Message about the tower of London. Tower bridge report in English with translation. Castle Tower

London is the capital of Great Britain or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is an old city, its history counts more than two thousand years. London is both the capital oi the country and a huge port. London is situated upon both banks of the Thames, about forty miles from the mouth and is divided into two parts by the river: north and south. There are 17 bridges that cross the river. The population of London is more than 9 million people.

The history of London goes back to Roman times. Due to favorable geographical position, soon after the Roman conquest, a small town became an important trade centre. Actually, London can be divided into several parts: the City or Downtown of London, Westminster, the West End and the East End. The City is the oldest part of London with narrow streets and pavements. There are many offices, companies and banks in this part of London. The City of London is the financial center of the United Kingdom. Only a few thousand people live there, but in the day-time it is full of people: as about half a million people come to work there. The biggest Banks and offices are concentrated in the City. The West End is the center of London. It is full of richest hotels, largest supermarkets, best cinemas and concert halls. There are a lot of beautiful houses and gardens. Only well-to-do people can live there.

Another important district of London is Westminster, where most of Government buildings are situated. Westminster Palace is the seat of the British Parliament. Westminster Palace was founded in 1050. It is located in the center of London. Many great Englishmen were buried in the Abbey: Newton, Darwin and others.
The Towers of the Houses of Parliament stand high above the city. On the highest tower there is the largest clock in the country which is known to the whole world as Big Ben. One can hear Big Ben strike every quarter of an hour. The clock “Big Ben” came into service in 1859. Big Ben is the biggest clock bell in Britain. The official London residence of the Queen is Buckingham Palace. It was built in the 18th century.

There are many nice squares in London. Trafalgar Square is one of them and it is in the center of the West End. One can see a statue of Lord Nelson in the middle of this square. There are many museums, libraries and galleries in London. The Tate Gallery is one of the well-known galleries in London. Henry Tate was a sugar manufacturer. He was fond of paintings and collected many pictures. The British Museum is a very interesting place in London. It was founded in 1753. The library of this museum has lots of books.

The East End of London is the industrial area and the place where the working people live. There are many factories, workshops and docks there. The East End, lying eastwards from the City is very large and crowded. There are many cars and buses in London. There is the Tube (an underground) in London too. The underground, constructed in London, was the first underground in the World.

Text about London. Translation of the topic into Russian

London is the capital of Great Britain or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is an old city, its history goes back more than two thousand years. London is both the capital of the country and a huge port. London is located on both banks of the River Thames, approximately forty miles from its mouth and is divided by the river into two parts: northern and southern. Seventeen bridges cross the river. London's population exceeds 9 million people.

London's history dates back to Roman times. Due to its favorable geographical position, soon after the Roman conquest, the small town became an important trading center. In fact, London can be divided into several parts: the City, or business center London, Westminster, West End and East End. The City, with narrow streets and pavements, is the oldest part of London. This part of London is home to many offices, companies and banks. The City of London is the financial center of Great Britain. Only a few thousand people live there, but during the day it is full of people: approximately half a million people come here to work. The largest banks and offices are located in the City. The West End is the center of London. It is full of the richest hotels, the largest supermarkets, the best cinemas and concert halls. There are many beautiful buildings and gardens here. Only wealthy people can live there.

Another important area of London is Westminster, where most government buildings are located. The Palace of Westminster is the seat of the British Parliament. The Palace of Westminster was founded in 1050. It is located in the center of London. Many great Englishmen were buried in this Abbey: Newton, Darwin and others. The towers of the parliament buildings rise above the city. The highest tower has the most big clock in the country, which are known throughout the world as Big Ben (Big Ben). The chime of the Big Ben clock can be heard every quarter of an hour. The Big Ben clock began its service in 1859. Big Ben is the largest bell clock in England. The Queen's official London residence is at Buckingham Palace. It was built in the 18th century.

London has many beautiful squares. Trafalgar Square- one of them, it is located in the center of the West End. In the center of this square you can see a statue of Lord Nelson. London has many museums, libraries and galleries. The Tate Gallery is one of the well-known galleries in London. Henry Tate was a sugar manufacturer. He loved paintings very much and collected many paintings. The British Museum is a very interesting place in London. It was founded in 1753. The library of this museum has a large number of books.

The East End of London is an industrial area and a place where workers live. There are many factories, workshops and docks there. The East End is east of the City and is very large and crowded. There are many cars and buses in London. There is a subway in London called the “tube”. The Underground, built in London, was the first subway in the world.

Questions (questions for the story about London):

1. Is London a young city?
2. Where is London located?
3. How many bridges cross the river Thames?
4. What was that favorite feature which made London to be an important trade center soon after the Roman conquest?
5. What is the oldest part of London?
6. What is located in the West End?
7. Can poor people afford to live in the West End?
8. Where are most of Government buildings located?
9. Where is the largest clock in the country located?
10. How often does Big Ben strike?
11. When did the clock “Big Ben” come into service?
12. What is the official London residence of the Queen?
13. What square is in the center of the West End situated?
14. When was the British Museum founded?
15. How is the area where most working people live called? » 6. How is London underground called?

