3-074-888 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Tower of London: showing the White Tower, after the demolition of the old guard-rooms and offices, 1883. 'The ancient fortress and palace of Norman and Plantagenet Kings of England...where prisoners of State were frequently confined and finally put to death, is one of the most interesting monuments of the national history, though haunted by gloomy recollections of crime, of tyranny, and of treason...The removal of the sheds hitherto occupied as the Guard-room and the Ordnance office has opened to the Thames a good view of the whole front of the White Tower...[It] is the most perfect existing specimen of a Norman castle or palace...This noble building, constructed from the designs of Bishop Gundulf in 1078, is 176 ft. long and 96 ft. wide, rising to the height of 92 ft., with embattled parapet and four angular turrets; the external walls are 10 ft. and 12 ft. thick. The original main entrance, on the north side, is now blocked up; the staircases, made in the thickness of the walls, are extremely narrow, probably to assist the defence, but the Tower was never attacked. On the first floor is a spacious gallery, with side apartments containing the Armoury and Museum; below are the ancient dungeons...with the torture-chamber and guard-rooms'. From "Illustrated London News", 1883.