The Tower of London (Part 4) - Lesser Known Identities

While we have so far explored the Tower of London as a mighty fortress, an opulent palace and a notorious prison, this is just the tip of the iceberg in the rich 1,000-year history of this amazing site. In this blog, I will reveal some of its more extraordinary roles, unveiling the hidden facets that continue to attract thousands of visitors every year.

Join me on a journey to uncover the lesser-known, yet equally intriguing identities of this iconic landmark. 

The Menagerie

The Tower of London has boasted some truly fascinating roles throughout its history, but one of the most intriguing was that of a royal menagerie. The beginning of this exotic collection can be traced back to 1235 when Henry III received an unusual gift from the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, that of three lions. Inspired by this incredible gift, Henry decided to transform part of the Tower into a zoo. This marked the onset of a strange medieval custom where monarchs exchanged rare and peculiar animals as presents.

In 1252, the Tower’s inhabitants welcomed an extraordinary addition - a magnificent polar bear, courtesy of the King of Norway. While this majestic creature was kept muzzled and chained, it was granted the liberty to swim and hunt for fish in the Thames, providing a real spectacle for Londoners. The year 1255 saw an even more astonishing arrival, that of an African elephant gifted by the King of France. This gentle giant became a major attraction, drawing throngs of curious visitors eager for a glimpse of this exotic marvel. Unfortunately, the lack of knowledge on how to properly care for such a creature led to its untimely death after just a couple of years. During the reign of Edward I, a permanent residence for the Menagerie emerged at the Tower’s western entrance, soon to be known as the Lions Tower. Over time the assortment of animals within the Tower expanded. By 1622 the collection featured an eclectic mix of three eagles, two pumas, a tiger and a jackal, as well as more lions and leopards, who took centre stage as the main attractions. Some of these creatures even exacted revenge of those who ventured too close, resulting in maimed zoo keepers, soldiers and unfortunate visitors.

Eventually in 1824 the founding of the RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) heralded a shift in public sentiment towards animal welfare. This fact combined with growing concerns about the menagerie’s nuisance factor and the financial strain of maintaining it, the Duke of Wellington made the decision to close its operation. Interestingly enough, the 150 remaining animals found a new home in Regent’s Park, forming the foundation of what is now London Zoo. As for the Lion Tower, in later years it was demolished.

Today, as you wander around the Tower you will see several sculptures that commemorate some of the former inhabitants of the Tower. 

Home of the Crown Jewels

Since the 1660’s, the Tower of London has safeguarded the Crown Jewels, drawing countless visitors who yearn for a glimpse of this unparalleled collection. Housed in the Jewel House and comprising over 100 items adorned with more than 23,000 gemstones, this unique treasury of sacred and ceremonial objects holds priceless cultural, historical and symbolic significance. 

It would be impossible to recount the entire collection so I will focus on some of the key highlights:

The Coronation Regalia - These sacred items play a pivotal role in the coronation of a new monarch.  They were last employed during the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on the 6th May, 2023. Among these unique objects are the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross, the Sovereign’s Orb and the Coronation Spoon.

The Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross - Utilized in every coronation since the monarchy’s restoration in 1661, it gained added allure in 1910 when George V incorporated the breathtaking Cullinan I diamond, a colossal 530.2 carat gem, the world’s largest colorless cut diamond. The original Cullinan diamond, a staggering 3,106 carat gem, was discovered in South Africa in 1905. It was presented to King Edward VII to symbolise the mending of relations between Britain and South Africa after the South African Wars (sometimes called the Boer Wars), eventually being split into nine major stones and 96 smaller brilliants. The two largest of the stones were named Cullinan I and Cullinan II, with the latter adorning the Imperial State Crown.

The Sovereign’s Orb - Presented during a monarch’s investiture, the orb serves as a poignant reminder that their power is bestowed by divine authority.

The Coronation Spoon - Dating back to the 12th century, this spoon is one of the oldest of the Crown Jewels. It plays a key role in anointing the sovereign with holy oil, a profoundly sacred moment in the coronation ritual. Remarkably, after the execution of Charles I, it survived Parliament’s destruction, thanks to Clement Kynnersley, who later returned it to Charles II.

