In response to Mustang's question in the "Oak Tree", I've searched my library, without success. Most of my books list some of the notable people who died - the most famous ones being Anne Boleyn, second wife of King Henry VIII (beheaded on 19th May 1536), and Katharine Howard, fifth wife of King Henry VIII (beheaded on 13th February 1542).
Other nobles who were beheaded here are:
William, Lord Hastings (June 1483)
Margaret, Countess of Salisbury (27th May 1536)
Jane, Viscountess Rochford (13th February 1542)
Lady Jane Grey, wife of Lord Guildford Dudley (12th February 1554)
Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex (25th February 1601)
Many others died whilst imprisoned, particularly Scottish noblemen, after the Jacobite rebellions of 1715 and 1745.
Sorry not to be able to assist, but I'll keep looking.
AJR
Full Version: The Tower of London
Andrew...It's quite alright!!! I know there are so many peasants and such that have died that I seriously doubt that there is a record with all the names.....I'm just curious...I know that is such a tortured place and that it's very famous because of that...along with many other reasons! Thanks for your help!Mustang
Some of my latest purchases - old postcards of the Tower of London.
These are great Andrew! I love the woodwork on the Traitor's Gate. Its really sweet to see the info you dig up. You contribute some pretty amazing stuff here. Thank you so much for all you do.
and a few more old postcards of the Tower of London.
A pencil sketch postcard of the Tower of London, recently purchased.
From the BBC Website, 24th October 2005
Big cats prowled London's tower
Two lion skulls unearthed at the Tower of London have been dated to Medieval times, shedding light on the lost institution of the "Royal Menagerie".
It also shows the relationship between England's early monarchs and the "king of beasts" was not just a symbolic one.
The lions may have been among the first to turn up in Northern Europe since the big cats went extinct in the region at the end of the last Ice Age.
The menagerie was a popular tourist attraction, hosting exotic animals.
It was established by King John, who reigned in England from 1199-1216, and is known to have held lions and bears. It was finally closed in 1835, on the orders of the Duke of Wellington.
The remaining animals were moved to the Zoological Society's Gardens in Regent's Park, now known as London Zoo.
"The menagerie seems to have been a private collection for the king, a sign that he enjoyed good relations with foreign monarchs, who presented him with animals," said Jeremy Ashbee of English Heritage, curator of the Tower of London.
"Lions were particularly prized as the living emblems of the royal arms of England, much like modern mascots."
Lion tower
The big cats found at the Tower are thought to have been kept in the menagerie, but its actual location on the grounds is still unknown.
Edward I had a semi-circular structure - later known as the "lion tower" - built in the south-western corner of the Tower in 1276-7. By the 16th Century, historians know that this housed the Royal Menagerie.
"Finding two virtually complete big cat skulls dating back to the 13th and 15th Centuries from the moat adjacent to the Middle and Lion Towers suggests they were kept in this area," said project leader Dr Hannah O'Regan of Liverpool John Moores University.
Unearthed in the 1930s, the big cat skulls have been stored at the Natural History Museum for the last 70 years.
Unceremonial end
In addition to the lion skulls, the researchers also analysed a leopard skull and the skulls of 19 dogs.
The best preserved lion skull was radiocarbon dated to between AD 1280 and 1385, making it the earliest Medieval big cat known in Britain. The period when it lived covers the reigns of Edward I, II and III, when the lion tower was built.
The second lion skull was dated using the same method to AD 1420-1480. The leopard skull, which was badly damaged, dated to between 1440 and 1625, which covers the Plantagenet reign, the Tudors and Stuarts.
Despite their royal status, the cats were not treated with ceremony when they died, instead being dumped - unskinned - in the Tower's moat.
The project is a collaboration between scientists from Liverpool John Moores University and London's Natural History Museum. Details of the work appear in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology.
Big cats prowled London's tower
Two lion skulls unearthed at the Tower of London have been dated to Medieval times, shedding light on the lost institution of the "Royal Menagerie".
It also shows the relationship between England's early monarchs and the "king of beasts" was not just a symbolic one.
The lions may have been among the first to turn up in Northern Europe since the big cats went extinct in the region at the end of the last Ice Age.
The menagerie was a popular tourist attraction, hosting exotic animals.
It was established by King John, who reigned in England from 1199-1216, and is known to have held lions and bears. It was finally closed in 1835, on the orders of the Duke of Wellington.
The remaining animals were moved to the Zoological Society's Gardens in Regent's Park, now known as London Zoo.
"The menagerie seems to have been a private collection for the king, a sign that he enjoyed good relations with foreign monarchs, who presented him with animals," said Jeremy Ashbee of English Heritage, curator of the Tower of London.
