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THE TOWER OF LONDON
For over 900 years, The Tower of London has been standing guard over the capital. As a Royal Palace, fortress, prison, place of execution, arsenal, Royal Mint, Royal Zoo and jewel house, it has witnessed many great events in British history.
The Tower of London was originally built by William the Conqueror, following his successful invasion of England in 1066.
The Tower of London is perhaps better known as a prison. The prisoners would be brought, via the river, from Westminster where they would have been tried and crowds would wait on the river bank to find out the verdict to see if they would be treated to the spectacle of a public execution. The executioner, with his long sharp axe would stand behind the accused on the boat. If the accused was guilty he would point his axe towards the victim and if not guilty he would point it away. People knew that if found guilty there would be a public execution 48 hours later.
The responsibility for looking after the prisoners was given to the Yeomen Warders or Beefeaters (These guards, although looking very similar, are different from the Yeomen of the Guard).
The Yeomen Warders originate from twelve Yeoman of the Guards, who were once private bodyguards of Henry VIII.
The Yeomen Warders job title is "Yeoman Warder of Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London, and Members of the Sovereign's Body Guard of the Yeoman Guard Extraordinary".
In the centre of the Tower of London is the famous White Tower. It is the oldest part of the fortress and was built on the site of the Norman Keep built by William the Conqueror.
The Tower, or Bloody Tower as it is known, has been host to many famous executions and imprisonments, including those of Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, Lady Jane Grey and Sir Walter Raleigh.
Tower Prisoners
Many people have been locked in the Tower, for religious beliefs or suspected treason. Famous prisoners have included Anne Boleyn, Sir Walter Raleigh and Elizabeth I.
Many Tudor's prisoners entered the Tower of London through the Traitors' Gate.
Elizabeth I was held prisoner in the Tower for two months by the order of her half sister, Queen Mary. Mary felt that her throne was being threatened by Elizabeth, so she imprisoned her in the Tower
The curtain wall (outer wall) protecting the White Tower
As well as being a palace and a fortress, the Tower of London has also served as:
- the first Royal Armoury
- Royal Mint (where money is made)
- Royal Observatory
- Royal Zoo
Ravens have lived at the Tower of London for hundreds of years. Legend has it that if the ravens ever leave the Tower of London the White Tower will crumble and a great disaster shall befall England.
Find out more about the Yeoman of the Guard, Yeoman Warders and Beefeaters.
Where next?
On the south bank of the river Thames you will see among other things the Golden Hinde and Shakespeare Globe. Further up the river is the The London Eye.
Ghost Storys ,Tower Of London!
The Tower's Ghosts
Lady Jane Grey, the 9-day queen, ghost is also said to appear on the anniversary of her death on the 12th February 1554. On this day in 1957 at 3 a.m., a guard was disturbed by something striking the top of his guardhouse. When he stepped outside to investigate, he saw a headless white figure on top of the Tower. Only later after talking to some of the other guards did he realise the significance of what he saw and who it was.
One of the most enduring ghosts is that of Queen Anne Boleyn, one of the wives of Henry VIII, who was beheaded on the grounds of adultery and treason in the Tower in 1536. Queen Anne is buried under the chapel's altar, with her ghost being spotted on many occasions.
She haunts the vicinity of the White Tower, the King's House, Tower Green, and the chapel of St Peter ad Vincula. Her body has been seen to walk the corridors of the Tower, sometimes carrying her head. She is only recognisable by the dress she wore at her execution.
In 1864 a sentry is said to have challenged a headless figure thought to be Ann Boleyn, his bayonet passed straight through her, and he fainted in shock. He was saved from court martial for being asleep at his post, on the word of other guards, who said they had witnessed a similar occurrence.
In another account a Captain of the Guard is said to have seen a bright light coming from within the locked, empty Chapel Royal in the White Tower. He climbed up a ladder to look down into the chapel, and witnessed a procession of people in ancient dress, with an elegant woman walking in front of them. He recognised the figure as Ann Boleyn from portraits that he had seen.
One of the most gruesome ghost stories connected with the Tower of London is the bungled execution of Lady Salisbury in 1541. At 70 she was given the death penalty following her alleged involvement in criminal activities (although it is now widely believed that she was probably innocent).
