 (29K) 645 x 432 | The Tower is badly named, its a fort / castle, including a moat and a series of towers and walls - not just one Tower like the name implies. |
 (52K) 432 x 645 | The Bell tower, one of the olders (12-13th century) whose bell would ring the curfew (and wake-up) for the city. It was here St. John Fisher "lived" on the upper floor from 1504 until his execution in 1535. St. Thomas More was on the floor below him. |
 (45K) 645 x 432 | The Traitor's Gate, which used to be a water gate, allowing boats to enter, through which the prisoners (traitors) would be brought into the tower. |
 (48K) 645 x 432 | One of the Yeoman Warders (called Beefeaters) giving a tour, with the Tower Bridge in the background. |
 (34K) 645 x 432 | The shrine at the tomb of St. Thomas More, executed by King Henry VIII for not agreeing to his desire to divorce Catherine of Aragon. |
 (33K) 645 x 432 | The crypt is under the chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula (i.e. in Chains) where Sts. John Fisher, Thomas More, and Blessed William Howeard are buried. |
 (32K) 432 x 645 | Plaque to St. John Fisher. |
 (33K) 645 x 432 | Outside view of the chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula, which served as the Parish Church of the Tower, is also where many of those beheaded on nearby tower hill were laid to rest. |
 (41K) 432 x 645 | White Tower, 93 feet high, in the center of and the original building of the Tower of London, begun by William the Conquerer in 1078, it was the original royal residence. |
 (46K) 432 x 645 | Inside the cell of St. Thomas More, in the belltower, where he spent the last 14 months of his life before being executed July 6, 1535. Deprived of food, clothing, bedding and writing materials, he was steadfast in his resolve and found guilty of treason. |
 (45K) 645 x 432 | The Jewel House, where the Crown Jewels are all kept. After waiting in the long queue, one sees gets on a moving sidewalk and gets through to see them all - quite impressive of course: among others the Imperial State Crown and the Roayl Sceptre with the 520 carat Star of Africa diamond. |
 (35K) 432 x 645 | A chapel inside of the White Tower, built between 1080-1088, it once had much art and tapestries, but has been scoured clean since the 19th century. |
 (41K) 645 x 432 | A view of the Tower Bride from the south wall of the Tower. |
 (50K) 432 x 645 | Walking along the west wall of the tower, the Salt Tower has many inscriptions in the walls, carved by a group of Jesuits who were held prisoner there. |
 (45K) 432 x 645 | Another view of White Tower, also famous for its basement dungeon "The Pit", which today has disappointingly been converted into a museum of guns and canons. |
 (45K) 432 x 645 | In the foreground is the memorial to British sailors who died in war. Behind it is the Parish Church of All Hallows on Tower Hill, believed to have been founded by Bishop St. Erkenwald 675-685. |
 (31K) 432 x 645 | For over 900 years royalty and bishops, saints and sinners have come past these walls, being on Tower Hill next to the Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower. The hill was a favorite execution place until the 18th century. |
 (27K) 432 x 645 | The Church of All Hollows (here in the crypt) would sometimes be used as a temporary burial place for those executed on the Hill, including St. John Fisher. |
 (44K) 432 x 645 | Inside the Church of All Hallows, which was destoyed in 1548, and since rebuilt. |