After waiting in a bit of a line - it being Sunday, there were quite a few visitors - we got our tickets and got in. We waited between the tower entrance and the Middle Tower to catch a tour with a Yeoman Warder, or Beefeater. (These were probably so named because they got to eat leftovers from the royal tables, and therefore got a lot more beef than the average poor Englishman.) And while we were waiting, we got a decent view of what I believe is the Trinity House near Tower Hill.
Once inside main walls, we went past Traitor's Gate, where they used to bring in people by boat for beheading, and on into the tower yard, where we could see one of the famous tower ravens. Legend has it that as long as 6 ravens remain in the Tower, the British monarchy cannot fall. To this day, they keep 7 on the grounds, with their wings clipped to prevent escape.
After that, we went on past the White Tower (built by the Normans), past the private execution area near Beauchamp Tower, and finished up at the Chapel of St. Peter Ad Vincula ("in chains").
One the tour was done, we decided to check out the Crown Jewels in the Jewel House. Stationed outside the door was a typical British guard, armed with an assault rifle. Inside were the Jewels, and what a collection! Crowns and sceptres and orbs, just as I had expected, but there were flagons and a wine cistern and chalices and patens and swords and salt cellars and various things, as well! (I also didn't realize just how many crowns there were, either... seems like every monarch got their own!) Images of the Crown Jewels are copyrighted, but we did manage to sneak in one, of the royal ampulla and spoon.
After the Jewel House, we went on to explore the White Tower - and in it the Royal
Armoury, among other things. We had to rush a bit, as it was closing.
Here are a few pics:
| White Tower weather vane | Chapel of St. John |
| Armoury Treasures | Big Swords |
| Cavalry Armor | Shields |
| Me with statues representing Gin and Beer | |
There was some other neat stuff, like the entire Line of Kings sets of armor, wheels of muskets, a 20-lb lance for practicing jousting... but we ran out of time.
We also visited a small exhibition on torture, which highlighted three methods they used in the Tower. The Rack and Manacles I was already mostly familiar with, but there was one I wasn't - the Scavenger's Daughter. It was perhaps the worst of the bunch.
Before we left the Tower grounds, JP just had to get a picture with a Beefeater Bear.