in the royal workshops at Greenwich which Henry VIII established about
1514. They include four armours made for the king himself -- one engraved
and silver plated -- and others made at Greenwich for Tudor courtiers.
There is an armour made for one of Elizabeth I's favourites, Robert Dudley,
Earl of Leicester, another for William Somerset, Earl of Worcester, another
for Sir John Smythe, who vainly championed the use of the long bow many
years after its inevitable super-session by firearms.
In the adjoining Stuart Room are beautiful little armours made in
France and England for the Stuart kings and princes and the London-made
harquebus armour of James II. They are the focus of a display devoted to
the 17th century -- the last period before armour ceased to be used.
Separate displays are devoted to the armour, arms and accoutrements of the
richly equipped bodyguards, the light and heavy cavalry, and the infantry.
The armour of the pikemen was the last to be worn by foot soldiers before
the increased efficiency of firearms made its use impractical.
In the basement is the Mortar Room, where the bronze mortars on view
include one of the bores used for fireworks at the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle
in 1748. At the far end of the room is the entrance to the sun-crypt of the
Chapel of St John, where a carved and gilt figure of the Lion of St Mark, a
trophy from Corfu, is flanked by a number of the finest small cannon from
the armouries collection.
In the adjacent Cannon Room the walls are hung with relics of Henry
VIII's army and a great array of armour and weapons returned to the Tower
after the Civil War. Here also is the greater part of the Armouries
collection of cannon, including several from the ships of Henry VIII's
navy.
The New Armouries comprise a red brick building close to the White
Tower. On the ground floor is a representative collection of armour and
arms of Africa and the Orient. It is dominated by armour for an elephant,
probably captured at the battle of Plassey in 1757. One Japanese armour on
view was presented to James I by the governor of Edo in 1613. Many of the
later sporting firearms on the first floor are of the highest quality. The
flintlock guns include ones given by Louis XIV to the first Duke of
Richmond, another was sent by Napoleon to Charles IV of Spain, and a third
with matching powder flask, pair of pistols and stirrups, was made to the
order of Elizabeth, Empress of Russia. Here also are the Reverend Alexander
Forsyth's own models of the percussion lock he invented after years of
experiment in the Tower. Superseding the flintlock, it completely
revolutionised firearms development and, consequently, the science of war.
The Crown Jewels
During medieval times Crown Jewels were the personal property of the
sovereign. It was fairly common practice for the King or Queen to pawn them
or use them as security for loans in time of war. Most were kept at the
Tower, particularly when the sovereign was in residence there, although the
Coronation Regalia was held at Westminster Abbey. Sometime after 1660, a
new set of Regalia was made to replace what had been destroyed during the
Commonwealth. It was at that time that the Tower became the permanent home
of the Crown Jewels and put on public display.
The Crown Jewels are what most visitors to the Tower of London come to
see. This incomparable collection of crowns, orbs, swords, sceptres and
other regalia, and gold and silver plate was refashioned in 1661 after
parliament had ordered the original gold and precious metals to be melted
down for coinage in 1649.
The Imperial State Crown worn by monarchs at their coronations is set
with jewels of great antiquity and historical significance. The oldest is
Edward the Confessor's sapphire, believed to have been worn by him in a
ring. The great gem above the rim is the ancient balas-ruby, known as the
Black Prince's ruby, which is said to have been given to him by Pedro the
Cruel of Castile.
From the intersections of the arches hang four superb drop pearls, the
so-called Queen Elizabeth's Earrings, but there is no evidence that she
ever wore them in this way. Set in the rim at the back of the crown is the
Stuart sapphire. It is probably much older than its name implies, but is
known to have been in the possession of James II when he fled to France
after his deposition. It was formerly mounted in the rim, at the front, but
was displaced by the Second Star of Africa cut from the Cullinan diamond.
In addition to these jewels, the Imperial State Crown contains over 3,000
diamonds and pearls, as well as fine sapphires, emeralds, and rubies.
The Crown Jewels have in the past resided in both the White Tower and in
the Martin Tower. Today they have their home in Jewel House which is a part
of the Waterloo Barracks (left side of photo). [Greeley/Gilmore]
The Royal Sceptre with the Cross is a rod of chased gold, with the
peerless Star of Africa cut from the Cullinnan diamond held in a heart
shaped mount. Above this is a superb amethyst with a diamond-encrusted
cross set with an emerald.
Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother's Crown was made for her coronation as
queen consort in 1937. This graceful crown is set with diamonds, dominated
by the famous Koh-i-noor. Its Indian name means "Mountain of Light" and the
jewel has a long and turbulent history. Tradition says that its male owners
will suffer misfortune, but women who possess it will rule the world.