After being sent struggling to the scaffold to be beheaded, she refused to place her neck on the block as all others did. She ran from the block in hysterics with her executioner chasing behind her. She was pursued by the axe man until she was hacked to death after finally being felled with a number of heavy blows from behind. The whole bloody scene is said to be re-enacted by spirits on Tower Green. Also the shadow of a great axe has been seen falling across the scene of her murder.
Although not an apparition, the haunting in the Salt Tower is for some, very real and very frightening. Said to be one of the most haunted areas in the tower's complex, dogs will not enter this area at all, and Yeoman Warders will not enter after dark. This was after a Warder told how he was almost throttled by a strong but unseen force. As recently as 1995, an American tourist was taking photographs of the Tower. She took a picture of Traitor's Gate. On having the film developed, you can clearly see what appears to be a hand wearing a 16th century Yeoman's uniform.
Murder of the two Princes
The Bloody Tower was the scene for the infamous disappearance of the two princes; Edward V (aged 12) and Richard Duke of York (aged 10), who are thought to have been murdered in 1483 on the probable command of the Duke of Gloucestershire, who was to be crowned Richard the III.According to one story, guards in the late 15th century, who were passing the stairs in the Bloody Tower, spotted the shadows of two small figures gliding down the stairs. These figures were identified as the ghosts of the two princes. In 1674 workmen found a chest that contained the skeletons of two young children, they were thought to be the remains of the princess, and were given a royal burial not long afterwards.
Sir Walter Raleigh's ghost makes an appearance now and again, and has been seen as recently as 1983 by a Yeoman Guard on duty in the Byward Tower. The same ghost was also seen a year and a half later by a different guard in the same area. Sir Walter is said to wander the tower as he did when he was imprisoned. He was not as restricted in movements as some of the other prisoners during his incarceration.
Other ghostly traditions include the screams of Guy Fawkes echoing through the tower, as they did when he was tortured before being hung drawn and quartered, the ghost of Lord Northumberland who was executed in 1553, and various other apparitions and ghosts from the Tower's bloody history.
The ghost photos on the right were sent in by Paul one of our readers, in the first photo are 4 bright orbs near the castle walls. The second picture from the same photograph shows a ghostly figure in one of the castles windows.
Ann Boleyn is said to be one of the most enduring ghosts of the Tower, she haunts the vicinity of the White Tower, the King's House, Tower Green, and the chapel of St Peter ad Vincula, where her headless body was interred in an arrow case under the floor. She was executed in 1536, after Henry VIII had become tired of her.
Lady Jane Grey, the 9-day queen, is also said to appear on the anniversary of her death on the 12th February 1554. She has been seen on the Salts Tower, although it is difficult to reason how you would recognise one royal figure from the next.Other ghostly traditions include the screams of Guy Fawkes echoing through the tower, as they did when he was tortured before being hung drawn and quartered, the ghost of Lord Northumberland who was executed in 1553, and various other apparitions and shades from its bloody history.
There are many more intriguing stories and legends about the tower, which we will explore at a later date.
More Sightings..
Smothering Action
Location: EC3 - Tower of London, as of 2009,
armour on display in the White Tower
Type: Unknown Ghost
Type
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The area in which Henry VIII's armour is normally stored has an evil reputation; several stories exist of guards being either attacked or feeling threatened by an unknown force. The armour is now on display in the White Tower, and it is not known whether this force has relocated.
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The area in which Henry VIII's armour is normally stored has an evil reputation; several stories exist of guards being either attacked or feeling threatened by an unknown force. The armour is now on display in the White Tower, and it is not known whether this force has relocated.
Location: EC3 - Tower of London, Beauchamp
Tower
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Lord Guildford Dudley is said to appear in this tower, tears running down his face. There are also reports of light poltergeist activity and soft gasps. One set of battlements connected to this tower are known as Elizabeth's Walk and haunted by the ghost of a Cavalier.
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Lord Guildford Dudley is said to appear in this tower, tears running down his face. There are also reports of light poltergeist activity and soft gasps. One set of battlements connected to this tower are known as Elizabeth's Walk and haunted by the ghost of a Cavalier.
Guy Fawkes
Location: EC3 - Tower of London, Council
Chamber
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Post 1606
Further Comments: For years after his execution, Fawkes' screams and cries could be heard coming from the room where he was prepared for the end.
White Mount
Location: EC3 - Tower of London, general
area
Type: Legend
Date / Time: NA
Further Comments: The Tower of London was once known as the White Mount, and it was said Bran the Blessed head was buried beneath the structure to ensure Britain was never invaded. One story says that Arthur removed the head, as he alone wished to be the country's saviour.