St Edwards Crown - The most sacred and vital crown in the collection, it is exclusively used at the moment of crowning. Weighing in at an incredible 2.23 kilograms (almost 5lbs), due to its solid gold frame, one can only imagine the weight it imposes upon the wearer’s head.

The Imperial State Crown - Worn by the monarch as they exit Westminster Abbey following the coronation, this crown also makes its appearance during other state ceremonies, including the annual opening of State Parliament. It boasts a dazzling array of jewels, featuring 2,868 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, 269 pearls and 4 rubies…Wow! Among its renowned jewels are the Black Prince’s Ruby, the Stuart Sapphire and the Cullinan II diamond.

The Crown of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother - This crown has at its centre the legendary Koh-i-Noor diamond. Renowned for its tumultuous history, this diamond passed through the hands of Mughal Emperors, Shahs of Iran, Emirs of Afghanistan, and Sikh Maharajas before arriving in England in 1849, as part of the Treaty of Lahore, which stipulated its surrender to Queen Victoria.

The Mint

The Tower’s Mint held a remarkable role in shaping England’s currency for over five centuries. Its fascinating history begins around 1279 when King Edward I, well aware of the impressive security within the Tower, established the Mint within its fortified walls. To set it apart from the Tower’s other activities, a dedicated area was carved out, which became known as Mint Street.

Now the health and safety of the Mint’s labourers was not a top priority, and let me tell you, it was no walk in the park. The perilous nature of coin production was twofold. First, there were the toxic chemicals essential for coin creation, with workers constantly exposed to their fumes, there was certainly no sign of today’s mandatory protective gear. Second, the equipment itself posed significant risks, featuring colossal fiery furnaces that presented the neverending danger of serious burns. Until the 1600’s, when mechanisation came into play, every coin was meticulously handcrafted. One individual would position a handmade metal piece between two intricately engraved stamps called dies, while another would deliver a precise hammer strike.

As you can imagine, impeccable timing was the difference between crafting a coin and losing a finger! Now my favourite saying is “every day is a school day”, but I must say the following revelation left me flabbergasted, as I had no idea of this remarkable fact. Sir Isaac Newton, renowned for his groundbreaking work in physics, spent the final three decades of his life serving as first Warden, and then when his uncanny talent for nabbing even the most cunning counterfeiters became obvious, Master of the Royal Mint at the Tower of London. Just imagine that! Counterfeiting was evidently a grave offense, making his talents of immense value to the authorities.

As England’s population and economy grew, the Mint needed to expand. By the 1500’s it had sprawled along the west, north and east walls of the Tower. In 1810 it outgrew its Tower accommodations, relocating first to a new structure on Tower Hill and ultimately finding its current home in Wales during the 1960’s.

The Moat

Soldiers Encampment - In 1897 during Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations the moat was used to house the hundreds of soldiers who were encamped there for the festivities.

A Fishery - Edward I began the practice of farming fish in the moat when in 1292, he sent for a large stock of young pike to be released into the moat. Using the moat as a food source continued for many centuries, in fact, a perfectly preserved wicker fish trap, dating from the 15th or 16th century was discovered in the moat, complete with fish skeletons inside.

An Allotment - During the Second World War when everybody was expected to do their bit for the war effort, the Tower was not an exception, and the dry moat became an allotment providing not only produce for the tower residents but also a space for livestock to graze. This had the added advantage of keeping the grass trimmed.

A Garden - I am sure we have all heard of Superbloom, a colourful and dramatic field of flowers celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022. The astonishing figure of over 20 million seeds from 29 different flower species were planted in the moat  for this once in a lifetime event. 

And with this, we wrap up our captivating blog series on the Tower of London. I hope you enjoyed reading each installment as much as I loved the writing of them. 

If your appetite for history has been stirred, get ready for an incredible journey deep into the heart of our past. 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, Sir Isaac Newton photo Creative Commons/Public Domain