This is the second of two blog posts about my recent visit to the Tower
of London. The first part was covered on Tuesday, April 14. I hope
you enjoy the continuation of this virtual tour.
Beefeaters.
Dressed
in dark blue and red uniforms, the Yeoman Warders are royal bodyguards and have
provided the ceremonial guard for the Tower since approximately 1509. To serve
in this elite group, an individual must be retired from the Armed Forces of
Commonwealth Realms. They must be former senior non-commissioned officers or
petty officers with at least twenty-two years of service. In addition, they are
required to hold the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. In 2007, Moira
Cameron became the first female Yeoman Warder. Congratulations, Moira!
Remember
Waterloo. Constructed in 1845 to replace the Grand Storehouse
that was destroyed by fire in 1841, the Waterloo Barracks is one of the “newer”
buildings in the Tower complex. The name refers to Battle of Waterloo and the
defeat of Napoleon in 1815. The cannons in front of the building were captured
from the French at Waterloo. The Crown Jewels are housed in the Barracks when
not being worn for ceremonial or state occasions.
Royal
Bling! Kept in the Tower since 1303 after they were stolen
from Westminster Abbey, “Crown Jewels” is the collective term that refers to
the crowns, scepters, orbs, swords, rings, spurs, armills, tunics, and robe
worn by the sovereign of the United Kingdom during the coronation ceremony or
state functions. The term includes other objects used during the ceremony
itself. Most of the original items were melted down, broken or sold during the
English Civil War in 1660. When Charles II ascended the throne after the war,
new pieces were crafted based on descriptions of the lost items. Apparently
visitors tended to loiter at the Crown Jewels display, so there is now a
travellator that moves people past at a brisk, steady pace. 
Royal
Regiment of Fusiliers. Named for the new style musket (the
Fusil) that had a covered flash pan to minimize the risk of sparks igniting the
gun powder, the Volunteers Battalion Royal Fusiliers date back to 1648. Based
at the Tower in the Regiment’s headquarters, the Fusilier Museum chronicles the
history of this regiment that continues to serve with distinction.
Destruction
during WWII. During WWII, the Tower sustained major
bomb damage, especially during the Blitz, and a number of buildings were
destroyed, including the mid-19th-century North Bastion that received a direct hit
in October 1940. After the war, the damage was repaired, and the Tower was
re-opened to the public.
Privately
funded. I was surprised to discover The Tower one of six
palaces cared for by an
independent charity (Historic Royal Palaces), and it
receives no money from the government or crown.
Our trip to England was unforgettable. Do you have a special trip or vacation that you can share?
Don’t forget to leave a comment for your chance to win
Gail Pallotta’s ebook Mountain of Love
and Danger.
A freelance writer for over twelve years, Linda
Matchett also writes historical fiction. She is currently seeking a publisher
for her series about war correspondent Ruth Brown. Visit her at www.LindaShentonMatchett.com
Such a marvellous post thank you. Love the history & traditions.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a child my Father had long service leave. We took off in the old station wagon and tented our way around Australia for months.
We got so proficient at setting up camp & pulling it down we could have won gold at the Olympics.
My Mother was fond of saying: "We were never lost, just having an adventure". It truly was too.
I'd love to experience this magical adventure through the eyes of grown-up. (Maybe with just a few more creature comforts though.)
Mary: Thanks for sharing about your trip around Australia. It sounds delightful. My parents were way too structured to try something like that!
ReplyDeleteLinda, you helped me relive my visit to The Tower again. Enjoyed your article immensely with its details, some of which were new to me. And I, too, wished I could have loitered by the Crown Jewels. Amazing works of art!
ReplyDeleteI'd say that my last trip to London was special because we were able to visit Smithfield where a monument to those Christians martyred for their faith during the Reformation stands. We also visited John Knox's home in Edinburgh, Scotland. It felt like we were walking in the steps of the Reformers, probably like how believers feel when they go to Israel.
Wow, what a fascinating post with so much fun and inforamtion it it. I sure enjoyed the poat. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteDeanne
Cnnamongirl(at)aol(dot)com