Ceremonies
These are some of the ceremonies that take place at the Tower of London.
Ceremony of Keys
The traditional locking up of the Tower of London each night. This
ceremony has been carried out every night for the last 700 years.
Set admit the mighty battlements of this ancient historic fortress, it
is one of the oldest and most colourful surviving ceremonies of it's kind,
having been enacted every night without fail for approximately seven
hundred years, in much the same form as we know it today.
The exact origin of the Ceremony is somewhat obscure, though it
probably dates from the time of the White Tower - the great Norman fortress
commenced by William the Conqueror and completed in about 1080 AD - become
regularly used as a Royal stronghold in the capital city.
As the fortifications around the Tower were increased from time to
time so it became used not only as Royal residence, but also as the Mint
and State Prison. The Country's gold was stored at the Tower, as were the
Royal Records and Royal Regalia, and numerous historical figures were
imprisoned within it's walls for political reasons, many of whom were never
to emerge to freedom, dying either from natural causes or by execution on
Tower Green or Tower Hill.
The surrounding populaces were not always in sympathy with activities
inside the Tower, and as enemies of the King might attempt to rescue
prisoners or to steal the Crown Jewels, the need for security was very
great. Thus it was in olden times that every night at dusk the Gentlemen
Porter - now known as the Chief Yeoman Warder - would collect an armed
escort, and would Lock and secure all the gates and doors leading into the
Tower, thereby making it proof against hostile attack or intrigue, This
done, the Keys would be handed over to the Tower Governor for safe keeping
during the night.
In 1826, the Duke of Wellington (then Constable of the Tower) ordered
that the time of the Ceremony be fixed at ten o'clock each night, so as to
ensure that his soldiers were all inside the Tower before the gates were
locked.
Accordingly, every night at exactly 7 minutes to ten, the Chief Warder
emerges from the Byward Tower, carrying the traditional lantern - still
lighted with a piece of candle - and in the other the Queen's Keys. He
proceeds at a dignified pace to the Bloody Tower, where an escort
consisting of two sentries, - a Sergeant and a representative Drummer are
marched to the outer gate. En route, all guards and sentries present arms
as the Queen's Keys pass.
As the Chief Warder shuts and locks the great oak doors of first the
Middle Tower and then the Byward Tower, the escort halt and present arms.
They now return along Water Lane towards the Wakefield Tower, where in the
deep shadows of the Bloody Tower Archway a sentry waits and watches.
As the Chief Warder and escort approach, the sentry's challenge rings out.
"Halt!" the escort is halted.
"Who comes there?"
"The Keys" replies the Chief Warder.
"Who's Keys?"
"Queen Elizabeth's Keys" is the answer.
"Pass Queen Elizabeth's Keys - All's well".
Whereupon the Chief Warder and escort proceed through the archway towards
the steps by the 13th century wall, where the Guard for the night is drawn
up under an officer with drawn sword, The Chief Warder and escort halt at
the foot of the steps. The Officer gives the command, Guard and Escort -
present arms. The Chief Warder takes two paces forward, raises his Tudor
bonnet high in the air and calls out God preserve Queen Elizabeth. The
Whole Guard reply Amen, and as the parade ground clock chimes ten, the
Drummer (bugler) sounds the Last Post.
The Chief Warder takes the Keys to the house of the Resident Governor, and
the Guard is dismissed.
The Ceremony of the Lilies and Roses
The Wakefield Tower, built originally for defensive purposes swiftly
became the Presence Chamber of Plantagenet kings. It is with an indication
of this ancient role that you see it today. In a recess is the Oratory with
an altar chest, bearing the likeness of King Henry VI and the Arms of Eton
College and King's College, Cambridge. In front is an appraisal of the King
by his confessor, John Blacman.
In 1471 King Henry VI, founder of those Colleges was held a prisoner
in this tower. He was murdered at these prayers in the Oratory between
eleven and twelve o'clock on the night of the 21st May. His body rests in
St George's Chapel at Windsor, in which Castle he was born on the 6th of
December 1421.
The King's birthday has long been celebrated by both his Colleges as
Founders Day and since 1905 two Kin's Scholars of Eton have laid a sheaf of
its white lilies on his tomb on that day.
Through the friendly interest of Sir George Younghusband, then Keeper
of the Jewel House, King George V was graciously pleased to approve the
setting of a marble tablet in the Oratory at the spot where by tradition
King Henry VI met his death. Eton lilies have since been laid there in the
evening of each anniversary. By the Sovereign's sanction and with approval
of the Constable of the Tower, the arrangements for this annual ceremony
were delegated to the incumbent Keeper of the Jewel House; and it was not
neglected even during the Second World War, when HM Tower of London was
restricted area and the Wakefield Tower itself was hit by a German bomb.
