Page 16 - All About History - Issue 28-15

Outlaws

THE TOWER Queen’s House
This half-timbered house was built
during the reign of Henry VIII. It
is believed the original house was
built for Anne Boleyn, who stayed
here before her coronation, and also,
OFLONDON ironically, before her execution. Tower Green

Two of Henry VIII’s wives –
Anne Boleyn and Catherine
Howard – were executed on a
scaffold erected here, as well
Bell Tower as Lady Jane Grey. Execution
There is a small wooden turret inside the tower, away from the
on top of the Bell Tower that gawping crowds, was a privilege
contains the Tower’s curfew bell. reserved for those of high rank
It was used both as an alarm and or with dangerously strong
to tell prisoners to return to their popular support.
cells. Elizabeth I was imprisoned
here by her sister, Mary I, for
assisting a rebellion against her.

THEFINALSTOPFORENGLAND’SMOST
HIGH-PROFILECRIMINALS,13THCENTURY-1941 Bloody Tower
According to legend, this
is where the princes in
the Tower were murdered,
Its looming silhouette is recognised building in the history of feudal hence its sinister name.
the world over, gaining infamy Europe. The White Tower was
during the 15th and 16th centuries one of these, sitting strategically
for several royal executions (and on the Thames to act as a fortress
supposedly murders). But its history and gateway to the city. Originally, Traitor’s Gate
dates back long before that, to the it was a residence of kings, but as Prisoners were brought to the Tower by barge
time of William the Conqueror. time went on it transformed from along the Thames, passing under London
During his reign, he undertook palace to prison, undergoing several Bridge, where the heads of recently executed
what is believed to be the most expansions until it resembled the prisoners were displayed on pikes. They
would then enter the Tower via this gate.
extensive programme of castle Tower we know today.

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