London, Day 3, Part One: The Tower of London

I took so many photos at The Tower of London that I decided to give it it's own post. The period of history represented by this particular landmark is my favorite to study, and I just finished a few months of obsession over historical novels about the Tudors, Elizabeth the First, etc. It is quite a complex, and we spent three hours there. A view of the Tower Bridge from one of the windows.


This chair looked just like the coronation chair (that every queen or king is coronated in still today) that they have at Westminster Abbey. I couldn't photograph the real thing, so I snapped up a picture of the reproduction.



The White Tower


This is a monument to the people killed on the scaffold at the Tower. Jane Grey, Anne Boleyn, and many, many more.
There are names carved into the wall in tower where prisoners were held. This graffiti has been here for hundreds of years! Here is Robert Dudley's name (Elizabeth the First's Lover, who was imprisoned as a traitor to her sister, Mary).

This carving is assumed to be in reference to Lady Jane Grey, who was queen for just a short time and then executed as a traitor to Mary. The assumption is that someone else carved her name as a tribute to her.


There are ravens everywhere on the grounds.




The crown jewels are housed at The Tower of London (which you are not allowed to photograph) as well as the Armor of King Henry VIII, and many, many weapons.



A reproduction of several kings' horses and armor.

Henry VIII's horse and armor.





Stay tuned! We haven't even gotten to France yet.