Tower of London

1774

For the most part, the 18th-century work on the defences was spasmodic and piecemeal, although a new gateway in the southern curtain wall permitting access from the wharf to the outer ward was added in 1774.

1800

An 1800 inventory also listed a tiger, leopards, a hyena, a large baboon, various types of monkeys, wolves and "other animals".

1811

A particularly famous inhabitant was Old Martin, a large grizzly bear given to George III by the Hudson's Bay Company in 1811.

1816

In January 1816, a sentry on guard outside the Jewel House claimed to have witnessed an apparition of a bear advancing towards him, and reportedly died of fright a few days later.

1817

In October 1817, a tubular, glowing apparition was claimed to have been seen in the Jewel House by the Keeper of the Crown Jewels, Edmund Lenthal Swifte.

1822

By 1822, however, the collection included only a grizzly bear, an elephant and some birds.

1825

In the Tower's architecture, this was manifest when the New Horse Armoury was built in 1825 against the south face of the White Tower.

1828

The popularity of the Chartist movement between 1828 and 1858 led to a desire to refortify the Tower of London in the event of civil unrest.

In 1828 there were over 280 representing at least 60 species as the new keeper Alfred Copps was actively acquiring animals. After the death of George IV in 1830, a decision was made to close down the Menagerie on the orders of the Duke of Wellington.

In 1831, most of the stock was moved to the London Zoo which had opened in 1828.

1830

It was still an integral part of the castle's defences, so in 1830 the Constable of the Tower, the Duke of Wellington, ordered a large-scale clearance of several feet of silt.

In 1828 there were over 280 representing at least 60 species as the new keeper Alfred Copps was actively acquiring animals. After the death of George IV in 1830, a decision was made to close down the Menagerie on the orders of the Duke of Wellington.

1831

In 1831, most of the stock was moved to the London Zoo which had opened in 1828.

1835

The last of the animals left in 1835, relocated to Regent's Park.

1841

Construction of the Grand Storehouse north of the White Tower began in 1688, on the same site as the dilapidated Tudor range of storehouses; it was destroyed by fire in 1841.

However this did not prevent an outbreak of disease in the garrison in 1841 caused by poor water supply, resulting in several deaths.

For the coronation of Charles II, gems were rented because the treasury could not afford to replace them. In 1669, the Jewel House was demolished and the Crown Jewels moved into Martin Tower (until 1841).

1843

The three rectangular towers along the east wall apart were dismantled in 1843.

The work began in 1843 and was mostly complete two years later.

1845

The construction of the Waterloo Barracks in the inner ward began in 1845, when the Duke of Wellington laid the foundation stone.

Between 1845 and 1885 institutions such as the Mint which had inhabited the castle for centuries moved to other sites; many of the post-medieval structures left vacant were demolished.

1851

Numbers became so high that by 1851 a purpose-built ticket office was erected.

1852

The Menagerie buildings were removed in 1852 but the Keeper of the Royal Menagerie was entitled to use the Lion Tower as a house for life.

1853

Consequently, even though the animals had long since left the building, the tower was not demolished until the death of Copps, the last keeper, in 1853. In 1999, physical evidence of lion cages was found, one being 2x3 metres (6.5x10 feet) in size, very small for a lion that can grow to be 2.5 meters (approximately 8 feet) long.

1855

In 1855, the War Office took over responsibility for manufacture and storage of weapons from the Ordnance Office, which was gradually phased out of the castle.

1858

The popularity of the Chartist movement between 1828 and 1858 led to a desire to refortify the Tower of London in the event of civil unrest.

1885

Between 1845 and 1885 institutions such as the Mint which had inhabited the castle for centuries moved to other sites; many of the post-medieval structures left vacant were demolished.

1934

This haunting is commemorated in the 1934 comic song "With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm".

1940

On 23 September 1940, during the Blitz, high-explosive bombs damaged the castle, destroying several buildings and narrowly missing the White Tower.

1941

One such person was Rudolf Hess, Adolf Hitler's deputy, albeit just for four days in 1941.

The last person to be executed at the Tower was German spy Josef Jakobs who was shot on 15 August 1941.

1952

The castle was also used as a prison from 1100 (Ranulf Flambard) until 1952 (Kray twins), although that was not its primary purpose.

1969

The executions for espionage during the wars took place in a prefabricated miniature rifle range which stood in the outer ward and was demolished in 1969.

1973

The south entrance was blocked during the 17th century, and not reopened until 1973.

1974

After the war, the damage was repaired and the Tower of London was reopened to the public. A 1974 bombing in the White Tower Mortar Room left one person dead and 41 injured.

1988

In 1988, the Tower of London was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites, in recognition of its global importance and to help conserve and protect the site.

1990

On several occasions through the year gun salutes are fired from the Tower by the Honourable Artillery Company, these consist of 62 rounds for royal occasions, and 41 on other occasions. Since 1990, the Tower of London has been cared for by an independent charity, Historic Royal Palaces, which receives no funding from the Government or the Crown.

1994

Although they laid their hands on the Imperial State Crown, Sceptre and Orb, they were foiled when the keeper's son turned up unexpectedly and raised the alarm. Since 1994, the Crown Jewels have been on display in the Jewel House in the Waterloo Block.

1999

Consequently, even though the animals had long since left the building, the tower was not demolished until the death of Copps, the last keeper, in 1853. In 1999, physical evidence of lion cages was found, one being 2x3 metres (6.5x10 feet) in size, very small for a lion that can grow to be 2.5 meters (approximately 8 feet) long.

2006

The remains of the medieval palace have been open to the public since 2006 where visitors can explore the restored chambers.

2008

In 2008, the skulls of two male Barbary lions (now extinct in the wild) from northwest Africa were found in the moat area of the Tower.

2011

Bones thought to belong to them were discovered in 1674 when the 12th-century forebuilding at the entrance to the White Tower was demolished; however, the reputed level at which the bones were found () would put the bones at a depth similar to that of the Roman graveyard found, in 2011, underneath the Minories a few hundred yards to the north.

In 2011, an exhibition was hosted at the Tower with fine wire sculptures by Kendra Haste. ==Ghosts== Anne Boleyn was beheaded in 1536 for treason against Henry VIII; her ghost supposedly haunts the Church of St Peter ad Vincula in the Tower, where she is buried, and has been said to walk around the White Tower carrying her head under her arm.

2016

General Sir Nick Houghton was appointed Constable in 2016. At least six ravens are kept at the Tower at all times, in accordance with the belief that if they are absent, the kingdom will fall.

2019

Over 2.9 million people visited the Tower of London in 2019. ==Garrison== The Yeomen Warders provided the permanent garrison of the Tower, but the Constable of the Tower could call upon the men of the Tower Hamlets to supplement them when necessary.




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Page generated on 2021-08-05