Date / Time: NA
Further Comments: The Tower of London was once known as the White Mount, and it was said Bran the Blessed head was buried beneath the structure to ensure Britain was never invaded. One story says that Arthur removed the head, as he alone wished to be the country's saviour.
Stretcher
Location: EC3 - Tower of London, main
entrance
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: During World War 2
Further Comments: A guard on duty reported seeing a group of people in old uniforms walking towards the entrance to the Tower carrying a stretcher containing a headless body. The figures faded away just before they reached the soldier.
Date / Time: During World War 2
Further Comments: A guard on duty reported seeing a group of people in old uniforms walking towards the entrance to the Tower carrying a stretcher containing a headless body. The figures faded away just before they reached the soldier.
Henry Percy
Location: EC3 - Tower of London, Martin
Tower
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: While Percy was actually released from the tower after being held there for sixteen years, his ghost has been reported along the battlements at Martin Tower. Some also say he tries to push visitors and guards down the steps by the tower.
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: While Percy was actually released from the tower after being held there for sixteen years, his ghost has been reported along the battlements at Martin Tower. Some also say he tries to push visitors and guards down the steps by the tower.
Bubbling Column
Location: EC3 - Tower of London, Martin
Tower
Type: Unknown Ghost Type
Date / Time: October 1817
Further Comments: Edmund Swifte, Keeper of the Crown Jewels, lived in the tower with his family. One Sunday he and his family were terrified by a tall, strange column of what looked like liquid, which drifted through their room. Swifte's wife said it tried to grab her as it passed. It disappeared after Swifte threw a chair at it - the item passed clean through without impact.
Date / Time: October 1817
Further Comments: Edmund Swifte, Keeper of the Crown Jewels, lived in the tower with his family. One Sunday he and his family were terrified by a tall, strange column of what looked like liquid, which drifted through their room. Swifte's wife said it tried to grab her as it passed. It disappeared after Swifte threw a chair at it - the item passed clean through without impact.
Pacing
Location: EC3 - Tower of London, Middle
Tower
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1977
Further Comments: Two decorators at work reported hearing footsteps walking on the roof above them, even though the tower was empty. They summoned help and searched the area, but no intruder could be found.
Date / Time: 1977
Further Comments: Two decorators at work reported hearing footsteps walking on the roof above them, even though the tower was empty. They summoned help and searched the area, but no intruder could be found.
Grey Lady
Location: EC3 - Tower of London, Queen's
House
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Date of Grey Lady unknown, medieval man seen 1970s, chanting heard 1978
Further Comments: A phantom grey lady who haunts the Queen's House is said to only make her presence known to women. A phantom man, thought to be medieval, has been reported drifting along corridors in the upper part of the building, and is also held accountable for the ghostly footsteps on a rear staircase. In 1978, a guest in the house reported hearing faint plainchant late at night, though later she found out that no one else had heard anything.
Figures
Location: EC3 - Tower of London, Sally
PortType: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1968
Further Comments: A Scots Guard was found quaking in this area, claiming that several ghostly figures had emerged from the Sally Gate and started to follow him.
Procession
Location: EC3 - Tower of London, St Peter ad
Vincula
church
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Late nineteenth century?
Further Comments: The bodies of the executed were placed under the floor of this building during the Tutor period. In 1876, Queen Victoria instructed the flagstones be lifted and all bodies removed, identified and given a correct burial - the remains over two hundred were discovered, though identification was nigh impossible. Soon after this, an officer on patrol reported looking into the church late at night and seeing a large number of people in period costume apparently walking around, following a woman who looked like Anne Boleyn. After a few minutes the scene faded away.
Date / Time: Late nineteenth century?
Further Comments: The bodies of the executed were placed under the floor of this building during the Tutor period. In 1876, Queen Victoria instructed the flagstones be lifted and all bodies removed, identified and given a correct burial - the remains over two hundred were discovered, though identification was nigh impossible. Soon after this, an officer on patrol reported looking into the church late at night and seeing a large number of people in period costume apparently walking around, following a woman who looked like Anne Boleyn. After a few minutes the scene faded away.
Henry VI
Location: EC3 - Tower of London, the
Wakefield Tower
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 21 May, midnight (reoccurring) Further Comments: Murdered here by the Duke of Gloucester, Henry's spirit appears a few minutes before midnight, walking around the area in which he died.
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