"Lions were particularly prized as the living emblems of the royal arms of England, much like modern mascots."
Lion tower
The big cats found at the Tower are thought to have been kept in the menagerie, but its actual location on the grounds is still unknown.
Edward I had a semi-circular structure - later known as the "lion tower" - built in the south-western corner of the Tower in 1276-7. By the 16th Century, historians know that this housed the Royal Menagerie.
"Finding two virtually complete big cat skulls dating back to the 13th and 15th Centuries from the moat adjacent to the Middle and Lion Towers suggests they were kept in this area," said project leader Dr Hannah O'Regan of Liverpool John Moores University.
Unearthed in the 1930s, the big cat skulls have been stored at the Natural History Museum for the last 70 years.
Unceremonial end
In addition to the lion skulls, the researchers also analysed a leopard skull and the skulls of 19 dogs.
The best preserved lion skull was radiocarbon dated to between AD 1280 and 1385, making it the earliest Medieval big cat known in Britain. The period when it lived covers the reigns of Edward I, II and III, when the lion tower was built.
The second lion skull was dated using the same method to AD 1420-1480. The leopard skull, which was badly damaged, dated to between 1440 and 1625, which covers the Plantagenet reign, the Tudors and Stuarts.
Despite their royal status, the cats were not treated with ceremony when they died, instead being dumped - unskinned - in the Tower's moat.
The project is a collaboration between scientists from Liverpool John Moores University and London's Natural History Museum. Details of the work appear in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology.
One of my recent purchases. This one is postmarked 1904.
From Reuters, 21st February 2006
Tower cages ravens to guard against bird flu
The Tower of London, home to the Crown Jewels, has put its famous ravens into indoor aviaries to protect them from bird flu. A spokesman for the fortress, a former prison on the banks of the Thames, said on Tuesday the six black birds had been moved from lawns outside the 11th century castle into specially built cages in one of its towers.
"Although we don't like having to bring the Tower ravens inside, we believe it is the safest thing to do for their own protection, given the speed that the virus is moving across Europe," said Raven Master Derrick Coyle. "We are taking advice on the vaccinations against Avian Flu, and in the meantime, we will continue to give our six ravens as much care and attention as they need," he added.
Bird flu cases have been reported across Europe this month, marking a sudden resurgence of the deadly H5N1 influenza virus, which scientists fear could trigger a pandemic if it mutates and jumps from person to person. Many of the outbreaks have involved wild birds and the World Health Organisation says migratory fowl are believed to be one way the virus is spreading.
Legend has it that the ravens must stay at the Tower of London or the castle and the Kingdom will fall, so they are protected by a special decree issued in the 17th century by Charles II.
Notoriously unfriendly, the birds -- Branwen, Hugine, Munin, Gwyllum, Thor and Baldrick -- have their wings clipped so that they cannot fly away.
Tower cages ravens to guard against bird flu
The Tower of London, home to the Crown Jewels, has put its famous ravens into indoor aviaries to protect them from bird flu. A spokesman for the fortress, a former prison on the banks of the Thames, said on Tuesday the six black birds had been moved from lawns outside the 11th century castle into specially built cages in one of its towers.
"Although we don't like having to bring the Tower ravens inside, we believe it is the safest thing to do for their own protection, given the speed that the virus is moving across Europe," said Raven Master Derrick Coyle. "We are taking advice on the vaccinations against Avian Flu, and in the meantime, we will continue to give our six ravens as much care and attention as they need," he added.
Bird flu cases have been reported across Europe this month, marking a sudden resurgence of the deadly H5N1 influenza virus, which scientists fear could trigger a pandemic if it mutates and jumps from person to person. Many of the outbreaks have involved wild birds and the World Health Organisation says migratory fowl are believed to be one way the virus is spreading.
Legend has it that the ravens must stay at the Tower of London or the castle and the Kingdom will fall, so they are protected by a special decree issued in the 17th century by Charles II.
Notoriously unfriendly, the birds -- Branwen, Hugine, Munin, Gwyllum, Thor and Baldrick -- have their wings clipped so that they cannot fly away.
This is for wesly from Castle Quest. Floorplan of the Tower of London.
A print of the Tower of London, dated 1811. (courtesy of www.antiqueprints.com)
A print of the Tower of London, dated 1814. (courtesy of www.antiqueprints.com)
A print of the Tower of London, dated 1815. (courtesy of www.antiqueprints.com)
Postcards of The Tower of London recently added to my collection.
Another old print of the Tower of London, from 1816.
Another old print, from 1808.
I just purchased a set of seven vintage postcards of the Tower of London produced by Gale and Polden.
Eight more old postcards of the Tower of London, recently added to my collection.
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