In 1947, the Provost and Scholars at King's College, Cambridge,
secured the permission of the King and the Constable to associate King
Henry's sister foundation with the ceremony. The white roses of Kings, in
their purple ribbon, have since been laid alongside the Eton lilies, in
their pale blue, on the Founder's stone.
The Ceremony of the Lilies and Roses. Though still a very simple one,
has over the years acquired a certain form and formality. The Provost of
Eton or his deputy, the Provost of King's or his deputy, and the Chaplain
of the Tower are conducted by the Resident Governor and Keeper of the Jewel
House, with an escort of Yeoman Warders, from Queen's House to the
Wakefield Tower. The Chaplain conducts the short service and the lilies and
roses are ceremoniously laid: to lie until dusk on the next day as token
that King Henry's memory is ever green in the two Colleges which are
perhaps his most enduring monument.
Ghost Stories
There are many stories of ghosts, poltergeists and other malevolent
spirits connected to the Tower of London. Who hasn't heard the one about
the headless apparition of Anne Boleyn stalking the Tower grounds at night.
Who for instance, hasn't heard stories of the chained and headless Sir
Walter Raliegh being seen on the ramparts close to where he was kept
prisoner. The Tower of London with its 900 years of history has earned
itself a multitude of spine tingling stories, mainly due to its infamous
reputation as a place of execution. The following stories are different in
the fact that as far as we know, they have never been told before, at least
not beyond the boundaries of the Tower of London.
The Ghost of Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn, the most celebrated of the wives of Henry VIII was
beheaded on Tower Green in 1536. Her ghost has frequently been seen both on
the Green and more spectacularly in the Chapel Royal situated in the White
Tower. It was in the Chapel that a Captain of the Guard saw a light burning
in the locked Chapel late at night. Finding a ladder, he was able to look
down on the strange scene being enacted within. A nineteenth century
account described it thus:
Slowly down the aisle moved a stately procession of Knights and
Ladies, attired in ancient costumes; and in front walked an elegant female
whose face was averted from him, but whose figure greatly resembled the one
he had seen in reputed portraits of Anne Boleyn. After having repeatedly
paced the chapel, the entire procession together with the light
disappeared. (excerpt from Ghostly Visitors by "Spectre Stricken", London
1882.)
Another account of this same story tells of how the procession always
occurs on the anniversary of the terrible execution of Margaret Pole the
Countess of Salisbury, in 1541. This brave old lady (she was over seventy
when she was killed) suffered because of her son's (Cardinal Pole)
vilification of the King Henry VIII's religious doctrines, something the
Cardinal did from the safety of France. So when Henry realised that the
Cardinal was out of his reach his mother was brought to the block instead
as an act of vengeance. Instead of submitting weekly to the axeman however
she refused to lie down and was pursued by the axeman around the scaffold.
Swinging wildly he inflicted the most hideous wounds on her till at last
she died.
Another sighting of Anne Boleyn is alledged in 1864 by a sentry
standing guard at the Queen's house. The guard saw and challenged a white
shape that appeared suddenly veiled in mist. When the challenge went
unanswered the sentry put his bayonet into the figure but he was overcome
with shock when it went straight through the figure without meeting any
resistance. This story was corroborated by two onlookers who saw the whole
event from a window of the Bloody Tower. It is not known what made the
sentry and the onlookers believe that this was the ghost of Anne Boleyn but
we can only accept that after 100 years of tradition it must be so.
Traitors’ Gate
The Traitors' Gate was the watergate entrance for prisoners condemned
after trial at Westminster. It dates from 1240 when Henry III enlarged the
fortress by building extra defence works. There is a story that when the
work was nearing completion on St George's day 1240 there was a great storm
that resulted in the foundation's being undermined and this resulted in the
gate collapsing. When the circumstances were repeated identically a year
later an inquiry revealed that a priest claimed to have seen the ghost of
Sir Thomas Becket striking the walls with a crucifix. He said that the
ghost was proclaiming that the new building was not for the common good but
"for the injury and prejudice of the Londoners, my brethren". Since it was
the King's grandfather who had caused the death of the saint he felt it was
wise to include a small oratory in the tower of the new building dedicating
it to Sir Thomas Becket. Even so it's rooms have always had a reputation of
being haunted. Doors open and close without reason, the figure of a monk in
a brown robe has been seen. Ghostly footsteps including the distinctive
slap of monastic sandals are sometimes heard.
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