The Tower of London (Part 3) - A Prison

Facing the prospect of being “sent to The Tower” must have been a truly terrifying ordeal. The mere mention of it conjures up images of a bleak and ominous fortress, where prisoners endured their days in dark and damp cells. While it is indeed accurate that throughout the Middle Ages, the Tower served as a prison, it may come as a surprise to learn that it didn’t always match the grim and fearsome reputation it often carries.

Behind the imposing stone walls of this renowned prison, we can discover not only chambers of torture and dungeon cells, but also opulent apartments where affluent prisoners resided in the company of their servants and attendants. The only conspicuous absence being their freedom.

Considering it was not initially built for the purpose, the Tower’s transformation into a prison is indeed remarkable, spanning an astonishing 850-year period from 1100 to 1952. If only walls could speak, they would recount a multitude of fascinating tales from this extended period. To write a complete account of every prisoner held in the Tower of London would be an enormous undertaking. Therefore, I’ve opted to focus on a selection of the most renowned inmates whose stories are particularly captivating. To begin with, prisoners would have been confined within the walls of the White Tower, however in later years several other towers would have been utilised for this purpose.

Famous Prisoners

Ranulf Flambard, Bishop of Durham - A prominent government minister during the reign of King William Rufus of England, Flambard’s career commenced during the time of William the Conqueror. On the death of the king, Ranulf then chose to serve his successor William Rufus, where he rapidly garnered recognition for his role in managing the realm’s finances. Unfortunately, following the untimely death of King William Rufus in a hunting accident in 1100, Ranulf found himself imprisoned by the new King Henry I in the Tower of London. He was found guilty of extortion, undoubtedly becoming a convenient scapegoat for the financial irregularities of Rufus’s reign.

Hubert de Burgh - I find the tale of Hubert de Burgh’s imprisonment extremely fascinating, leaving us with a valuable lesson about the repercussions of monarchs heeding counsel from individuals with personal agendas. De Burgh held the esteemed position of Justiciar of England from 1215, when he  was listed as one of the 16 counsellors advising King John to sign the great charter Magna Carta. He demonstrated unwavering loyalty and dedication to both King John and his successor, Henry III, his commitment so steadfast that he assumed the role of regent for the young King following the passing of William Marshal in 1219. Revered for his fairness and integrity, he enjoyed widespread popularity. De Burgh’s military accomplishments were remarkable, including his notable defence of Dover Castle against a siege led by Prince Louis of France, and later his triumph over Eustace the Monk, who commanded a formidable French fleet at the Battle of Sandwich, a victory that struck the final blow for any hopes by the French for an invasion of England. However, his exceptional popularity and influential status in the realm aroused jealousy among his rivals, which we see as a recurring theme throughout history. Predictably, his falling out of favour with the king became inevitable as whispers of dissent reached the monarch’s ears. Consequently, in 1232, he was imprisoned in the Tower of London at the command of the King, where he would spend the next two years before receiving a pardon. Despite this pardon and his release, he lived out the remainder of his life in relative obscurity, never reclaiming his former prominence in English politics.

Gruffyd ap Llewelyn - Having delved into Sharon Kay Penman’s captivating Welsh trilogy, my interest in one particular Tower inmate has grown considerably, more so than with other renowned prisoners. While many individuals met their end at the Tower through execution, Gruffyd’s tale is one of tragic demise at his own hands, albeit unintentional. As the first born illegitimate son of Llewelyn ap Iorwerth, known as Llewelyn the Great, Welsh law dictated that he was still entitled to inherit, despite his illegitimacy. However, his father chose to declare Dafydd, his younger son by his wife Joan, as the kingdom’s heir. Gruffyd spent most of his adult life embroiled in a relentless struggle to claim what he believed to be rightfully his. Many years in periods of either captivity or as a hostage began he was just a boy. He was given to King John as surety for his father’s compliance, and when we consider his half brother Dafydd was not also offered, it is clear to see how his resentment began at an early age. Over the years his captors would also include his father and his brother Dafydd. This cycle continued until 1241 when, together with his son Owain, he began his final imprisonment in the Tower at the command of Henry III.

Baroness Badlesmere, Margaret de Clare - This particular tale features a remarkable woman who dared to insult Isabella, the Queen of England and consort to King Edward II. To add to her audacity, she even commanded her archers to open fire on the queen, resulting in her imprisonment in the Tower for a year.