Vocabulary (words with translation for the topic “London”):

to count - to count
huge - large, gigantic, huge, huge
bank - bank (of a river)
mouth - mouth
due to - thanks; as a result; as a result
favorable - favorable
conquest - conquest (the process of conquering peoples, lands, etc.)
trade - trade
downtown - business district, business part of the city, business center
narrow - narrow, cramped
pavement - pavement, sidewalk
well-to-do people - successful, wealthy people
district - district; district; region
to be buried - to be buried, entombed
to strike - to strike, beat (about a clock)
quarter - quarter, fifteen minutes
eastwards - to the east, in an easterly direction
crowded - crowded, overpopulated
the Tube - “pipe” (London Underground)

Text source

Timoshchuk V.A. Kubarkov G.L. "New topics in modern English." - Donetsk, 2010. - 416 p.

The City is often called the commercial and business heart of London. This is the area with lots of banks and offices. Every morning there are many clerks in suits hurrying to their offices. Very few people live there. Only some five thousand people live permanently in the City today, but nearly a million works there. In the day-time the streets of the city are crowded but late at night they are deserted. It is known as "the Square Mile" (its total area is 2.59 sq km = 1 sq mile).

The Royal Exchange, the Stock Exchange. Mansion House(official residence of the Lord Mayor), the Central Criminal Court("The Old Bailey") and the Bank of England are in the City. In front of the buildings of the Bank there is a monument to the Duke of Wellington, who defeated Napoleon in the battle of Waterloo and brought fame and glory to England.

In the center of the City there is the Tower of London and St. Paul's Cathedral.

The Tower of London is one of the ancient most buildings in London with very long history. For over 900 years the Tower has been a fortress and a royal palace, a prison and a place for execution, an arsenal, royal mint, menagerie and a safe for Crown Jewels. Now it is a museum.

The Tower of London had never had a chance to serve as a fortress and to resist an enemy's attack.

The Tower does not belong to the City historically. This fortress was built by William the Conqueror at the end of the 11th century. He built it right at the Gates of the City to keep the unruly Londoners in fear.

Later the kings began to use it as a royal residence. They used to spend a night before coronation there.

In the center of the Tower of London there is the famous White Tower which is the most ancient part of the Tower and the oldest building of London. William the Conqueror built it right away after his successful invasion. It is not white of course, it became dark with age. Its walls are four meters thick and now this building is a museum.

The Tower is also known as Bloody Tower because it once became a state prison and a place for executions for the greatest political leaders of the country. Among them were Sir Thomas More - great scientist was beheaded there. Sir Walter Raleigh - the famous sea captain spent more than twelve years in its walls. Lady Jane Grey, who was the Queen of England for several days, was also kept here.

Only the ravens of the Tower remind of those dark years. Ravens have lived at the Tower of London for hundreds of years. There are six of them, according to the order of King Charles II. The state donates the money to feed the birds. All the visitors must be careful as the ravens are not tame and they do bite.

The ravens are taken particular care of because there is a legend that Great Britain will keep its might and glory until the ravens leave the Tower. If the ravens disappear. Great Britain will face a great tragedy. The Tower is guarded by the Yeomen Warders who are often called "Beefeaters". They are dressed in traditional medieval clothes of Tudor times. They work as guides and tell this story to the visitors.

The name "Beefeater" is thought to originate from a French word "Buffetier". Buffetiers were guards in the palace of French kings and were responsible for the food in the palace. They are best known for their scarlet and gold dress uniforms which are worn on state occasions. They used to be monarch"s private bodyguards. The buffetiers also used to guard the Tower and its prison.

Old traditions and ceremonies are kept up in the Tower of London. One of them is the Ceremony of the Keys. Every night for the last 700 years at 21.53 the Tower has been locked up in the Ceremony of the Keys. The chief Yeoman Warder locks various doors ceremonially.

At the ceremony the Chief Yeoman Warder coir.es out with a bunch of keys and an old lantern. The sentry calls: "Halt! Who comes there?" The Headwarder replies: "The Keys". "Whose keys?" - asks the sentry. " Queen Elizabeth"s Keys" is the answer. After that the sentry says: "Advance. Queen Elizabeth"s Keys. All "s well."

Foundation of the Tower of London

After the successful Battle of Hastings in 1066, William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, set about asserting his power. To do this, he founded 36 castles throughout the country, which became administrative centers royal influence and strongholds in the event of hostilities. Since London was already largest city England, it was decided to found a castle here too. The location chosen was the south-eastern corner of the old Roman city walls on the banks of the Thames (separate fragments of the Roman walls and a statue of Emperor Hadrian can still be seen on the territory of the complex today).

The history of the Tower of London begins with its construction White Tower(No. 34 on) - a huge structure that combines the functions royal residence and the Norman donjon. The exact date of the start of construction is not known, but it is traditionally believed that it was founded in 1077 under the leadership of Gandalf, Bishop of Rochester. Subsequently, the White Tower gave the castle the name Tower.

Norman dungeons had particularly strong walls, since the Normans initially did not surround their castles with others defensive structures. The impressive belts of fortifications with bastions that we see today in the Tower began to be built around the White Tower only in the 13th century, apparently after Crusades The British became acquainted with the practice of building castles in the East and continental Europe. That is why the thickness of the walls of the White Tower reaches almost 4 meters. Its dimensions are also unusual: 32.5 × 36 meters, with a height of 27 meters. It is second only to the keep of Hedingham Castle and is one of the largest dungeons in medieval architecture in Western Europe. In terms of its configuration and layout of the premises, the White Tower belongs to a very rare group of dungeons, characteristic specifically for England, and, moreover, only for the 11th-12th centuries.

