List of Constables
| Name | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| John Tiptoft, Earl of Worcester | December 1461 | October 1470 |
| John Sutton, Baron Dudley | 1470 | |
| Thomas Grey, Marquis of Dorset | April 1483 | |
| Sir Robert Brackenbury | July 1483 |
Who is the present constable of the Tower of London?
General Sir Gordon Messenger
General Sir Gordon Messenger became the 161st Constable of the Tower of London in August 2022, succeeding General The Lord Nicholas Houghton.
Who lived at the Tower of London?
Medieval kings and queens lived in luxurious apartments at the Tower. They worshipped in the Chapel Royal, kept a menagerie of exotic animals (which lasted until the 19th century) and welcomed foreign rulers at magnificent ceremonial occasions.
Was the Tower of London ever attacked?
In 1381, a rabble of peasants managed to successfully attack the Tower in the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 — this was one of many battles at the Tower of London.
When was the Tower of London moat drained?
Over nearly 1000 years, the moat has seen many changes; it was filled with water in the 13th century to defend the famous fortress, drained at the request of the Duke of Wellington in the 1840s, then used as a grazing ground for livestock, before being used as allotments during the Second World War.
Who was the last prisoner executed in the Tower of London?
The last person to be executed in the Tower, Josef Jakobs, Nazi spy, shot by a firing squad on 15 August 1941. The last people to be held in the Tower, the Kray twins. They were imprisoned for a few days in 1952 for failing to report for national service.
Who is the red head living in the Tower of London?
Megan Clawson
With her flaming red curls, Megan Clawson looks like a fairy-tale princess. So when she walks around the moat of the 950-year-old Tower of London, it’s no wonder she draws attention from visitors. But she isn’t a formal part of the attraction, or a royal ghost walking the walls, as some tourists think.
Why are they called Beefeaters?
Henry VII’s personal guards were the first ‘Beefeaters’, so named as they were permitted to eat as much beef as they wanted from the King’s table, and Henry VIII decreed that some of them would stay and guard the Tower permanently.
Who was murdered at the Tower of London?
The disappearance of two princes, Edward and Richard, in 1483 is one of the most intriguing ‘murders’ of the Tower of London.
Who successfully escaped the Tower of London?
Lord Nithsdale, 23 February 1716
The last recorded escape from the Tower – and the most spectacular – involved cross-dressing, just like John Lambert’s (see box 2). Lord Nithsdale, a Scottish Jacobite, joined the doomed rising to restore James Edward, the ‘Old Pretender’, to his father’s throne in 1715.
Who is the most famous person executed at the Tower of London?
Executed by decapitation. Jane Rochford helped provoke the murder of the two queens and their cousins, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard. Catherine Howard, queen consort (13 February 1542).
| The tower of London | |
|---|---|
| Visitors | 2,5 millons/year |
| Location : London, United Kingdom | |
| GPS : 51°30’29.08″ North / 0° 4’35.56″ West | |
| Menu |
What is hiding under the Tower of London?
What is hiding under the Tower of London? According to an ancient legend, there is buried treasure hidden at the Tower of London. Under Cromwell, it’s said that former Lieutenant of the Tower Sir John Barkstead hid 20,000 gold coins somewhere on the grounds.
Who was tortured in the Tower of London?
Gerard endured the horrific pain of his torture refusing throughout to confess. Eventually, his torturers admitted defeat and sent him back to his cell. So damaged were his hands and arms that he recorded that it was three weeks before he could hold a knife.
Did they put alligators in moats?
From time to time, you might read stories about moats that contained alligators or crocodiles. While such creatures would provide an extra line of defense, these stories are just myths, as it would be nearly impossible for such animals to survive in a moat. Moats often did contain eels and fish, however.
How did they fill moats with water?
They sealed the bottom of the moat with clay. That way the water didn’t seep out. It’s called puddling. It’s also used to make canals leak proof.
What is the oldest building still standing in London?
St Pancras Old Church
The church is the oldest standing building in London and is one of the oldest places to worship in England. The church was formally known as St Pancras Church until its reconstruction in 1819.
Who confessed to killing the princes in the tower?
Some historians insist on relying entirely on Thomas More’s account of the fate of the princes. In his History of King Richard III, written between c1513 and 1519, More claims that one of Richard’s henchmen, James Tyrrell, confessed to the princes’ murder.
Who killed the children in the Tower?
Richard III is the name most associated with the mystery of the two little princes. It is said that he had them killed as their right to the throne was stronger than his. Shakespeare certainly decided that he had given the order for the boys to be killed.
How many people were executed inside the Tower of London?
True, the Tower of London held hundreds of prisoners throughout the centuries. But, throughout its 1,000 year history, only 22 people were executed inside the Tower of London, and more than half of those occurred during the 20th century.
Are there any female Beefeaters?
Although the role has traditionally been held by men since the order was founded by Henry the Seventh in 1485, three women have been accepted as Beefeaters. They live at the Tower with their families and conduct regular tours of this historic building.
Are Beefeaters real soldiers?
Yeoman Warders have been guarding the Tower of London since Tudor times. Nicknamed ‘Beefeaters’, the Yeoman Body of 32 men and women are all drawn from the Armed Forces.