Margaret’s husband Baron Badlesmere held the esteemed position of Governor of the Royal Caste of Leeds in Kent, which interestingly enough, was part of the Queen’s dower. During the Queen’s pilgrimage to the shrine of St Thomas in Canterbury, she decided to make an overnight stop at Leeds Castle. At that time, Baron Badlesmere, who had become disaffected with King Edward due to his favouritism towards Hugh Despenser the younger, was absent, leaving his wife in charge of the castle and its riches. When the Queen sought entry to the castle, Baroness Badlesmere, displaying remarkable nerve, denied her, confronting Isabella’s marshal on the drawbridge and informing him that “the Queen must seek some other lodging, for she would not admit anyone within the castle without her Lord’s permission”. She then ordered her archers to unleash a deadly volley of arrows from the battlements, resulting in the deaths of six of Isabella’s escort. News of this profound insult to his Queen reached Edward, prompting him to assemble a formidable force and lay siege to the castle.Following a relentless five-day assault on the fortress, Margaret surrendered, having received assurances of clemency from the King. This event marked Margaret as the first woman to incarcerated in the Tower of London.

King Henry VI - While we’ve seen a limited number of kings imprisoned in the Tower, one of the most renowned cases is that of the mentally unstable King Henry VI. Henry experienced two periods of imprisonment during the tumultuous Wars of the Roses era. The first instance occurred between 1465 and 1470, followed by a second imprisonment in 1471. Traditionally, it was believed that he was held in the Wakefield Tower during his captivity. However, contemporary historians have cast doubt on this assumption, as this tower was primarily used for record storage at the time. While concrete evidence regarding his specific location within the Tower remains elusive, what is known is that on the 21st May 1471, Henry VI met a tragic end within the Tower’s walls. It is widely believed that he was murdered on the orders of King Edward IV, who had recently deposed Henry for the second time.

George, Duke of Clarence - Across the tumultuous landscape of the Wars of the Roses, George, Duke of Clarence met a tragic fate within the walls of the Tower. As a brother of King Edward IV, Clarence initially enjoyed a position of privilege and power, but his ambitions and shifting alliances would eventually lead to his downfall. After spending a year imprisoned in the Tower, Clarence’s conviction for treason, notably for plotting against his brother and the Yorkist dynasty, ultimately sealed his fate. On February 18, 1478, he met his end in a most unusual manner, being drowned in a butt of Malmsey wine, a method of death that he allegedly chose himself. I guess one could say there were worse ways to die!

The Princes in the Tower - Once again we find ourselves immersed in the intrigue of the Wars of the Roses, but this time the focus shifts to undeniably, the most famous prisoners of the Tower, and a mystery that continues to baffle historians to this day.

In the year 1483, the young King Edward V and his brother Richard, Duke of York, were placed in the Tower under the guise of their protection. However, their fate took a sinister turn as they mysteriously vanished without a trace. Historical accounts tell us that the boys were last seen innocently playing with bows and arrows in the Tower’s garden on the 16th June, 1483.

This enigmatic disappearance marks one of the Tower’s darkest chapters, as it is widely believed that, at some point during that autumn, they were quietly and tragically murdered. And even today, after more than five centuries, the identity of the culprits remains a haunting mystery, and the subject of much debate. Originally called the Garden Tower, the place where the boys were held captive has since been rebranded as the Bloody Tower, a name that ominously reflects the grim events that unfolded within its walls.

Edward, Earl of Warwick & Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury - Edward, Earl of Warwick, and Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury, faced precarious circumstances in the wake of the Battle of Bosworth and the ascension of the Tudor Dynasty. They were among the few surviving members of the House of Plantagenet after the Wars of the Roses. Edward, with a legitimate claim to the throne, posed a threat to the new regime, resulting in his house arrest and subsequent imprisonment in the Tower of London. In 1499, he met a tragic end, executed for treason due to his association with the pretender Perkin Warbeck’s plot against King Henry VII. Margaret experienced a rollercoaster of fortunes during her lifetime, particularly under the reign of Henry VIII. She served as lady-in-waiting to Catherine of Aragon, both when she was married to Arthur and after his death when she wed Henry, who would become Henry VIII. Margaret’s role evolved to that of governess to the Princess Mary when Catherine gave birth to a daughter. However, as Henry’s relationship with the Catholic Church soured and his marriage to Anne Boleyn led to Catherine’s downfall, Margaret’s loyalty to the Catholic faith and her unwavering support of Catherine and Mary led to her imprisonment and eventual execution on May 27, 1541, in a particularly brutal manner. At the age of 67, despite her advancing years and the fact that she posed no real threat to the king, she met a cruel fate as a traitor, thereafter holding the ignominious honour of being the oldest woman to be executed at the Tower. Following her execution, Margaret’s son, Cardinal Reginald Pole, proudly claimed to be the son of a martyr. And if this tragic story can have a semblance of a happy ending, it lies in the fact that 345 years later, on the 29th December, 1886, Lady Salisbury was beatified by Pope Leo XIII, posthumously earning the title of the Blessed Margaret Pole.

