla
tio
n
flo
od
ing
th
e m
oat
wit
h
cera
mic
po
pp
ies
1914
-18
| E
leven
p
riso
ners
of
war
are
execu
ted
by f
irin
g
squ
ad
, m
an
y in
th
e T
ow
er’
s in
do
or
sho
oti
ng
ran
ge
160
1R
ob
ert
Devere
au
xE
arl
of
Ess
ex
194
0s
| M
oat
use
d t
o
gro
w v
eg
eta
ble
s d
uri
ng
S
eco
nd
Wo
rld
War
1913
| S
uff
rag
ett
e
Leo
no
ra C
oh
en
sm
ash
es
the C
row
n J
ew
els
dis
pla
y.
Her
arr
est
gain
s w
ide
med
ia a
tten
tio
n
1716
| W
illia
m M
axw
ell,
E
arl
of
Nit
hsd
ale
, is
im
pri
son
ed
fo
r su
pp
ort
ing
a r
ival
of
Geo
rge I (
1714
-27)
159
0s
| Jesu
it p
riest
Jo
hn
Gera
rd is
imp
riso
ned
fo
r co
vert
ly
pra
cti
cin
g
Cath
olic
ism
154
8 |
Larg
e
sto
cks
of
gu
np
ow
der
are
st
ore
d h
ere
, n
ot
wit
ho
ut
risk
. A
n a
ccid
en
tal
exp
losi
on
d
am
ag
es
the
bu
ildin
g a
nd
kill
s a p
riso
ner
20
07
| M
oir
a
Cam
ero
n is
ap
po
inte
d, th
e
firs
t fe
male
Y
eo
man
W
ard
er
179
8 |
Tw
o M
int
wo
rkers
ste
al
19kg
of
co
ins.
On
e is
cau
gh
t w
hile
try
ing
to
esc
ap
e t
o F
ran
ce
172
7 |
In
a p
eri
od
of
declin
e, th
e
fort
ress
has
just
22 g
un
s fi
t to
fi
re d
uri
ng
th
e r
oyal co
ron
ati
on
o
f G
eo
rge II (r
1727-6
0)
*
Why do you think that?
Has your view changed? If so, why?
How gory a story?
Th
e T
ower
of
Lon
don
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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