In 1097, King William II the Red ordered the construction of stone walls around the White Tower, the construction of which was completely completed at the beginning of the 12th century (the reign of Henry I). The White Tower became the heart of the Tower, its core and the most impregnable part; here were located living quarters for the king, his family and entourage. The structure is considered one of the largest dungeons in Europe (36 × 32 × 27 meters), as well as one of the oldest surviving ones in England.

The White Tower immediately began to perform, in addition to defensive, also a prison function. Its first prisoner was Bishop Ranulf Flambard, and he also became the first fugitive - the clergyman managed to escape with the help of a rope given to him by his accomplices in a bottle of wine. The escape turned out to be so unexpected and daring that one of the chroniclers of that time accused the fugitive bishop of having connections with evil spirits.

According to Norman tradition, the entrance to the White Tower was located well above ground level, so a wooden ladder was used that could be easily removed in case of danger. Like most other dungeons, at the base of the White Tower there is a large basement and a functioning well. In the southeastern part of the building is located. Since its apse was added to the existing walls at that time, we can conclude that the chapel was not part of the original construction plan. The Romanesque chapel is believed to have been built from stone brought from France.

The first floor of the White Tower was apparently intended for the needs of the constable (royal steward of the Tower of London) and the lieutenant (deputy constable). On the second floor there was a large hall and living quarters for the king and his family. Unfortunately, very little of the original interiors has survived. Perhaps only the modest decoration of St. John's Chapel corresponds to the original setting.

The death of King Henry I in 1135 plunged England into dynastic conflict, in which the Tower played a very important role. His constable Geoffrey de Mandeville, relying on the impregnable walls of a strategically important castle, skillfully maneuvered between two contenders for the throne (Princess Matilda and Stephen of Blois), thanks to which he temporarily increased his personal power and wealth. However, he soon had to pay dearly for his political unscrupulousness - Stephen of Blois, having become king, arrested him and deprived him of all his castles and possessions. Since then, the king personally appointed a faithful person to the post of constable of the Tower, which was originally hereditary. At first, the constables, in addition to managing the castle, also had a certain civil power in the city - they ensured public order and tax collection, but after the introduction of the position of Lord Mayor of London in 1191, they ceased to perform these functions.

In the second half of the 12th century (the reign of Henry II), defensively non-functional royal apartments and a castle square were built in the Tower from the south side of the White Tower to the Thames. The territory that the Tower of that time included is called Central courtyard.

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Expansion of the Tower under King Richard I the Lionheart

Apparently, the Tower existed without changes until King Richard I the Lionheart (reign: 1189 to 1199). Richard I spent almost his entire reign in constant wars outside England, and real power in the kingdom was exercised by his Lord Chancellor William Longchamp. On the initiative of the latter, given the threat of war with Richard's brother John, the territory of the castle was doubled and surrounded by a moat with water. New defensive fortifications of the Tower of London were tested in 1191, when the castle was besieged for the first time in its history. The siege, however, lasted only 3 days, since Longchamp decided that it was more profitable for him to surrender than to continue resistance.

John did manage to become king of England after Richard's death in 1199, but he was extremely unpopular among the barons and people, which led to war. In 1214, while John was at Windsor Castle, one of the rebel barons besieged the Tower. The garrison defended itself courageously, and the siege was lifted only after the signing of the Magna Carta between the king and the barons - a document that defined the rights and duties of the monarch and his baronial subjects. John, however, was in no hurry to fulfill his promises, which led to the First Baronial War, during which the Tower garrison went over to the side of the rebels.

Extension of the Tower under King Henry III

Henry III (reigned: 1216–1272) spent quite a lot of time in the Tower of London, and held parliament within its walls several times (in 1236 and 1261). Under him, almost all the fortifications were built on the territory that was added to the castle by his two predecessors (Richard I the Lionheart and John the Lackland). Henry III built stone walls and nine towers (seven of which remain unchanged to this day). This territory is today called Courtyard.

All towers of the Tower, in addition to defensive functions, served as the location of residential and administrative premises, as evidenced in some cases by their names: in the Bell Tower (No. 2 on) a guard bell hung, in the Archery Tower (No. 4) there were workshops where they made bows, crossbows and siege weapons, and in Lanthorn Tower (No. 20) there is a large lighthouse (from the Old English lanthorn - “lamp, lantern”), indicating the way for ships passing along the Thames.

The main entrance to the castle under Henry III was located in the western wall. The towers on the south side - Wakefield (No. 36) and Lanthorne (No. 20) - are thought to have served as the personal chambers of the King and Queen respectively. A large hall was built between the towers for special occasions.

Next to Wakefield Tower (No. 36) the Bloody Tower (No. 3) was built to provide access to the castle from the river. It acquired its name after in 1483 it became the site of the murder of 12-year-old Edward V and his 10-year-old brother Richard of York, popularly called the Princes of the Tower, on the orders of their uncle King Richard III. At the time of their death, the boys had already been declared illegitimate by Parliament, which deprived them of legal rights to English throne, however, this seemed not enough for the usurper.

