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Wakefield Tower at the Tower of London
This vivid illustration by Terry Ball depicts Wakefield Tower as it may have appeared during the 14th century. Originally known as Blundeville Tower, when it was constructed between 1220 and 1240, Wakefield Tower is located on the side of the compound closest to the Thames, attached to what is known as Traitor’s Gate, by a wall with a portcullis beneath it. The tower was intended to serve as a bedchamber for King Henry III. Following the accession of his son Edward I, the tower was no longer used as a private bedchamber as the king chose to stay in the Tower of St. Thomas. As shown in the reconstruction drawing, the interior of the tower, like many other rooms at the Tower of London, was richly painted in vibrant colors. The screened area at the center of the drawing was a small chapel for use by the king. The throne to the left indicates that the room may have been used as a private reception room, once it was no longer a bedchamber.
Like many other sites at the Tower of London, Wakefield Tower is most well-known for a violent altercation. The tower was the site of the murder of king Henry VI, which was ordered by Edward IV. In 1471, Edward’s forces defeated those of Henry VI, who was kept as a prisoner in the Tower of London. In May of the same year, Henry was praying at the small chapel in Wakefield Tower when he was struck in the head and killed. Today, Wakefield Tower is open to visitors at the Tower of London. The current chamber largely resembles the drawing, with the most notable change being the lack of decoration on the walls and ceiling.
Jewel Tower
This reconstruction drawing by Alan Sorrell depicts Jewel Tower as it would have appeared in the late 15th, early 16th centuries. In the image, Jewel Tower is the L-shaped building located in the center of the drawing. The large, buttressed building in the background is Westminster Abbey. Between the two buildings is the Palace of Westminster, also known as the Privy Palace. The Privy Palace acted as the main residence of the royal family from the 11th century to the 16th century. Jewel Tower was constructed in 1365-66 as a treasury of Edward III’s personal valuables. The tower was built at the western end of the royal garden, south of the Palace of Westminster. The land where the tower was constructed had originally belonged to the monks of Westminster Abbey, who were reportedly very disgruntled at losing their land to the king.
Due to the valuables stored inside, Jewel Tower was designed for security. As seen in the drawing, the tower was surrounded by a moat on three sides, which provided an added measure of protection. The first floor of the tower had no windows facing outside of the enclosure. The top floor is believed to have been the storeroom for the precious objects based on its two-door entrance. Today, the Jewel Tower is one of only a handful of surviving London buildings from the medieval era. Small alterations and repairs have been made throughout its lifespan, including after its roof was destroyed during a bombing in 1941. Overall, the building remains almost exactly as it would have been during the 14th century. Often overlooked because of its size, and the surrounding buildings, Jewel Tower is only now becoming the subject of both historical and architectural scholarship.