London Tower 6.17.2011.

On Friday, we all had a "surprise" trip planned by IES, and our group was taken to the TOWER OF LONDON... don don don.. It was amazing, and is one of the oldest buildings in all of London. Here is a concise definition of exactly WHAT this amazing fortress is:


It was founded towards the end of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest of England. The White Tower, which gives the entire castle its name, was built by William the Conqueror in 1078, and was a resented symbol of oppression, inflicted upon London by the new ruling elite. The castle was used as a prison since at least 1100, although that was not its primary purpose. A grand palace early in its history, it served as a royal residence. As a whole, the Tower is a complex of several buildings set within two concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat. There were several phases of expansion, mainly under Kings Richard the Lionheart, Henry III, and Edward I in the 12th and 13th centuries. 


Some beauteous pictures: 

Henry VIII's Armor 

More of Henry VIII's Armor...

Interior stone chapel 

Really interesting gun display- they were shooting out Swarovski crystals! Glam. 

Anna and I spent almost 4 hours just meandering around inside. We're kind of nerdy like that, but it was so cool! There was a torture room, a crown room, protected ravens, and the Crown jewels! 

It was raining, per usual, but it made the entire fort much more broody--

 very British. 

:)

-xox-