In 1258, the barons, led by Simon de Montfort, again rebelled against royal power, demanding regular convenings of parliament and the withdrawal of royal troops from the Tower. Henry III initially made such an oath, but after seeking permission from the Pope, he broke it and regained control of the castle in 1261 with the help of mercenaries. In 1265, after the victory at Evesham, Henry III restored power in the country and summoned Cardinal Ottobuon to England to excommunicate the rebellious barons. This caused new explosion discontent, and in 1267 a baronial army led by Gilbert de Clare besieged the Tower, where the cardinal's residence was temporarily located. Despite a large army and siege weapons, the rebels failed to take the castle. The rest of the reign of King Henry III passed peacefully for the Tower of London.

Extension of the Tower under King Edward I

Edward I (reigned: 1272–1307), although he rarely visited London, continued the costly expansion of the Tower. The king was a great expert in fortification, and the experience he acquired during numerous military campaigns was used to strengthen London Castle. A second line of walls was built, including two bastions (in the northwestern and northeastern corners) and a new deep ditch 50 meters wide was dug.

A new main entrance was also created (in the southwestern part of the castle), which included internal (No. 8 on) and external gates (No. 25), as well as a barbican (a fortification designed to additionally protect the main entrance), called the Lion Tower ( No. 23), since lions were kept here. The Barbican has not survived to this day.

Edward I also extended the Tower of London southwards towards the Thames. On the river bank was erected the Tower of St. Thomas (No. 32) with the Gate of Traitors (No. 35), so named because new prisoners were brought in by boat through it. Edward also moved the mint to the Tower.

In the middle of the 14th century, the second water gate was the Lullaby Tower (No. 13), built as living quarters.

Under Edward I, loopholes for archers appeared within the walls of the Tower. On the site of the old castle gate, the Beauchamp Tower (No. 1) was erected, which represents the first case in England, since the times of the Roman Empire, of using brick as a main structure. building material. In order to make the castle a self-sufficient complex, two water mills were built.

In 1278, the Tower became a place of imprisonment for 600 London Jews accused of damaging coins (in the Middle Ages, when there were no accurate scales, such a practice was very common - small pieces were chipped or sawed off from coins). The persecution of the Jewish population of England began as early as 1276, and culminated in 1290, when the Edict was issued to expel all Jews from England.

The area developed during the reign of King Edward I (reign: 1272–1307) is now called Outer courtyard. By the beginning of the 14th century, the Tower acquired its modern appearance.

Late Middle Ages

Under Edward II (reign: 1307–1321), little happened within the walls of the Tower. The Secret Chancellery was founded, which is located on the territory of the castle. For the first time, a woman became a prisoner of the Tower - Baroness Margaret de Clare. She refused to let Queen Isabella into her castle, moreover, she ordered the archers to shoot, which led to the death of six people in the royal escort.

Note that the Tower as a prison was intended primarily for important prisoners and was the main prison in the country, but far from the most reliable. Cases of escapes were not uncommon. For example, in 1322, Roger Mortimer, Earl of March, was able to escape from prison by bribing the guards. Having fled to France, he started an affair with the king's wife, and together they drew up a plan to seize power. Having landed with an army in England and captured London, Mortimer first of all freed all the prisoners of the Tower. For three years (1327–1330) he ruled England while King Edward III was still too young. However, fortune soon turned away from the usurper - Mortimer was captured, again imprisoned in the Tower, and then hanged in Tyburn Square.

In the years Hundred Years' War England and France (1337–1453), the Tower of London became the place of imprisonment of many noble prisoners, for example, King John II of France, captured at the Battle of Poitiers, King David II of Scotland, captured at the Battle of Neville Cross, and captured by the English pirates of James I, a Scottish prince who became king of his country after his release in 1424. However, since Edward II ran the castle, during the time of his heirs the Tower became not particularly comfortable for noble prisoners: for example, hunting was not allowed here, which was allowed to prisoners of blue blood in other royal castles.

In 1377, on the day of his coronation, Richard II led a magnificent procession from the Tower to Westminster Abbey. Thus began a tradition that survived until 1660.

During peasant uprising Wat Tyler in 1381, a rebel army besieged the king in the castle. When the monarch went to negotiate with the leader of the rebels, the crowd broke into the Tower without encountering resistance. The rebels plundered the royal treasury and beheaded the Archbishop of Canterbury, Simon Sudbury, who tried to take refuge in St. John's Chapel in the White Tower. 6 years later, during the next unrest, the king was again forced to take refuge from the rioters in the Tower.

In 1399, King Richard II was removed from power and imprisoned in the White Tower of the Tower by Henry Bollingbroke, a member of the collateral branch. ruling dynasty Plantangenet. Bollingbroke, who ruled under the name Henry IV, more than once found protection behind the walls of the Tower of London during uprisings and riots.

Much of the second half of the 15th century was spent in dynastic conflicts between the two branches of the Plantangenet dynasty - York and Lancaster. Their armed feud was called the War of the Scarlet and White Roses (1455-1485), since these flowers were depicted on the coats of arms of the warring clans. In 1460, the Tower was besieged by Yorkist troops. The castle suffered greatly from artillery fire, but only surrendered after the capture of King Henry VI of Lancaster at the Battle of Northampton. He, however, managed to briefly regain the throne in 1470, but soon Edward IV of York took the crown from him and imprisoned him in the Tower of London, where, apparently, Henry was killed. During the war, the castle was modernized to withstand gunfire, and loopholes were made in the walls for cannons and arquebuses.

