![]() ![]() Another of Henry's projects was the almost complete rebuilding of the Chapel of Saint Peter ad Vincula in the northwest corner of the bailey. Meanwhile, the king's chamber was painted with the royal arms and a turret added to the corner to act as a drain directly into the Thames after complaints from Henry III about the smell of the previous ensuite toilet. Queen's chamber to be wainscoted…and to be painted with roses…a wall to be made in the manner of panelling between the said chamber and the wardrobe of the chamber to be tiled outside. Generally, though, the 13th century CE saw a trend towards increasing comfort rather than military security of castles. In addition, the free-standing Great Hall was rebuilt (now gone), which measured 24 x 15 metres (80 x 50 ft.). The Bloody Tower and the Wakefield Tower were added during the reign of Henry III of England (1216-1272), as were three D-shaped towers on the east side and three on the northern side of the curtain wall. 1162-1170) doing a stint as the castle's constable in the 1150s. Another curiosity of the 12th century was the future Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket (r. Leopards, lions, an elephant and even a polar bear were all resident at one time or another, usually diplomatic gifts, and the Tower Menagerie only closed down in 1835. 1199-1216, may have been the first to keep exotic pets here). 1216-1272) paid particular attention to the apartments within the castle and even established a small zoo (although King John, r. wide), and the wall was extended on the south side so that more money was spent on the complex than any other English castle except Dover. 1190-1200) was added to the southwest corner of the curtain wall, a tidal moat was dug (50 metres / 160 ft. In the 12th century, the massive polygonal Bell Tower (c. 1509-1547), and many of them made important additions and improvements over the centuries. Multi-Purpose Home of the MonarchĮnglish monarchs used the tower as an occasional residence up to and including Henry VIII (r. ![]() The structure, built at a 90-degree angle to the entrance for extra security, became known as the Lion Tower. ![]() The main entrance to the castle was on the west ( city) side and protected by an elaborate barbican fortification. In 1097 William Rufus converted the palisade curtain wall into stonework. The castle was given a protective ditch and a wood and earth palisade on two sides while the river protected the other two. Two sides of this wall utilised old Roman walls which had been repaired by the Anglo- Saxons - probably the principal reason why William choose the site in the first place. The castle was rather more than the tower, though, as it was surrounded by a curtain wall with corner towers. Three stained glass windows showing the Virgin and Christ child were added around 1240. Inside, the chapel has an arcade of thick arch-bearing columns, a barrel vault ceiling and a gallery running around the sides. The tower had a sloping roof on either side of the cross-wall, and the top floor contained the chapel of Saint John the Baptist its apse gives the tower its curved eastern corner. Chambers, toilets, fireplaces, chimneys, and drains were cut into the tower's thick walls. A spiral staircase gave access to the upper floors, and a basement, likely used for storage, had access to a well. It is not clear what these chambers were used for, and there is no record of William ever staying in the castle so perhaps it was originally intended as a showpiece of Norman power. The first floor and the second were divided into unequally sized halls by a central cross-wall. Access was via a wooden staircase on the south side that reached to the first floor - this was protected by a short tower in the 12th century (destroyed in 1674). The tower measures 36 x 32.5 metres (118 x 106 ft.) and is 27.5 metres (90 ft.) tall. The castle was rather more than the White Tower, though, as it was surrounded by a curtain wall with corner towers. ![]()
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