The day before Europe

Monday 12th September….

Today we caught a cab from Earls court to the Hilton Hotel in Edgeware Road and quickly settled into our room, then found there was a tour of the Tower of London available, so decided to go on it. After a quick visit to M & S across the road and a bite to eat, we set off for the Tower of London. Saw some interesting sights on the way including Westminster Church, not to be confused with Westminster Abbey. The Abbey is the Protestant church and built by the Crown, whereas Westminster Church was built with the pennies from the labouring Catholics.

The Tower of London was built by William the Conqueror when he came across from Normandy in 1066 and it was built with the purpose of intimidating the Saxons who lived in the City of London. It was William’s place of residence while he conquered and ruled England and continued to be the place of residence for all Monarchs until Henry V111 who, having beheaded two of his wives in the castle was haunted by the memories and moved elsewhere. We saw the Bloody Tower so named because of what took place there and went into the room where 12 year old Edward and 9 year old Richard, sons of King Edward 1V were murdered by their uncle who became Richard 111. The gate where people who had offended the King entered for imprisonment, torture and more often than not, beheading, was also of great interest and this was this called The Traitors Gate. The spot where 69 people lost their heads and were unceremoniously buried in the church right next door was a very haunting place to see. We also saw the house where Anne Boleyn(?) lived while she was imprisoned in the Tower and the 50 odd metres she had to walk to the chopping block was a haunting experience to imagine. The original chopping block that Jill saw many years ago has now unfortunately been replaced by a memorial.

Next we were off to see how people were tortured in the old days – the rack and many other gruesome methods. We went into the Central Tower to see the suits of armour that were used by past kings going back to the 14th century. They looked hot, heavy and inhibited but only went out of fashion with the introduction of the musket, as although they could deflect a sword, they were no match to a bullet. Jill got to pose with a Yeoman Guard. Apparently they don’t like being referred to as Beefeaters though that is what most people refer them as.

The highlight for a lot of people is seeing the Crown Jewels. These are the real McCoy, the largest diamonds in the world, rubies, sapphires, emeralds and gold, gold, so much gold!! We saw the Coronation Crowns that have been used for the last several hundred years. There was a Punchbowl – it stood just over a metre tall, a metre and a half wide, very ornate and made of pure gold (a rather extravagant party piece!!). We saw the plates and goblets used at the altar made once again of pure gold and The Coronation Robes that the Queen and her fore bears wore at their Coronations. It was mind boggling to imagine the value of what we saw.

The building is the oldest complete castle in the world and like Westminster Abbey is just dripping with history. Probably a little more brutal and to think that those poor unfortunate souls walked their last steps where we were walking made one ponder. Our time here was really too short to do this place justice, so we may have to try and return again if time permits.

I must mention the ravens which live in the Castle. It is believed that when they leave, the Castle will fall, so every effort is made to see that they breed and there are always 9 ravens at the Castle. The last time the Castle was used was during the 2nd World War when Rudolph
Hess was kept there for some time and also spies were shot. The Castle has not been used since and is unlikely to be used again for its original purpose.

Today we are writing this in a Starbucks Cafe and only doing it because of the help of a very lovely Lithuanian girl who works here, as we got stumped by technology once again!!! Not sure what will happen over the next week while in Europe. We will write whenever we can, but there will quite possibly be some blank days.