Executions were usually carried out not in the castle itself, but nearby - on Tower Hill (over 400 years, 112 people were put to death at this place). In the castle itself, until the 20th century, only 7 people were executed - usually these were individuals public execution which could cause unrest among Londoners. Today, a special memorial has been erected at the site where the scaffold was located. In particular, among the persons executed in the Tower were:

Ann Bolein(1507-1536) - second wife of Henry VIII, mother of Elizabeth I. Accused of high treason and adultery;
Katherine Howard(1520-1542) - fifth wife of Henry VIII and cousin of Anne Boleyn. Accused of adultery;
Jane Gray(1537-1554) - great-granddaughter of King Henry VII, uncrowned queen, reigned for 9 days in 1553. After her deposition, she was imprisoned in a castle and executed along with her husband Guilford Dudley.

Among the famous figures of the 14th-18th centuries who were prisoners of the Tower, but were executed in other places or released, the following individuals should be mentioned:

William Wallace(1270–1305) - Scottish aristocrat and military leader, leader of the movement for Scottish independence, was held in the Tower before his painful execution in 1305. The famous film “Braveheart” was made about William Wallace;
Thomas More(1478-1535) - lawyer, philosopher, writer, author of the novel “Utopia”. Refused to accept King Henry VIII's supremacy over the church. Executed in 1535, buried in the “Chapel of St. Peter in Chains” of the White Tower. Recognized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church;
Elizabeth Tudor(1533–1603), future Queen Elizabeth I, spent two months in Tower prison on charges of plotting a rebellion against Queen Mary I;
Walter Raleigh (1554-1618) - statesman, adventurer, poet and favorite of Elizabeth I. He spent 13 years in prison, but he was allowed to live in the castle with his family and engage in writing. Raleigh is considered the pioneer of tobacco smoking in Europe; he even tried to grow tobacco on the lawn of the Tower;
John Gerard(1564-1637) - Jesuit priest who secretly preached Catholicism in England. He was thrown into prison, where he was tortured. In 1597, he managed to escape from the castle using a rope stretched over the castle moat. He left memoirs describing the use of torture;
Guy Fawkes(1570-1606) - one of the leaders of the Gunpowder Plot, organized by a group nobles with the aim of overthrowing royal power;
William Penn(1644-1718) - religious dissident, founder of the colony of Pennsylvania and the city of Philadelphia in North America. Spent seven months in the Tower for writing pamphlets;
Simon Fraser(1667-1747) - leader of the Scottish uprising against the Hanoverian dynasty. His death was the last public execution in Britain and the last execution by beheading.

During the political conflicts between King Charles I and Parliament in the second quarter of the 17th century, the Tower again acquired strategic importance. The king tried to subjugate the garrison of the fortress, but after an unsuccessful attempt to arrest several members of parliament fled London, and the Tower garrison became a stronghold of parliamentary forces during the civil war (1642–1651).

The last king to lead a ceremonial procession from the Tower to Westminster Abbey before his coronation was Charles II in 1660. By that time, the old palace premises of the castle had fallen into such disrepair that Charles could not even spend the night there on the eve of the ceremony.

The Hanoverian dynasty, which came to power in 1714, in view of a possible rebellion by the newly annexed Scots, tried to strengthen the castle, but their efforts were sporadic and ineffective. According to one of his contemporaries, “the castle would not have lasted even 24 hours against any besieging army.” In 1774 a new gate was added connecting the pier to the outer courtyard. The moat surrounding the castle became flooded and shallow, so in 1830 the Duke of Wellington, who, among others, held the post of constable of the Tower, ordered work to clean the moat. However, this did not solve the problems with sanitation, and in 1841 an epidemic (apparently cholera) broke out among the garrison. In order to prevent this from happening in the future, it was decided to drain the ditch and fill it with earth, which was done in 1845. At the same time, construction began on the Waterloo barracks, which could accommodate up to 1000 soldiers, and several separate quarters for officers. Today they house the headquarters of the Royal Fusiliers.

The democratic Chartist movement (1828–1858) was responsible for the last major program to strengthen the castle's defences. Most of the surviving structures for artillery and rifle fire date from this period.

During the First World War, 11 people convicted as German spies were shot in the Tower. And during World War II, the castle again became a prison. One of the prisoners was a high-ranking member of the Nazi Party, Rudolf Hess, who flew to England on his own initiative in 1941. He became the last state criminal held in the Tower. In the same 1941, the last the death penalty- shot German spy Joseph Jacobz. Also during the war, the Tower performed defensive functions for the last time: in the event of a German landing in England, the castle was to become one of the long-term defense points of London.

Rehabilitation and tourism

Today the Tower of London is one of the most popular historical attractions in England. Interest in the castle as a tourist attraction arose during the time of Elizabeth I (1533-1603) thanks to the unique menagerie and exhibition of weapons and armor. Since 1669, royal regalia began to be displayed in the Tower. Already in the 19th century there were so many visitors that entry became paid and regulated.

In many ways, the reason for the awakening of public interest in the Tower was literary works, in particular, the historical novel “The Tower of London” by William Ainsworth, in which the author created a gloomy atmosphere of torture and torment that captivated readers. He also proposed making the Beauchamp Tower (No. 1 on) open to visitors so that everyone could familiarize themselves with the inscriptions scratched on the walls by prisoners.