The Queens of Henry VIII - No account of the Tower of London is complete without delving into the tragic story of two of Henry VIII’s queens.

Anne Boleyn, his second wife, became infamous when she was unjustly accused of adultery, incest, and treason in 1536. Her failure to provide Henry with a male heir played a significant role in her eventual downfall. Following a swift trial, she met her end within the Tower’s walls, her execution carried out with a sword rather than an axe, as was the French method. Interestingly, due to her high status, Anne Boleyn was one of only seven individuals granted the privacy of a secluded execution on Tower Green, away from the public eye.

Henry’s fifth wife, Catherine Howard, faced a similar tragic fate, albeit with one crucial difference - she was indeed guilty of committing adultery. After a brief period of confinement, Catherine Howard also met her demise through beheading.

Guy Fawkes - Guy Fawkes was a central figure in the infamous Gunpowder Plot of 1605, whereby a group of zealous Roman Catholics led by Robert Catesby, enraged at King James I for refusing to grant religious tolerance to Catholics, attempted to blow up the entire English parliament, including the king himself. Fawkes was arrested while guarding the barrels of gunpowder beneath the Parliament building. He was imprisoned and tortured, finally revealing his co-conspirators, and on the 31st of January, 1606, they were brought to trial for high treason. He was sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered, a gruesome fate reserved for traitors. However, whether in an act of defiance, or rather a desire to avoid the excruciating execution, Fawkes leapt from the scaffold, breaking his own neck and dying instantly.

Torture at the Tower

Torture was not as widespread at the Tower of London as is commonly believed. Employed during the 15th and 16th centuries, its primary purpose was to extract information. This would often be related to co-conspirators in specific crimes, however historical records indicate that only 48 individuals were actually subjected to this ordeal. From the mid-17th century on, torture at the Tower was discontinued due to criticism that it was not only cruel but totally ineffective - after all, prisoners on the rack would agree to anything to secure their release. Today, within the Wakefield Tower, an exhibit showcases various torture methods, offering a chilling glimpse into the past and the horrifying pain inflicted by these instruments. Below are the three primary torture devices used. 

Duke of Exeter’s Daughter - More commonly known as The Rack, this torture device had the notorious reputation of being the most widely used and well-known of the dreaded instruments used in the Tower of London. Named after John Holland, 2nd Duke of Exeter, a constable of the Tower in the 15th century, its malevolent design aimed to stretch the body to the utmost limit, even to the point of dislocating limbs and tearing them from their sockets. Many prisoners would be more than willing to surrender their secrets simply by the mere sight of this horrifying apparatus, it was only those who steadfastly refused to cooperate, who would suffer the excruciating pain of the rack. In the 16th century when religious turmoil was at its height this particular method of torture was utilised by several monarchs, both Catholic and Protestant alike, including Mary I, Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.

Scavenger’s Daughter - The Scavenger’s Daughter, also known as “Skeffington’s Gyves” after its creator Sir Leonard Skevington is a gruesome instrument of torture that emerged during the Tudor era in England. It was conceived as the perfect complement to the above Duke of Exeter’s Daughter, however unlike its counterpart, it worked according to the opposite principle, instead of stretching the body to its limits, the Scavenger’s Daughter compressed the body. Consisting of a nightmarish amalgamation of metal and bondage, it incorporated an iron frame with hinged components. Victims were forced to contort their bodies into grotesque positions as their limbs were slowly compressed within the unforgiving embrace of the device.

Manacles - Manacles played a cruel role in the Tower’s history, a device where iron handcuffs were attached around the prisoner’s wrist, they would then be hung by these manacles with their feet dangling above the ground. This would be inflicted for long periods of time, resulting in intense pain and discomfort. Those victims of this device would experience considerable pain and difficulty in using their hands.

Escape from the Tower

When conjuring images of the Tower of London, we automatically think of a formidable fortress, complete with imposing gates, an intimidating moat, and fearsome guards. However, history reveals that, for a small number of prisoners incarcerated within those seemingly impenetrable walls, these barriers proved to be no hindrance at all in attempting the impossible - escape from the Tower of London.

