![]() Though it’s hard to find the bright side to a death sentence, execution at the tower was in fact a form of favor extended to those of noble birth or high rank. In the 16th century alone three English queens (including “Nine Days Queen” Lady Jane Grey) were executed on Tower Green. Prisoners had long been kept in parts of the tower but during the reign of Henry VIII (1509-47) the site fell into disuse as a royal residence and took on an expanded and extended role as a jail where religious and political prisoners, traitors, rogues, and even royalty were confined. But during the reigns of Henry III (1216-72) and Edward (1272-1307) an evolving palace complex was added to the site. It remains an example of cutting-edge military architecture circa the 11th and later the 13th-14th centuries. The Tower of London, not a single tower but a large complex, was built as a formidable keep at a strategic spot to guard London and assert Norman control of the capital. ![]() William the Conqueror began work on a White Tower to center his London fortress in the 1080s, soon after he invaded the British Isles (1066) and became the first Norman king of England. ![]() Reason for Designation: A first-class example of Norman military architecture, the Tower has also played a leading role in the saga of British history.įortress, palace, prison, and even place of execution-the Tower of London has filled all these roles and more during nearly a thousand years on the banks of the River Thames in the heart of Great Britain. Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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