TO end of the 19th century century, the Tower was visited annually by more than 500 thousand people. And this despite the fact that over the last two centuries the palace buildings fell into complete disrepair. Many institutions located in the Tower moved, and the vacated buildings were either abandoned or destroyed. The only positive moment of the 19th century in the history of the castle was the construction of the stables in 1825 and the Waterloo barracks in 1845. Both buildings were made in the “Gothic Revival” architectural style, which appeared in the 18th century as a result of awakened interest in the country’s medieval past.

During the First World War, the castle was not damaged, although one German bomb fell into the moat (fortunately, it did not explode). But the Second World War left more serious traces - on September 23, 1940, during the “Battle of England,” German bombs destroyed several buildings, miraculously not damaging the White Tower. After the war, it took several years to completely restore the destroyed buildings.

In the 21st century, tourism has become the main function of the Tower. Almost all the military establishments once housed in the castle have moved, although the ceremonial headquarters of the Royal Fusiliers and the regiment's museum are still located here. Also, one of the units of the Royal Guard guarding Buckingham Palace still stands guard over the Tower and, together with the beefeaters, takes part in the nightly Ceremony of the Keys. Several times a year, the Tower's cannons remind themselves of themselves - they fire 62 salvos on the occasion of events related to royal family, and 41 salvos in all other cases.

Administratively, the Tower of London is managed by the independent organization Historic Royal Palaces, which does not receive government funding. In 1988, the castle was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as a site of special historical importance. According to the “Historical Royal Palaces”, the castle is visited annually by about 2.5 million tourists from different countries.

Tower plan

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Beauchamp Tower
Bell Tower
Bloody Tower
Archer's Tower
Bastion Copper Mountain
brick tower
Tower Wide Arrow
internal gate
casemates

Coldharbour Gate ruins
Constable's Tower
Lullaby Tower
Devereux Tower
Davelin tower
flint tower

hospital
Henry III's water gate
Lanthorn Tower
Goraa Legg Bastion
fragment of an ancient Roman wall
pit of the Lion Tower drawbridge
Martin Tower
Middle tower
Mint street
New armories
queen's house
Salt Tower
scaffold
Central courtyard
tower of st. Thomas
Tower Meadow

wall of the central courtyard
Wardrobe tower
Vodny Lane
Waterloo Barracks, Treasury
Well Tower
berth

Tower (photo gallery)

Treasures and coronation regalia in the Tower

The tradition of storing royal treasures in the Tower seems to date back to the reign of Henry III (1216–1272), when the House of Jewels was built in the castle specifically for the purpose of storing gold, valuables and royal regalia used in the coronation ceremony. In cases of urgent need, monarchs took out loans from moneylenders against the security of these jewels, that is, the treasures gave the kings a certain financial independence from the barons and parliament, and were therefore carefully guarded. Already in the 14th century, a very prestigious and highly paid position of treasure keeper arose, whose duties, in addition to protecting jewelry, also included acquiring new valuables and hiring jewelers.

In 1649, by order of Oliver Cromwell, all treasures, including royal regalia, were melted down, symbolizing the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of the English Republic (lasted from 1649 to 1660). When the monarchy was restored, it turned out that of all the treasures, only a 13th-century spoon and three swords had survived. Therefore, all coronation regalia had to be created anew.

Exhibition "Row of Kings" in the Tower

Row of Kings(Line of Kings) - a unique exhibition of 10 life-size equestrian statues in full knightly garb. It is believed to be the oldest continuously operating exhibition in the world. The exhibition was created in 1688 to raise the prestige of the unpopular Stuart dynasty in the country. Several statues from the Tudor dynasty (16th century) were brought to the Tower from Greenwich Castle, the rest were made by the best sculptors and carvers in England, including Grinling Gibbons, who also worked on the carvings in St. Paul's Cathedral.

Since the "Row of Kings" served a propaganda function, it included "good kings" such as Edward III and Henry VIII, and absent the "bad" ones - Edward II and Richard III. Sculptures of William III, George I and George II were later added.

Today, the Row of Kings exhibition is located in The Royal Armories of the White Tower (No. 34 on) and additionally includes a large collection of medieval armor and weapons. The best exhibits are the magnificent armor of Henry VIII (three suits: 1515, 1520 and 1540), the gilded armor of Charles I (1612), the children's armor of Prince Henry Stuart (1608) and the Japanese armor of the late 16th century, presented to King James I in 1613 year. Note the dimensions of Henry VIII's later armor compared to the armor of his youth.

- retrace the long path of the castle-prison, get acquainted with its symbols and admire the royal regalia - 2 hours, 45 pounds

- where, how and what kind of tea do true connoisseurs drink in modern London - 3 hours, 30 pounds

- discover the most colorful, musical and iconic area of the city - 2 hours, 30 pounds

Exhibition of armor and weapons

Royal Menagerie

One of the Tower's exhibitions dedicated to the history of the castle is the "Royal Animals" exhibition. It is located in the Brick Tower (No. 6 on) and tells about the royal menagerie, the first mention of which dates back to the reign of Henry III (1216–1272). In addition, in memory of some animals, their modern life-size sculptural figures are located in certain corners of the Tower.

For example, in 1251, sheriffs (royal officials) of London were required to contribute 4 pence daily for maintenance polar bear, donated by King Hakon of Norway. The bear attracted everyone's attention from the townspeople when he was occasionally released on a long leash to swim and fish in the Thames. In 1254, sheriffs were ordered to contribute money to build an elephant enclosure in the Tower of London, a gift from King Louis XI of France.