Here are just a couple that I found most interesting, some successful and others not so much…

Ranulf Flambard, Bishop of Durham - As we’ve previously seen, Ranulf was the Tower’s first prisoner, he also holds the distinction of being the first to escape from this impregnable stronghold. How did he manage this incredible feat? It turns out that Ranulf possessed a flair for entertainment. Over the six month duration of his captivity, this clever clergyman made a habit of entertaining his gaolers, his purpose was to gradually gain their trust. And so, on the fateful night of the 2nd February, 1101 he executed his audacious plan. Exploiting the camaraderie he’d cultivated, Ranulf plied his captors with a bit more wine than usual, and got them so drunk they completely failed to notice his disappearance. His method of escape, a rope cunningly concealed within the depths of a barrel of wine - perhaps the very barrel from which they had all been drinking, an ironic twist to this remarkable getaway.

Gruffyd ap Llewelyn - Regrettably, the story of Gruffyd doesn’t conclude on the same jubilant note as the one above. As previously mentioned, Gruffyd’s life was largely marked by captivity, whether as a hostage or prisoner. On the 1st of March 1244, driven by an intense longing for freedom, he embarked on a daring escape attempt from his cell at the top of the White Tower, fashioning an improvised rope from bed sheets, in a desperate bid to break free. However, this bold venture would prove to be not only a failure but also fatal when the makeshift rope snapped, causing Gruffyd to plummet to his death. Despite the complexities of his character, one can’t help but sympathise with a man who endured what he perceived to be a lifetime of injustice, and we cannot deny that the final bitter chapter in his turbulent life was a heart-wrenching tragedy.

Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March - Roger Mortimer’s name often goes unnoticed among the famous Tower of London prisoners, his escape however on the 1st of August, 1323 is well written in the pages of history. In his bid for freedom, he employed tactics reminiscent of Ranulf Flambard’s escape over two centuries earlier. However, Mortimer added his own twist to the scheme, instead of merely getting the guards drunk, he utilised sedatives to put them to sleep. He also did not act alone in this venture, he had a clandestine partner within the Tower walls. What truly intrigues me about his stay in the Tower is the dramatic reversal of fortune he experienced. Originally condemned to death for treason, for some unknown reason Mortimer found mercy at the hands of King Edward II when his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. This was an action that Edward would later regret in light of the events that transpired following Mortimer’s daring escape. Mortimer would flee to France and in September 1326, alongside his lover Isabella, Queen to Edward II, they would invade England and depose Edward. For three years, he effectively ruled England on behalf of the young King Edward III, but as history often dictates, Mortimer’s insatiable greed and arrogance would be his downfall. In October 1330, the young king would take control of his kingdom by seizing Mortimer at Nottingham and ordering him to be returned to the Tower of London. This time there would be no escape, on the 29th November, 1330 Mortimer met his end by hanging, a perfect example of the rise and fall of Fortune’s Wheel.

William Maxwell, 5th Earl of Nithsdale - This would have to be one of my favourite tales of escape from the Tower of London. It is a story that blends humour with ingenious tactics, and has enthralled historians and enthusiasts for generations. The year was 1716, and as a Stuart loyalist, Maxwell found himself imprisoned within the Tower’s grim walls due to his involvement in the first Jacobite Rising. His fate seemed sealed with the looming expectation of execution. However, due to the unwavering devotion of his wife Winifred Herbert, a daring plan was hatched. Winifred and a group of her companions embarked on a mission to visit the Earl in the Tower, all the while concealing female attire beneath their own clothing. In a stroke of sheer brilliance, Maxwell donned these garments to transform himself into a woman, effectively evading the watchful eyes of the guards. Meanwhile, Winifred engaged in a fabricated conversation with herself, diverting attention from her husband’s escape. To complete the ruse, they arranged a pile of clothes under the blankets to mimic a sleeping person, and with nerves of steel, Winifred followed her husband through the gates to freedom. Her remarkable courage, which put her own life in jeopardy, elevates her to the status of a true heroine in this captivating tale.

So, as we conclude this chapter of our Tower of London discovery, albeit rather a gruesome one, take a moment to ponder on how it must have been for the prisoners incarcerated within these seemingly impenetrable walls.

Stay tuned for the next instalment, I am sure you will be fascinated when we delve into some of the more unusual roles the Tower of London has played. In the meantime, if your intrigue mirrors my own, then brace yourself for a journey into the heart of history. Trust me, this is an experience not to be missed. If you would like to read more you can subscribe here

Max

Tower of London Photos © Plantagenet Discoveries