MATT RADIO

November 30, 2007

The Tower of London

It's a prison, a church, a dormitory, an arsenal. Roam inside the world's most famous fortress.

Dana in front of the Beefeaters' quarters within the Tower of London

(Click to view larger version of any of the photos below.)



our view from the window of room 10 of the Alexander Hotel	Dana in the Alexander's entry hall	This hallway makes the Alexander seem much more luxurious than it really is. Much.

Not a bad front stoop at the Alexander Hotel. Except for the stench of urine in the potted plants.	Dana, across Tower Hill street from the Tower of London.	Dana & Matt across the street from the Tower complex

	The Port of London Authority Building	The Tower Hill Memorial commemorates soldiers from the Merchant Navy killed during World Wars I and II.

Tower Bridge is visible to the south of the Tower complex.	the Tower gift shop	Dana approaches the main entrance and the Middle Tower.

The Byward Tower looms.	Yeoman Warders host free guided tours of the fortress.	The Yeoman Warders are commonly known as “Beefeaters,” a nickname which probably arose from jealousy.

These elite guards were always given rations of beef by the palace, even when poor common men couldn't afford meat of any sort.	staring up the impressive Bell Tower	The Beefeaters' hour-long Tower tours are chock full of history and humour.

view while walking up Water Lane	Traitors' Gate is right below St. Thomas' Tower.	All important prisoners entered the Tower of London through Traitors' Gate.

37 Yeoman Warders live at the Tower. Most men who apply for the position are turned away.	To be considered, a man must have served 19 years as a senior non-commissioned officer in the Royal Military.	approaching the remains of Coldharbour Gate and a flight of stone steps

the White Tower, at the center of the entire complex	The former site of the Great Hall is also the site...	...that the Tower Ravens call home.

the Bloody Tower, with the Wall of the Inmost Ward on the left	Our Yeoman tour guide asked us American tourists if we were fans of British history.	Then he snarked, “It could've been yours, too, if you'd paid your taxes.”

	Waterloo Block, home of the Crown Jewels	apartments of the Yeoman Warders

Tower Bridge dominates the southern horizon, even when the view is overcast.	the scaffold site, where heads were routinely lopped off	Over the wall, London roars along.

You can see the “Gherkin” building from here.		Dana outside the White Tower

	guarding the Crown Jewels	the Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula

Note the ravens on the left, next to their lodgings.	Originally known as the Garden Tower, it was renamed the Bloody Tower in the 1500's.	Matt at a rope and pulley gate inside the Bloody Tower

Sir Walter Raleigh's prison quarters inside the Bloody Tower	Dana wants out!	“Forget this joint, man. They cut your head off if you hang out here too long. Plus the cell reception through two metres of solid rock is shite.”

Matt stars in “Prison Break: 1475”		Matt & Dana: prisoners of love



Built in the 1880's, Tower Bridge was the largest and most sophisticated bascule bridge ever.	“Bascule” comes from the French for “see-saw.”	The bascules raise to 86 degrees.

The White Tower was built by William the Conqueror.	One of the turrets once contained the first royal observatory.	This glass pillow represents the spot where condemned prisoners placed their necks on beheading day.

Our Yeoman guide scoffed at this “modern art” being placed at the historical execution site.	“Just what we need to symbolize the wasteful deaths of hundreds of prisoners: a coffee table.”	The Yeoman Warders live in the on-site flats with the blue doors.

window in the Beauchamp Tower	inscriptions were carved into the stone walls by prisoners	Dana prepares to climb down into lower Beauchamp Tower.

Superstition says that when there are no longer ravens at the Tower, the White Tower will fall, along with the British Commonwealth.		Dana says you may fire when ready.

	Charles II decreed that there must always be at least six ravens at the Tower.	The birds preside over four different territories within the Tower precincts.

They respond only to the Ravenmaster and should not be approached by anyone else.	Inside the White Tower...	...Henry VIII's arsenal is on display.

Pick a gun, any gun.	This is like Toys 'R Us for Shannon!	The Chapel of St. John the Evangelist...

...is located on the second floor of the White Tower.	It's a 1,000 year old chapel, the oldest in England still in use.	Dana listens to the tour host.

	Matt gets his worship on.

This was the place of worship for the sovereign and court when they were at the Tower.	Dana	Mary I was betrothed to Philip of Spain by proxy here in 1554.

At one time these columns were possibly painted in bright colors.	Photography is prohibited in here, but an exception was made for MattRadio.com.	Elizabeth of York lay in state here after her death in childbirth in 1503.

	In the 1600's the White Tower became a storehouse for arms and papers.	how the interior of this floor might have looked in the 1200's

The White Tower is the oldest part of the Tower complex, initiated in about 1078.	Matt and Jason want that beer bottle open NOW!	the royal crapper

a scale model of the Tower of London	shields of Henry VIII	Yep, the king's horse gets a suit of armour, too.

		Er..... um.....

“Anne, you'll be pleased to discover I've devised a way to increase my stamina in the royal bedchamber.”	“Is that a banana in your armour, or are you just happy to be cutting my head off?”	The Earl of Worcester experimented with different materials in the fabrication of his suits of armour.

Oddly, the one made from white chocolate did not fare so well and is not preserved here.	Dana tests her archery skills...	...with this simulated bow and arrow game.

Matt tries his hand at it.	main entrance to Waterloo Block	You are all hereby sentenced to a full day of sighseeing inside the Tower of London!