As a rule, the collection of animals was replenished by gifts from foreign rulers. For example, the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III gave to the English king three lions. The exact location of the menagerie is unknown, but it has been established that the lions were kept in the barbican (bridgehead), eventually called the Lion Tower (No. 23 on).

In the 18th century, the menagerie was opened to the general public: the visitor had to pay one and a half pence for entry or bring a dog or cat to feed the predators. Here, for the first time in Europe, a grizzly bear was kept, given to King George III by the Hudson's Bay Company in 1811. In 1828, the menagerie already included 280 animals 60 different types, but a few years later, in 1835, they were all moved to Regent's Park Zoo after a lion injured one of the soldiers.

Fusiliers in the 17th-18th centuries were riflemen armed with flintlocks (fusils), which were called fusees, in contrast to musketeers armed with muskets. Initially, fusiliers were used to cover artillery and as light infantry.

Museum of the Fusiliers (The Fusiliers" Museum, No. 17 on) and whole line residential premises of lesser importance. The internal space of all defensive towers, as a rule, was also functionally used. For example, in the tower of St. Thomas (No. 32) Edward I entertained guests in front of a huge fireplace (now here you can see the king's huge sleeping bed, carefully restored from 13th-century records), and in the basement of Wakefield Tower under Henry III there was a Council Chamber (today you can see a reconstruction of the royal throne).

Note that at the beginning of the 16th century, the Tower ceased to serve as a royal residence, which in practice meant that there was no need for high-status residential premises (for the monarch and his family).

Chapel of St. Peter in Chains

The Chapel of St. Peter in Chains (St. Peter ad vincula, no. 10), erected in the 12th century and significantly rebuilt in 1520, went down in history as the burial place of some Tower prisoners. Here, in front of the chapel, on rare occasions, closed executions took place, for which a temporary scaffold was installed. A total of 7 people were executed in front of the chapel (these were individuals whose public execution could cause unrest among the townspeople). Nowadays, on the site of the scaffold there is a glass memorial, the central element of which is a crystal pillow for executions, symbolizing the high status of those sentenced to death.

Mint

From 1279 to 1812 the Royal Mint was located in the Tower. In the Kings and Coins exhibition you can learn about the history of coinage and see some of the rarest and most valuable coins ever produced by the Tower of London Mint.

Yeomen (beefeaters)

Beefeaters- a popular nickname for the yeomen (ceremonial guards) of the Tower of London. The name (English beefeater - literally “beef eaters”) occurred either because yeomen, as privileged servants, could eat an unlimited amount of meat from the royal table, or because they received a large amount of beef in their rations.

In principle, the historical function of beefeaters was to guard prisoners and royal regalia in the castle, but in modern times they all serve as guides for tourists. Their official name- “Yeomen Warders 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).

The Yeomanry Unit was created by Henry VII Tudor in 1485, and was intended as the king's personal guard during his stay in the Tower. Since 1509, the castle has ceased to be an official residence, but the beefeaters remained its guardians. Over time, when the Tower began to be actively used as a state prison, supervision of the castle's prisoners was added to their duties.

Today, like five hundred years ago, 37 yeomen serve in the Tower. All of them are retired army servicemen and air force, who have served in the military for at least 22 years and have earned the Long Service and Exemplary Conduct Medal. Until recently, the Beefeaters did not accept retired naval officers (as they swear an oath to the Admiralty rather than the Crown), but in 2011 the first yeoman from the navy, as well as the first female yeoman, appeared.

On normal days, beefeaters wear a dark blue uniform with red embroidery. On occasions of the arrival of the monarch at the castle or other ceremonial events, they dress in ceremonial scarlet robes embroidered with gold. The uniform has remained virtually unchanged since the Tudor dynasty; according to the beefeaters themselves, it is “extremely uncomfortable.”

Every evening at exactly 21:53, the Chief Yeoman Warden takes part in the traditional ceremony of handing over the keys to the Tower to members of the Tower of London Guard, another unit guarding the castle. The Ceremony of the Keys is one of the oldest military rituals in the world. It has been performed consistently since 1340. The tradition has not been interrupted for almost 700 years.

Castle Ravens

The Tower contains 8 ravens, surrounded by honor and care. According to legend, if they leave the fortress, the kingdom will fall apart. Therefore, just in case, their wings are clipped. These large, majestic birds are looked after by a dedicated beefeater keeper, who personally buys their meat from the nearby market every morning. A special allowance is allocated from the royal budget for the maintenance of birds - about 100 pounds per bird per month. Each Tower Raven receives 200 grams of fresh meat daily, and once a week additionally fresh eggs and part of a rabbit.

The earliest evidence of these birds being kept at the castle dates back to 1883, but the tradition appears to have started much earlier. There is even a monument to the dead crows in the castle moat. Feeding birds to tourists, as well as stroking or handling them, is strictly prohibited.

Ghosts

As befits any self-respecting English castle, the Tower is also haunted. The ghost of Henry VIII's wife Anne Boleyn, who was executed in 1536, is periodically seen in the Chapel of St Peter in Chains, where she is buried. Rumor has it that a ghost wanders around the White Tower, carrying a severed head under his arm. Other otherworldly inhabitants of the castle are the ghosts of Lady Jane Grey, Margaret Pole, Arbella Stewart and

The Tower of London

The Tower of London is one of the most imposing and popular of London's historical sites. It comprises not one, but 20 towers. The oldest of which, the White Tower, dates back to the llth century and the time of William the Conqueror. Nowadays a lot of tourists visit the Tower of, because of the Tower's evil reputation as a prison. The Tower is famous as home of the Crown Jewels. Today they can be viewed in their new jewel house. They include the Crown of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother which contains the celebrated Indian diamond.

