Understanding the history of the Tower of London as a whole requires a thorough study of this fortress, as well as the historical context linked to England since the end of the first millennium. The list below gives the main dates of the changes made to the Tower of London over its history, from its construction to the present day. And it begins in the eleventh century, under William the Conqueror.
See also: History of the tower of London
The Tower of London was built by William the Conqueror in 1078. Far from being left untouched, his successors made numerous additions, making the fortress in the state we know it today. Thus William le Roux added a thick wall to him in 1097, while Richard I in 1190 ordered the Bishop of Ely to improve the fortifications and surround them with an outside ditch. Henry III, in 1240, added a stone door, a rampart, and other constructions, especially to the west, at the front door. Edward I and other princes extended the fortifications
The original dungeon (XIth-XIIth centuries)
End 1066 : Beginning of construction of a castle
1078 : Beginning of construction of the white tower under William the Conqueror
1097 : Construction of the first rampart around the white tower, replacing a palisade.
1100 : Beginning of prison use
XIIth century : Addition of a building south of the white tower under Henry II (destroyed since)
1170 : Construction of the 1st royal apartments in the inner courtyard
1189-1199 : Construction of the intermediate rampart under Richard 1
1190 : Digging of moats
1191 : 1est attack of the tower of London
Major works of Henry III and Edward Ith (XIIIth centuries)
1220 : First works of embellishment of the royal apartments
1220 : Filling of the ditch surrounding the original rampart
1220 : Construction of a kitchen in the inner courtyard
1220 : Construction of Wakefield and Lanthorn towers begins
1230 : Second works of embellishment of the royal apartments
1251 : The menagerie welcomes a polar bear
1260 : Collapse of the guardhouse, it will be replaced by the Beauchamp tower
XIIIth century: Continuation of the construction of the intermediate rampart (Wall North and East) under Henry III
End of XIIIth century: Suite de la construction du rempart intermédiaire (Courtine Ouest) sous Edouard Ist
End of XIIIth century: Construction of the chapel St Pierre under Edward Ist
End of XIIIth century: Construction of the outer rampart under Edouard Ist
End of XIIIth century: Construction of the southwest gate and the Lions tower under Edward Ist
End of XIIIth century: Development of the banks of the Thames under Edward Ist
End of XIIIth century: Construction of 2 mills under Edouard Ist
1275-1279 : Construction of the St Thomas tower (on the traitors gate thereafter), under Edouard Ist
The feudal period (XIIIth-XVIth centuries)
1278 : Imprisonment of 600 Jews at the Tower of London, they were accused of trimming
1330 : Création of the royal menagerie
1339-1341 : Construction of the gardehouse batween the towers of the bell and salt.
1348-1355 : Drilling of a second door opening on the river, the Cradle Tower.
1381 : Siege of the Tower of London during the revolt of the peasants. The jewels of the crown are plundered.
XVth century: Addition of the 4th floor of the white tower and the current roof.
1460 : Attack of the Tower of London by the Duke of York.
XVIth century: The southern entrance of the white tower is doomed. It will be reopened in 1973.
1519 : Reconstruction of the chapel St Pierre under Henry VIII.
1532 : Major renovations on the white tower.
1560 : Installation of the royal coin in a building next to the salt tower.
The Tower of London in the face of the progress of artillery (XVIIth-XVIIIth centuries)
1663 : Construction of an arsenal in the inner courtyard.
1666-1676 : Destruction of the buildings of the inner courtyard, the area around the white tower is cleared.
1666-1676 : 1666-1676: Demolition of the house of jewels, the latter are transferred to the tower Martin.
1688 : Beginning construction of stores north of the white tower. (destroyed on October 30, 1841)
1671 : Thomas Blood and accomplices try to steal the jewels of the crown
1774 : Addition of a curtain allowing access of the outer rampart from the quay
XIXth century: Reorganization of the chapel St Pierre
1825 : Construction of the New Horse Armory against the South Face of the White Tower
1828 : Moving the menagerie to Regent's Park
1830 : Dewatering of moats
October 30, 1841: A fire destroys the department store North
The modern age (XIXth-XXth centuries)
1843 : Filling the moat with earth
June 14, 1845: Construction of the Waterloo Barracks and the Officers' Quarter, to the north-east of the Tower (now the fusiliers headquarters)
1843 : Dismantling of the three rectangular towers of the eastern wall.
1851 : Construction of the first ticket office
September 23, 1940: The Tower of London is damaged following the blitz
14 August 1941: Last execution at the Tower of London, that of the German spy Josef Jakobs
1973: Reopening of the South entrance of the white tower (condemned in the sixteenth century)
1988 : Inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List
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