The English language today

8 The tower of London

The Tower of London is a very famous and interesting place in the city. The Tower was once a palace, a fortress, a prison, and even a zoo. Today it is known as the historical Museum. The Tower consists of 20 towers. The White Tower is the oldest of them. It was built in the time of William the Conqueror. The guards of the Tower still tell tourists interesting stories about the events that took place at that time.

The Royal fortress. State Prison
In the 1070s, William the Conqueror, victorious but afraid of rebellion, began building a massive stone fortress in London to defend and proclaim his royal authority. Nothing like this has ever been seen in England. William wanted his mighty castle to dominate not only the horizon, but also the hearts and minds of the defeated Londoners.The construction of the tower took about 20 years. Stories of captives, rich and poor, still haunt the Tower. Famous ghosts include Anne Boleyn, who was imprisoned and beheaded in the Tower of London in 1536. Some saw her headless figure. The future Queen Elizabeth was also imprisoned in the Tower of London. Being the most reliable castle in the country, the Tower protected the royal possessions and even the royal family during wars and rebellions. Later, the kings began to use it as a royal residence. They usually spent the night there before the coronation.
Shadow of the Axe
The most famous legend says that if the ravens ever leave the tower of London will fall.
It is popularly believed that crows have their wings clipped so that they cannot fly away – this is only partially true. The Raven Lord will trim their feathers so they can't go far, but they can still fly.
Today, the Tower is home to seven ravens, who are cared for by a dedicated Yeoman Guardian known as the Raven Lord. Today, the Tower of London is great interest to millions of people. Tourists can also chat with the guards, who are wearing a special uniform assigned during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.