Many stories associated with British history come from the Tower. In 1483 IV "s two sons were murdered in the so-called Bloody Tower. Over two centuries later the skeletons of two little boys were found buried beneath steps in the White Tower.

Traitor's Gate has steps leading down to the River Thames. Countless prisoners, including the future Queen Elizabeth I of England, were brought to the Tower by barge and ascended the steps before being imprisoned. For many it was their last moment of freedom before their death. But Elizabeth was released from the Tower and became Queen. The King's second wife, Anne Boleyn, was brought to trial there in 1536 and beheaded. Six years later her cousin, Catherine, Henry VIII"s fifth wife, suffered the same fate. Sir Thomas More was headed there in 1535.

Of course, no visit to the Tower would be complete without seeing the ravens; huge black birds who are an official part of the Tower community. Legend states that if the ravens were to leave the Tower the Crown will fall, and Britain with it. Under the special care of the Raven Master, the ravens are fed a daily diet of raw meat. And there is no danger of them flying away, because their wings are clipped.

[ translation ]

Tower of London

The Tower of London is one of London's most prominent and popular historical landmarks. It includes not one, but 20 towers. The oldest of them is the White Tower, which dates back to the 11th century and the time of William the Conqueror. Today, many tourists visit the Tower of London, attracted by its evil reputation as a prison. The Tower is known as the repository of the royal jewels. Today they can be seen in the new jewelry house. Among them is the crown of Queen Elizabeth's mother, which contains the famous Indian diamond.

Many stories related to British history come from the Tower. In 1483, two sons of King Edward IV were killed in the so-called Tower of Blood. Two centuries later, the skeletons of two boys were buried under the steps of the White Tower.

Traitor's Gate has steps leading down into the River Thames. A large number of prisoners, including the future Queen Elizabeth I of England, were brought to the Tower by barge and walked up the steps before becoming prisoners. For many, this was the last moment of freedom before death. But Elizabeth was released from the Tower and became queen. The king's second wife, Anne Boleyn, was put on trial in 1536 and beheaded. Six years later, her cousin Catherine, Henry VIII's fifth wife, suffered the same fate. Thomas More was beheaded here in 1535.

Of course, a visit to the Tower wouldn't be complete unless you saw the crows, the huge black birds that are the legal inhabitants of the Tower. Legend has it that if the ravens leave the Tower, the crown will fall and Britain will fall with it. Under the special supervision of the crow's owner, they are given a daily portion of raw meat. And there is no fear that they will fly away because their wings are clipped.

Questions:
1. How many towers does it contain?
2. What is the most impressive and popular site in London?
3. Tell something about Traitor's Gate.
4. Who is an official part of London's community?
5. What is the Tower of London famous for?

Dictionary:
imposing - noticeable
jewel - jewel
raven - crow
to ascend - to descend
to comprise - include
to be beheaded - to be beheaded

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The Tower of London

The Tower of London is one of the most imposing and popular of London’s historical sites. It comprises not one, but .20 towers. The oldest of which, the White Tower, dates back to the 11th century and the time of William the Conqueror. Nowadays a lot of tourists visit the Tower of London, because of the Tower’s evil reputation as a prison. The Tower is famous as home of the Crown Jewels. Today they can be viewed in their new jewel house. They include the Crown of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother which contains the celebrated Indian diamond.

Many stories associated with British history come from the Tower. In 1483 King Edward IV’s two sons were murdered in the so-called Bloody Tower. Over two centuries later the skeletons of two little boys were found buried beneath steps in the White Tower.

Traitor's Gate has steps leading down to the River Thames. Countless prisoners, including the future Queen Elizabeth I of England, were brought to the Tower by barge and ascended the steps before being imprisoned. For many it was their last moment of freedom before their death. But Elizabeth was released from the Tower and became Queen. The King’s second wife, Anne Boleyn, was brought to trial there in 1536 and beheaded. Six years later her cousin, Catherine, Henry VIII’s fifth wife, suffered the same fate. Sir Thomas More was headed there in 1535.

Tower of London (translation)

The Tower is one of London's most visible and popular historical landmarks. It includes not one, but 20 towers. The oldest of them is the White Tower, which dates back to the 11th century and the time of William the Conqueror. Today, many tourists visit the Tower of London, attracted by its evil reputation as a prison. The Tower is known as the repository of the royal jewels. Today they can be seen in the new jewelry house. Among them is the crown of Queen Elizabeth's mother, which contains the famous Indian diamond.

Traitor's Gate has steps leading down into the River Thames. Large numbers of prisoners, including the future Queen Elizabeth I of England, were brought to the Tower by barge and walked up the steps before becoming prisoners. For many, this was the last moment of freedom before death. But Elizabeth was released from the Tower and became queen. The king's second wife, Anne Boleyn, was put on trial in 1536 and beheaded. Six years later, her cousin Catherine, Henry VIII's fifth wife, suffered the same fate. Thomas More was beheaded here in 1535.